Memories of Past Times

Other “Early Time” Memories – Our Cleaning Lady My mother employed ( actually, she was more of a friend ) a cleaning lady, Mrs. Ursini . She came to our home once a week to help my mom clean. Luckily for me, Mrs. Ursini was very fond of me ( go figure! ). We had a large floor polisher that she used to polish our floors. It was large and loud and fun to ride . That’s right, while she polished the floors, she let me ride on top of the machine! As I said, the polisher was huge and easy for me ( a little boy ) to get on and ride. During these “ riding ” times, my imagination would run “ wild ”! She was such a great lady, and friend.  

Life in the Village – Our Home (Part Nine) Christmas – Toys Christmas at our home in Thorncrest was always special. My grandfather there, and all my sisters and brother. There were Christmas gifts galore. I have two “ present ” memories of one Christmas. One very pleasant, and one not so pleasant! The “ pleasant ” one involved a “ perpetual ” train ( or streetcar ). You would set the train in motion and it would go “ back and forth ”, and “ up and down ” on its tracks. I would watch and play with it for hours. The not so “ pleasant ” Christmas present from my parents, was a mechanical car that needed to be assembled. Apparently, not by me. After my first happiness at receiving the gift, my delight changed to “ sadness ”. My older brother and my father took over the fun of building MY car, and then playing with it! I think that they thought it was their toy! I did, eventually, get to play it. That was when they had lost interest in it.

Life in the Village – Our Home (Part Eight) Christmas – Grampa Lamb My grandfather, Grampa Lamb , lived in The Beaches ( Toronto ). Each Christmas we would pick grandpa up and bring him back to our home. It was always a lot of fun picking him up. When I got my driver’s license ( at16 ), I was commissioned to go to The Beaches ( we lived in the west end of Toronto – Etobicoke and grandpa live in the east end ) and bring grandpa back to our home for Christmas . It was long trip for a new driver, on his own, but I enjoyed every minute of the trip! What a feeling of freedom! Toronto , back in those days, was a ghost town during Christmas morning. There was no traffic to speak of. It was always a very quiet drive. As I said, grandpa lived in The Beaches, in a tiny one-bedroom apartment. It was crowded with old furniture and smelled of freshly cooked “ kippers ”. Although I am not particularly fond of that type of fish, I loved both the apartment and the smell. It always reminded me ...

Life in the Village – Our Home (Part Seven) The Florida Room… As I mentioned earlier, my parents built a “ Florida Room ” onto the back of our home. In the warmer months we used the room a lot. That’s because the room contained our “ Ping Pong ” table. All my family loved to play the game and we spent hours playing there. As you may recall, during the summer we vacationed at the Matabanick Inn . They had a “ Ping Pong ” table in their boathouse. All the “ practicing ” we did at home gave us a ” huge ” advantage at the “ Mat ”. The Florida Room was also a great place to hold parties, both family parties and neighbourhood parties. It was a great addition to our home!   ( Our Home - to be continued! )

Life in the Village – Our Home (Part Six) Sister Barbara… Barb was the “ baby ” of the family until I came along. I’m not sure how she felt about that. ( I’ll have to ask her ) Barb is 7 years older than me, so we did spend some time together. One of my memories of that early time, was her boyfriend. He was from a very wealthy family, and had a lot of memorable “ toys ”! The one I remember most was his “ PINK ” Ford Thunderbird Convertible . He would pull into our driver and Barb would rush out t greet him! It wasn’t until I was a teenager, that I got to know her better. Barb’s then husband own an ESSO service station. One summer he asked me if I’d to work there. Being an “ expert ” gas pumper. You might remember that I had worked at a marina in Baysville the year before. Since my mom is living at the cottage during the summer, Barb suggested that I live with them. There home was quite close to the station, especially if I walked through the area’s cemetery! You might think it stra...

Life in the Village – Our Home (Part Five) Sister Marion… Marion “ Meem” is my older sister, 12 years older, so I didn’t see her much in the beginning. By the time I was old enough to appreciate her, she was off to nursing school. After that she moved to Los Angels and became a nurse at one of the hospitals there. One of her nursing adventures there involved the famous “ Rat Pack ”. She was on duty when Judy Garland was having one of her children ( not Lisa ). One event a bunch of the “ Rat Pack ” came to visit Judy. I think Frank Sinatra , Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr . were among those who came. To soften up the nursing staff, they brought a large pizza and they had all signed the box! I’m not sure what happened to the box, but I wish I had it today! Later Meem got married and eventually moved to Chapleau Ontario ( way, way up north ). Unfortunately, I really didn’t get to really know Marion until our mother was very ill and then passed away. Marion was living in Charlottesv...

