So she asked, ‘Where was the family ice box?”

  Memorable Trucks from The Past:

 The ICE TRUCK was a familiar site up until the mid 1950s. When the ice slid off the truck it peeled some ice slivers. Kids followed the truck and raced to get the shavings to eat or make 'snow balls' in the summer.

For today:

I know my entries are OLD memories, and these last few weeks have generated even more. We started talking about getting groceries. I have been doing that now for weeks. Sherry went to pick up her blood pressure meds yesterday. It was raining and I dropped her at the door and picked her up.

Her family shopped for groceries on Wednesday and mine shopped on Monday. The groceries were delivered by a kid in a pickup truck. He went in the back door without knocking and left them on the table. No one signed for anything.

I remember once during summer shower our grocer used a can of Morton salt to write on the sidewalk under his awning, “When it rains it pours!” That was the ad Morton used. I remember thinking, “How can he waste that much salt?”

The grocery stores were for many years’ just small mom and pop stores that ran a ‘bill’ in an old tablet. Daddy always gave mama’s grocery list to the grocer and paid for last weeks groceries. Sherry remembered when the A & P came to Belmont. She said after that, her mama shopped.

Sherry was remembering their ‘Crosley’ refrigerator. It had a small freezer for 2 trays of ice; we all did.  I remember the small area beside the Ice tray area was the coldest, usually for milk. There was a drip pan under the refer for the water that was not caught during defrosting to drip into.

So she asked, “Where was your mama’s ice box before her Crosley? Ours was on the back porch.”

(I never saw an ice box this fancy.)

(Most ice boxes were simply an insulated box like this one)

“Ours was in the kitchen. Mama would put the card in the window saying how many pounds of ice she wanted, According to how the card was turned the ice man would carry it thru the house and put it in the ice box.

(On Ice days this card was in the window, the amount UP is what the ice man delivered.)

 Daddy made a hole in the kitchen floor for the water to drip out into the area under the house. That kept from having a drip pan to empty.”

She said, “We always had to empty the drip pan, someone was assigned the chore to do that and there were times they forgot and it ran over.”

Sherry pointed to our refrigerator/freezer, “We are so blessed now, huh?”

Yes we are. Forgive the memory trail, we are having fun remembering and counting our blessings.   We fuss about changes today in this electronic age BUT THERE ARE SOME CHANGES THAT ONLY OLD PEOPLE CAN APPRECIATE.

NiteShipslog

PS:

Just got a read on MA, she had internet problems.  Good to hear!

Neighbors, Sweet!

Memorable Automobiles from The Past:

  1935 Alpha Romero (that would be a cool dude to tool around in!

NOTE:  Yes Myra,  that was Shirl in the background of the photo of our friend Ann some entries back.. She and Shirl were buddies.

For today:

I was playing in the basement when Sherry called me to come up stairs. I was surprised to have a visit from the (attack) dog owners. It was both the neighbor and her son. They apologized profusely. The mother (who had been walking the dog) said neither of them slept much the night after the attack. She said son Todd cried and cried, nothing like that had ever happened in the 6 years they had had the dog.

Todd who is a great guy in his late 20s, (I would ID him a midget or a Small Person.) I have talked to him a couple times. He said he would pay any and all costs and Dr. Bills. He wanted to give us money for a Steak Dinner and said he would gladly come down and roll out our garbage from now on.

Todd gave us ALL of their phone numbers to call them when we got bills or if anything came up requiring ANYTHING, PLEASE CALL. He said, “I know nothing can make this BETTER, but please let us do anything to make it easier on you guys.”

The mother noticed the blood on the porch and drive and she would come down and scrub that out. (I said NO to the cleaning and garbage roll out.) The young man just hugged me and cried. He said you will not see the dog again. I will keep him in the house or back yard where he will do his business. He will not see anyone thru the blinds and bark because we will keep them closed.

