They left Oklahoma this time of the year 1941.

They were third-world immigrants.
Immigrants now leaving a life of hardship and primitive living behind. But not knowing what lies ahead. But anyway they are leaving a life with No running water, cooking on a wood burning stove, and a crudely built outhouse. Farming in rural southern Oklahoma was almost impossible. Farming was with an undernourished gray mule and an old wood and metal plow barely scraping the harden parched red clay dirt and rock. Rain hadn’t fallen in years. Red dust from the sky has now covered the land. Combine all that with trying to raise two toddling children.
So, after thinking it over, they decided to sell what little they had including the 40-acre dry farm and migrate to the west. Westward had promise of work and possible prosperity. Once in the southern regions climate became milder than they were accustomed to. Moving to southern California from parched dust bowl Oklahoma was almost culture shock. They encountered their first indoor flushing toilet. “Well if that don’t beat all I ever saw.” They also witnessed running water inside the house that flowed from faucets. Water without pumping a big iron handle. They discovered an ‘icebox’ without ice. Some call them refrigerators. And a stove that cooks with natural gas. Wow! It was all like landing in a new world or on a new planet. Los Angeles had it all plus an ocean. Amenities never known before by this Okie couple At least for this small family. “An indoor bath tub?” And it had both hot and cold running water. “Just imagine.” The folks back home won’t believe this. Boy Howdy! They will think we are now in modern Kansas City. “Just let me flush that toilet again. Dad gummit man! Look at that water go down would ya.”