Life in the Village – Our Home (Part Four)   Brother Chuck… My brother and I shared a bedroom. The bedroom had bunkbeds. My Brother had the bottom bunk and I had the top bunk. Chuck was a teenager, 10 years older than me, and he liked ( needed ) to sleep in! I was about 6 years old, and I didn’t need ( or want ) to sleep in. I wanted to get up and play! The best way to get down was to slip over the “ protection ” rail. Unfortunately, for Chuck, I usually landed on his face and woke him up! Surprisingly, he didn’t appreciate my way of waking him up . He “ actually ” got angry with me! TEENAGES ! ( Our Home - to be continued! )

Life in the Village – Our Home (Part Three) Birthday Treat? My mother was quite tricky! One year I decided I’d search for my birthday presents . I looked and I looked. Finally, I found one of my presents hidden in my bedroom closet. I was so excited; I had found the present the “outsmarted” my mother. I carefully unwrapped the present and “ peeked ” inside to see what I was getting… a pair of SOCKS ! She never told me, but I’ll bet any money that she knew what I was up to and planted the SOCKS to teach me a lessen! It worked! I have never “ searched ” or “ peeked ” for presents since then! ( Our Home - to be continued! )  

Life in the Village – Our Home (Part Two) One year my parents visited New York City . While they were there, bought me a “ Hopalong Cassidy ” outfit, complete with badge, hat, vest, and “ cap ” gun. There might have been more, but I can’t remember for sure. I would spend hours on my “ horse ”, riding the “ range ”!  The “ reins ” to control my “ horse ” was one of my dad’s old ties ( I think it was an old one! ). Fun times! Another memory of my time, not so much fun, in the Family Room , happened one Easter . I was playing in the room, likely on my “ horse ”, when I heard movement outside the room. There was a door leading from the dining room into the family room. The door was closed, but it had a window in it. I moved my “ horse ” closer to the window, climbed onto my “ horse ” and “ peeked ” out the window. There was the “ Easter Bunny ” ( my mother ) hiding the Easter Eggs ! I was devastated! This is when my beliefs in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus were shattered! I guess,...

Life in the Village – Our Home (Part One) When we moved to the Village , homes there were very modern for a era. Our home had radiant floor heating, a furnace and laundry room, and an attached garage. It was the type of home used would see on a TV commercial, that is, if you had a television, “ black and white ” with “ rabbit ears ”! The house, however, was quite small for a family of six, so my parents decided to build an addition. They had two built, a family room and a “ screened in ” Florida room . The rooms were an amazing change, they allowed family ( me ) to have more fun places to play! The “ family room ” had awesome memories for me. The room had a TV and a “ horse ”! Well, not a real horse, but a “ pretend ” horse, a piano stool that substituted as a horse, my horse! Back then, cowboy movies and TV shows were the rage, Hopalong Cassidy , the Lone Ranger and more. The stool was my “ horse ” and I rode along with “ Hoppi ”, as we chased the “ bad ” guys.   (Continued in Pa...

Life in the Village – Christmas Decorating   I can remember as a kid during Christmas , our village becoming totally engrossed in Christmas decorating. Doors were decorated, trees and homes were totally lite up with Christmas lights and most lawns had Christmas displays . People took pride in their homes and their community and it showed. People from all over flocked to our community just to see what the village residents had done. This tradition happened year after year and droves of people returned each year. There were three decorating categories – lights , door decorations and lawn displays . Each category was judged for its curb side appeal, its uniqueness, and its adherence to the year’s theme. As I said, winners were announced at the annual Christmas party .

Life in the Village – More Events (Continued) Club House Parties – Beside neighbourhood parties, there were Club House parties. These were normally adult oriented, but Christmas get togethers were for everyone. At the Christmas parties, drinks and goodies were served and the winners of the decorating contests were announced. ( more about the contests a little later ). Singing Christmas carols were a big part of the fun. Unfortunately, for me, one year my father mentioned that I was a soloist ( more later ) in the school choir and suggested that I lead some of the carols. To say the least, I was very embarrassed, but sang anyway. I didn’t my parents to be let down, such is life as a kid!  

Life in the Village – More Events (Continued) Neighbourhood Parties – As I mentioned earlier, Thorncrest Village was very social. Not just the kids, there were lots a birthday parties, but for the adults. We weren’t invited to these parties, so what I am about to tell you from hearsay, but I believe it to be true ( sort of ). One such party took place at a nearby neighbour’s home. The owner, Harry, was quite the character! He was an interior decorator with a quirky sense of humor. His guest bathroom walls were wallpapered with eyes that “ followed ” you! I am not sure what affect these “ wandering ” eye had on bathroom users, but I am sure the word “ uncomfortable ” might describe it, especially after a “few” sips of wine! Yes, there was a lot of liquor consumed, but that was okay because no driving was involved. Everyone attending live within walking distance, so driving was not necessary. Speaking of walking, Harry was very “ hospitable ”, so when my mom and dad decided to leave th...