“You DO what YOU have to DO”

Would you believe, that –  I found this little  old “two pound” sack  the other day – – and in side  it – – someone had put some old ribbons and bows – which would have to be at least  “sixty years old”  – –  and, this old sack is from the 1944 or 1945 time frame  – – I do doubt that you could find another one like it!                                                                       ( This sack measures  5.5 x 8.5 inches)

                                                                                                                   If I have anything “OLD” it is because  “it”   was   in the “FAMILY”  and  saved for  some very  good reason. If you lived way back then- – with  WWII  going on,  you did need to save   good and reusable stuff to use over and over – – and learn to make do –  as we all  had to do our part in the  “WAR EFFORT”  – –  – –  so  we were all ‘savers of stuff’  – – that just might  or could  possibly be reused… for something else.

This old  “sugar sack” has another memory, much  more important to me. During those  “WAR” years each  AMERICAN FAMILY was issued  “coupon books” – one for each member of the FAMILY – –  and in  our  case, this day,  one  coupon would be  used – – for “SUGAR” – – in order to purchase a sack of sugar, you  did have to have a “ration coupon” just  to purchase  – – as so many things and or items were restricted – – so as  to help with the “WAR”  effort – -and every FAMILY including the children did learn  early about doing without some things – – and learning to  help and to do their part. 

So… there was a sale on “SUGAR” at a grocery store on GRAND Avenue – – I’m guessing five to ten blocks  south of  the  “Northside Theater”   which was on the S.W.  corner of  “Grand Avenue  and Natural Bridge” – – and since my “God-Parents” lived   in and near that area – – and we had  made visits there so often – – as young as I was,  I knew how to get there, and “all by myself!”

So… with money and coupon in hand – – I left our home on Carter and Linton Avenue – – cut through different streets – cut through the “Fair Grounds Park” and on down Grand Avenue to the  Grocery store,  got the bag of sugar with the help of a store clerk and made the walk back home. Good thing that I started out early in the morning – because,  when I got back home with this sack of sugar there was a  small hole in the sack and some sugar  was missing!

My Mother called the store to complain and said she was sending me back with  that damaged bag of sugar – – and that she wanted a  good “FULL BAG OF SUGAR” – – a bag with no holes!  So… with note and bag of sugar in hand – – I retraced my steps back to this grocery store – – and had to have them see to it,  that this new  bag  was full and firm and no leaks – – otherwise – –  I may be coming back, again.

It could be that when a small child is sent to the store – – that they give something damaged to the child to take home – – but, in our case my Mother would not accept damaged goods – – and  since “my feet” did the walking – – I remember so very well – – and guess that,  that  is the way I feel about purchases,  even today. It must have been  those miles that,  I was walking for the purchase – – but,  even if I was out playing with friends – -I would have walked that far  and even further  – – as my “Play Ground” was from the “Fair Grounds Park” to the opposite direction  to include  the “O’Fallon Park”  – as I had friends all over and was so very  LUCKY to know how to get where ever I needed to go – – as those were the days when we as a FAMILY  did walk  to most of the places  that we would go – -and so as early as possible – – if you wanted to go some where – –  it was a good idea to know “HOW” to get there!

“Now that I think back on my traveling all over  the North Saint Louis  area, and sometimes taking my younger brothers – – I have to  give “Thanks to  the Almighty Yahweh”  – – for having His Angels watch over us, three!   D.V.


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