Both had tears in their eyes as they apologized. Todd is such a ‘sweet’ guy. WE learned they are originally from Connecticut. He said he waited on the porch until after dark to catch us on the way back from the ER, but we must have come another way, and we did.

It is easy to forgive someone who is OBVIOUSLY VERY sincere, and I would hate to have bad feelings with our neighbors. AND at least we know them much better now.

NiteShipslog

PS: I am pleasantly surprised, there has been NO PAIN in the area of the Wrist damage. The PA just covered the hole left by the missing chunk and did a good job making it look smooth. I told her I wanted a bragging scar for the old folk, but she said no way!

Lastly:  Do you see anything wrong in this picture. He is trying to get the correct weight here.  ;-)

Inheritance and homes

Memorable Automobiles from The Past:

 

1932 Ford Roadster. Me and 'Bonnie and Clyde' liked the 30's engines and cars. LOL

Bulletin & update: I am doing fine. I am on an anti-biotic and only MINOR discomfort in my chin area. BUT DO NOT TELL SHERRY! Imma milk this for at least two months. I cannot wash dishes for a long time. LOL I am going to take a page from my sister Kat’s book. After a miscarriage the Dr. told Kat not to vacuum during her next pregnancy. She NEVER vacummed again her hubby did. LOL

For today:

At breakfast she said, “You know we never had a bathtub, nor owned a home when I was growing up, we just moved from one mill house to the other. The only things my family owned then was some furniture and stoves used in the house. None of the 7 kids expected nor thought of an inheritance.”

Sherry's sister Lennie and Elmer dating on the mill house front porch. I got a lot of sugar on that front porch myself!!

That is my sweetheart in Colette's arms beside the same mill house.

Then, I got to thinking, mama and daddy started off share cropping in North Georgia. Then lived in tents during the depression. Later moving to the North Carolina ‘cotton mills’ (and mill houses) for work in the 1930s. Once dad ‘felt the call to preach’ he built a church and parsonage. When I was born we lived in church owned properties until I left home at 16-17.

So neither of our families owned homes until near retirement; then both of our parents owned  small retirement homes.

  

My dad in front of the 2BR cottage. He was proud of the yard decorations his son Jr. had made.

The difference in our youth was Sherry moved within the town of Belmont and I lived within the state of North Carolina. WE both were raised in homes owned by someone else.

Then when we got married we lived in a 26 ft. trailer owned and rented out by the government. Sherry thought that little trailer was heaven, it had a bathtub. None of the houses she lived in had bath tubs.

ME? Shucks I lived in high cotton. We had a bath tub and indoor plumbing after I was 10 years old. LOL

I'll tell you one thing, there wasn't a lot of water on mama's kitchen floor!!!

Did you ever take a bath in a #2 tin tub?  As I remember it was parents first, then girls and lastly the dirty boys on Saturday. LOL

NiteShipslog

PS:

The day started off great BUT THEN… The Emergency Room.

 Memorable Vehicles:

 

So For Today:

Yep the day started off great. We had breakfast together. I messed with the computer some then went down to see the cats and talk to them some.

I noticed some trash bagged to go out. So out the door to the trash can. WHOOPS, today is the day to roll out the trash. So I started to the road..

Ahead of me I saw a ‘waving’ neighbor’ walking her Pit Bull. The bull is about 85 lbs and pulls the lady around.  As she got close and started to speak when the danged dog lunged for my throat pulling lady but only caught my chin and the edge of my throat. I pushed him away; then he latched onto my wrist. He turned loose to reach for a better hold thank goodness the lady had her footing and dragged him back a few inches just as those jaws snapped.

I was in shock. All that lasted less than 10-15 seconds probably. I looked down at my wrist and said, “OH SHIT!”

I grabbed some paper towels coming thru the basement, and they were soaked by the time Sherry saw me.

Anyway, the blood had stopped and Sherry was getting ready to take me to the hospital. I went next door to Tell neighbor Richard about the dog, because he walks that way often.

