Trap Door

In he 1870’s, the houses built in North St.Louis, had outside basement exit’s, and an inside  Trap Door, in the floor and corner of a small room. How lucky could we be, to have this Trap Door? My father gave all of us a quick look-see  and a loud, “Stay away and Don’t go near!

On wash-day, Monday,my mother took several loads  of clothes to the basement, and soon you could hear the, Kenmore wringer washing machine making all kinds  of noises. As the clothes are washed, rinse, and wrung-out, she is taking loads to the backyard, via basement outside steps. She would go  into the house via kitchen backdoor  and back to the yard, where my brothers and I were swinging and singing.

Tom the youngest, was highly curious and went inside, could not find Mom, went to the edge of the  Trap Door, called “Momma” and as she screamed back, “Stay away”, Tom was flying to the basement.

I guess Tom , leaned too far over looking, and top heavy, hit bottom. With wash baskets and plenty of clothes piles, how Tom did it – No one knows and Tom survived!


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Tom’s First Fall

Half-way through ,1942, and America, is still at War, my parents  sell a perfectly good house in Pine Lawn. Without a house  in the plan to buy, one must rent, and during the early 40’s, even if you had the money, there was no real estate available, especially with three children!

An apartment on Clara and Page, was found and we move in. We were there two months, as finally a house was purchased in North St.Louis.

A couple of days  before we moved, Tom got his-self up and into  a window sill. The screen was old and weak, giving way,  as Tom leaned forward to look out. Down and Out, Tom went, a drop of almost 5 feet, our apartment was on the first floor.

Thank God, for having sent rain, for the preceding week, Tom landed in a pile of muddy soil.   No damage to  Tom!


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Gone Fishing

Seventy years ago, my two younger brothers and  I would walk a couple of blocks to the Fairgrounds  Park, with pole and bait  in hand. Since I was the oldest, that put me in charge; #1. put bait on hook, #2. take caught fish off hook, and re-bait.

#3.  save youngest brother, when he is trying to drown, by  falling from bridge at narrow end of lake. I could scream, and did I ever, Scream.! Everyone  within ear-shot was running over to help save my brother. He lost one shoe, I went into the water as far as I could safely to find it, but no luck.

Tom was safe now,tired and exhausted, and all wet! We decided to head for home, in the heat and breeze we we drying as we walked.

The fishhad their ‘best day’ ever, All the Bait!!!


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Jaime, 22nd B.D.

When you want an, ‘A #1’ person,  you want  ‘Jaime’ because, she is ; Optimistic, Easygoing, Sociable,Spontaneous and Humorous. Jaime picked the numbers that make her a  winner!

As she was getting ready to make her, ‘Debut”,  on earth,  the  “Choir of Angels”,were singing out loud and clear, “Pick out the best of Families”,and she sang back,  “I will”!

In talking with Jaime, she stated she was picking the,  Best Big Brother, and a  Beautiful Big Sister, and a Wonderful Dad and Mom, with Terrific Grand parents, with an Excellent extended Family.

Thank God, Jaime , picked us!


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Love…forever

How do you know   ‘You’,  are receiving, Love?  Love  is  something,  you just can not walk  into a store and ask for   ‘2 lb.  of Love’,  and see handed over to you? Never mind the cost.

But, just for being ,  Grandma, I received, Love that will last  Forever. My grandchildren had taken the time, to pick out some of their favorite pictures including some with me, and reducing the size to fit inside hearts, and others to fit inside the letters,(I), (heart), (Y),  ( O), ( U) and with magic, melted on both sides of  two fabulous pillows.

Everyone knows that I always ask for pillow or two when I have to  sit, to support my back. Now, my back,will always be supported with the  “Loves”  of my Life…  extra special pillow!

 


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Watermelon

Would you say “1952 Summer” was the ‘Good Old Days’?  What brought this to mind was this week’s grocery  ad with a picture of watermelon @$4.88.

Sundays, then was good for long walks. My mother like to walk and I was the ‘tag along kid’.  So we headed toward Warne Ave.,  with a prayer stop at the Pink Sisters.  Some Sundays,  we would stay for Benediction. Headed now toward Broadway, and going North, toward Taylor Ave.,  found a Farmer’s Stand. The best looking watermelons ,  just begging to be bought. We bought one!  ‘Who’, got the job to carry ‘it’, home?

One arm , then the other, both arms , then, up on  the top of my head. No bag to carry , ‘it’. This watermelon, was getting bigger and heavier with each step.We cut through Calvary Cemetery, stopped to ‘rest’ with the ‘Smart and Brady’s’, final rest area,  which I thought I’d soon be joining.

By the time we arrived ‘ Home’, that  ‘watermelon’, was the last thing I wanted.


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