“Another – Aunt Irene – Memory…”

Jul 21st “Another – Aunt Irene – Memory…”

When – one takes the time to think back over all the years that they have known Aunt Irene – well… there are all kinds of things – that just start popping into one’s mind!

Just from the thoughts about the memory of what was written for and about “yesterday” – saving a dime or two – when you would be going by “BUS” somewhere – and then if you were to be sure to remember… to get a “Transfer Ticket” – well – then …you could figure out – “how can I go in to that direction – and still use the same “Transfer Ticket” to continue on to the final destination???”

Way back and when I was going to “HIGH SCHOOL” – my Aunt Irene would call me the night before – that – she would want – for me to stop by her apartment – as she would have something for either me or for my MOTHER? When you are a teenager and have lots of “get up and go” – as I did… I sure did not mind going here and there – even though – sometimes – that “which” I was doing and going after – to me ended up as totally not worth any of my time??

On this one occasion… someone in the apartment building – a young lady who modeled shoes – was allowed to keep some of the “sample” shoes that she modeled – and “her” size was the same as mine… so – – – My good Aunt Irene collected a few boxes of these “sample type” shoes – since …and I’m guessing… she thought that I would like and wear these shoes??? Well… that was not to be the case!

When …I made my way home via the public “Bus” transportation way – with a couple of transferring connections – that is on and off one “BUS” and on and off another “BUS” – and having to carry a few shoe boxes – in addition to my armful of school books… I sort of had enough of a “good” thing! Naturally, the first thing when – I got home – was to see what was so “special” about these shoes??

In most homes… no problem with their young daughters wearing “High Heel” shoes??? And …don’t forget “FREE” shoes – to boot! Well, I sure did not know before this… but – and …when my MOTHER was much younger – and early in the marriage – she miss-carried – falling down the stairs, as her high heel shoes caught on something? I did not believe her… so she showed me the shoes – – as these were so nice – but a constant reminder – that the shoes that you think are nice – could kill you!

Well, the shoes were nice and I did manage to keep “one” pair – but the rest… I took and sold to a “Second-Hand Dealer” on Florissant Road and the side street near the “Public School” – just a couple of blocks west of North Grand Avenue. Every so often, Aunt Irene would give to me something that someone in the apartment building was getting rid of – an item that was probably still good and or useful – for something or someone – so…as long as I knew where I could take the items and collect some amount of cash – well… that’s the name of the game! “Right??”… “Right!”…

Back then… there were quite a few “second-hand” stores around and I’m guessing – those were the days when people were getting new stuff – but after purchasing – did not have the nerve to return to the place where purchased – and so a few bucks back at the ‘second-hand store was better than nothing at all??

Now… and just thinking – Aunt Irene and I probably kept a lot of “second-hand” stores in business!