At that time the lady of the dog, walked up apologizing. I just waved her off and tried to talk but I was still sorta in shock. Richard had the presence of mind to ask about the dogs shots, she assured us they were up to date. He told her Animal Control would contact them automatically.

I was settling down a little on the short ride. I felt the small cuts on my chin and throat and it hit me how close I came to actually dying. If that dog had got my throat I would have been gone. On my throat the cut where the teeth brushed appeared to be done with a razor blade. That is some sharp teeth.

After 6 hours in Emergency, and a visit from Animal Control, I left with only a suture in my chin and one on each end of the 1¼” jagged cut. They did not sew it up ‘because it needed to drain, it was DEEP.’ The other 4 punctures were left alone.

The only time it really HURT was when the nurse cleaned it. That was a BIG OUCH!  LOL

Funny thing isn’t it, A few seconds just walking to put the trash out, can CHANGE your day. But in the end I am alive and feeling good.

 

NiteShipslog

PS: Even a dog on a leash can be dangerous……

 

She said, I don’t feel 83, but I know I am old.

  Memorable Automobiles from The Past:

 

1956 Pontiac Convertible

For today:

Sherry said that about age this morning at the start of our breakfast. That led into discussing our sweet friend Daisy who is just home from the hospital. She had some serious surgery. She is an active young lady of 96. She and her sister Ann (94) share a home together. They both think it is ideal, they get along marvelously and are wonderful folk.

A visit to their house is always a treat. They both are marvelous bakers and bake lots of cakes. Ann’s cakes have brought over a hundred dollars at cake auctions. I even bought one. 

Ann was exhibiting her musical skills with the Uke, flute, banjo and the spoons. She is a spry lady and still sharp as a tack.

This is Ann and Elmer (Sherry & my BIL) They were in their 90s here as boy and girl friend.

She ‘acted’ as a ‘pencil salesman’ once at a seniors meeting cracking everyone up. We still quote her. As she walked around with the pencils someone asked if they were sharpened, her reply dead panned, “Some is and some ain’t!”

Other answers just cracked us up.

Sherry said, “Do you realize I am just 10 years younger than that girl?  I hope I will be as able to get around as well as she does, Daisy quit driving but Ann still drives and does a good job of it.”

Here is Ann cutting up with William Sherry's nephew. She had given william those fake teeth, now trying to give him a popcycle.

When I do small jobs for those girls they always try to pay. Insisting that they are not out of money yet. LOL I just explain, this is my thing. It is my giving back for all that has been done for me.

There was a time when the house doors were never locked. My dad was Ann’s pastor in the 1950s. She said Dad walked into her house carrying two dressed chickens, calling, “SISTER Brown!”

I called from the kitchen, “Come on in!” He came in and told me Sister Darnell was making the rest of the dinner for a grieving church family. He asked, “Could you please fry these chickens?”

“Of course I did, that is the way we did back then.”

She has some sweet tales of mama and dad.

Back to Sherry, my answer, “You don’t look 83 nor act 83 either, you had better straighten up, Imma get you a walker tomorrow.

We are both very fortunate. I’m just 82, she raised me right!

 

NiteShipslog

PS: I was raised with church members having the first names of Brother and Sister. LOL That is not so much now, we use first names, even for our pastor who is ‘Pastor Danny.’

 

The Under Dog

 Memorable Vehicles from The Past:

 The 1937 Ford House CAr

For today:

Much of my blogging subjects comes from Sherry & my fun time together. That is the time that we take just after a meal just to sit and talk.

You may not remember Charles Atlas, but most boys my age remember it very clearly. Any little skinny boy who met a bully remembered that last age in the comic book. There he remembered this ad or many variations of it:

You are gullible enough to think one 3 cent stamp will get you the body and muscles to ‘stomp’ the bully.  Yep I sent off for this thing two or three times. But what I received each time was instructions and more ‘challenging promises’ but send in some money in the end. So I remained the skinny kid. LOL

The song ‘Short people Got No Reason to Live’ coulda been ‘Skinny Boys got No Reason to Live. LOL

I pull for the underdog and try to understand the people who are the subject of over powering people.

