Two Half-Lives in Philadelphia: You Bought Him WHAT for Christmas?

Introduction

While I was born in 1951, sometimes I feel like I was born in 1914. My father told me so many stories about growing up in Philadelphia, and occasionally even about his family, that I feel some sense of at least one person's life in those years before I was born. While my mother, of course, wanted a child, I'm not sure that my father did. I think there was a part of it all that scared him, so they waited quite a while to have me. I hope I was "a relief" to my father, and I think I worked hard to be a good son. Looking back, especially at those few older pictures I have of my father, I think the very best part of his life was the first half - back when things were simple, he had good friends, and the burdens of adulthood were not yet upon him. Looking back, I feel like the best part of my life was the first half, largely due to my parents. It was a time when life was simple, controllable, and when I was actually organized! I'm sure my father found many good things in his entire life, as do I, but I believe we had this in common - that there is nothing better than growing up in Philadelphia. So, do not find the title of my new blog in any way depressing, my friends, its just a perspective that I've found interesting to investigate.

I'll start by writing about my family. I realize we are nothing special, but as we've learned from millions of pages of memoirs written and published, there can be much to be learned from those who came before us.

As I get past some family stories, this blog may be of interest to anyone who grew up in the Delaware Valley/Philadelphia/Delaware County in the 1950's and 60's, or to anyone married/partnered to one (if you are, there is much you need to understand before the two of you can communicate!).

Please check out my book, Saturday Night at Sarah Joy's. All proceeds go to the Hurricane Sandy NJ Relief Fund. Information is available at: saturdaynightatsarahjoys.blogspot.com.

Thank you!

Monday, July 23, 2012

You Bought Him WHAT for Christmas?

I'm sure parents don't always think through the whining, the never ending begging of children for certain Christmas presents. I, of course, was never one of those kids, but still I did get a bicycle the year we had a bad Christmas snowstorm. My father shoveled a path out the door and past many row houses on our Collingdale street so I could ride it that day. As parents, they worked hard for me.

Yes, I did get a drum set one year! They made a mistake. They didn't think it through.

In 1961, people were very interested in Indians, as well as cowboys and Indians. I always was sympathetic to the Indians myself, and thought Tonto seemed to be the smart one. I was so excited to see, under the tree that year, a long, long wrapped package. It had to be what I wanted! My first bow and arrow set!

I remember the feel of the bow, the feel of the split end of the arrow around the wire, the excitement of pulling it back, the disappointment of not letting one fly through the house. So, that Christmas day we packed up our black 1951 Chevrolet and drove to our favorite park, called at the time League Island Park. It was a remnant of the 1926 Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition, essentially a world's fair that was held in Philly. It was a great little park, near the Philadelphia Naval Yard, that had lots of lakes, places to picnic, a museum (The American Swedish Historical Museum) and lots of fields to play in. So, on that cold December day, my mother and father and I bundled up and went out to League Island, to make some arrows fly. They kidded that it should have been a 4th of July gift, but the photographic data suggests that they may have had at least as much fun as I did.

Two Half-Lives in Philadelphia

Introduction

Monday, July 23, 2012

You Bought Him WHAT for Christmas?

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