I know people who maybe weren’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, took some ‘junk, as they grew up, BUT with sheer doggedness they climbed the ladder to success. Many surpassed some of the people who made fun of them.

A funny ‘get even’ thing I remember from the USMC. I must have told this before, but it bears repeating. For many years the military paid in cash. Twice a month a half day was dedicated to getting paid. The troops lined up in alphabetical order to get paid. You were shown your pay on the books and signed for it. Then the cash was counted twice before handed to you.

The dispersing officer paid us in the barracks. That is Pvt. Barney J Randolph taking his pay and me signing for mine. This happened to be an official USMC picture.

Our new commander arrived. We had a battalion formation for him to address us and tell what his policies were and what he expected.

“I am Colonel Zachery, that is with a Z. I have stood at the rear of the line with Thomas’s, Wilsons, and Yanceys. BUT now that I am in charge, This battalion will line up alphabetically backwards. You Adams, Belks, and Cannons will know what it is like to be at the end of every line. I am gonna enjoy this assignment. Yes, you can smile, Now.... Dismissed!

I have always thought that was unique.

 

NiteShipslog

TIME and the sea.

 

TIME and the sea.

 Memorable Automobiles from The Past:

 

For today:

 With this COVID problem Sherry and I have enjoyed our talks together. 

Today in our discussion again I commented on her cup. She likes the cup from Cuba. Then I glanced to my right and saw the lamp we made with sea glass. I have talked about the beach in GITMO that was covered with beach glass. It has been accumulating since the early 1900s.

The beach is just below a club at the top of a 40 foot cliff. Beer and wine bottles have   been thrown off that cliff since about 1908. It is amazing how time, sand and small waves will wear a tough material like glass.

Time will wear a tough guy or gal also. I remember seeing a later picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger, age chewed that man up some.  I am trying to forget what it is doing to me LOL

Speaking of time, we must go back in time, we still have a ‘pouting doll’ on a bed.

 Of course we have a few things around the house referencing the sea also, other than sea glass.  I love these white sharks hovering around a rock.

 

Another of my favorites is this ‘Old Man of the Sea.’ 

And a father's day gift from a couple years back from Jack Jr.

When you are sorta tied in, you notice more STUFF!

Nite Shipslog

PS: Speaking of water, What about a croc or alligator for dinner. This is one tough Cook!

Decisions

 Autos of beauty

I have no idea of the make, I just caught the paint job and a split convertible, I never saw that before.

So for today:

Normally decisions on traveling are easy for us.  This time not so much.  BUT it seems we are both leaning to getting back in the RV and heading to Florida in a week or so.

By that time I will have the basement about ready for our return for the summer. I had planned to put an apartment in the basement, but these few weeks here have told me if I do, I will need an extra heating and cooling system down there, space heaters will not be efficient.

The idea of an apartment developed when my sister was leasing the house. We knew she did not want to go to assisted living, so we were giving thought to the apartment for a caregiver to live here with her and have their own living quarters.

 

Of course her dementia gained ground and her health lost ground and she passed.

The idea had grown to include us. We want to live at home as long as possible, so considering the same scenario for us, our care givers could live in and we could stay at home longer.

Anyway we may think of that more seriously this summer. We had thought on arriving here that we would be happy to drive the car back to Florida and leave the coach here. But when I asked Sherry tonight what she wanted to do, she said, “I think I want to take the coach back down.”  I agreed whole heartedly.

WE are both feeling better, and ready to head south after a few loose ends are tied.  

One of the loose ends, a BIG one is to See the latest addition to Matt & Kiersten’s family, Little Mr. Jack Wiley. We have been concerned about spreading something and THAT IS THE LAST thing we want to do.

 

 NiteShipslog

PS: