Thursday, April 24, 2008

Flashback Rerun HNT

About a week ago I received a telephone call from my mom's doctor in Michigan. She requested a family meeting in Michigan to discuss my mom's rapidly progressing dementia and the beginning of the onset of Alzheimer. My mom is forgetting to take her medicine and sometimes even eat. The doctor thinks it's time to get someone to visit her daily to make sure she takes her meds and prepare her a meal or two. My brother and I will be flying there probably next week.

That call brought back many memories, so last Sunday I posted a story about the years after my mom and dad were divorced until 1963 when my mom sent me to live with my dad in New York. I decided that today I'd relive a few more memories of my childhood and repost a story from last year about some carefree days when I was seven.

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I lived in Florida from about the age of 4 1/2 until half way through the 9th grade in 1963. My father was a lineman by trade and my mother was a housewife. When the work got scare for my father in one place, we'd move to where ever he could find work. My mom told me that sometimes my father would come home on a Friday tell her to pack. We had to move right away and be in a new place on Sunday, so he could start a new job Monday morning.

I remember living in these places; St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Boynton Beach, Starke, Hypoluxo, Jacksonville. I'm sure there were more, but that's all I can remember. We lived in three different places in Jacksonville alone.

In 1955 we moved from St. Petersburg to Clearwater. Here we are doing what we did practically every weekend, fishing. We didn't have very much, but one thing my father made sure of, was that we always had a boat.








In Clearwater, we lived in an apartment above the garage behind our landlords house. I loved that place. The house was across the street from a park with a playground. The best part about living there was sliding down the banister of the stairs that went up to the apartment.

These are my father's parents. If you guessed they are Polish, your right. This shot of us was taken on Christmas Eve in 1955. We always opened our gift on Christmas Eve.

My grand parents lived near us no matter where we moved. We'd move and not long after that they moved too. My father had a 'love/hate' relationship with my grand father. Every once in a while they would have a big argument, and my grand parents would move away. But it wasn't very long before they'd move back near us again. I loved having them around so much. My cousin John from Pennsylvania told me that he almost never saw our grand parents, so I guess I was lucky.

I carried that air rifle around with me everywhere and almost never took off that holster.










I think my grandfather loved fishing as much as my father did. I remember the day they brought this tarpon home. It was the biggest fish I seen up to that point. All the neighbors came over to take a look at it.





"I love you mommy."

This shot was taken during Christmas 1956. Miraculously, we still lived in the same apartment. I really have a lot of great memories of living here. Like the time in third grade I was arrested for breaking and entering. Well, not arrested exactly, but my friend and I were taken out of school by the police and reprimanded to our parents custody.

But that's story for another day.



Happy HNT Y'all!

16 comments:

jillie said...

But you know what made those days SO special? We DIDN'T need much and the thing is, we didn't know that we were missing out on anything. I would give my eye teeth to go back in time to a more simpler life.

You were a cutie then and you're a cutie now. Best of luck with your mom. ((HUGS)) to ya my dear friend!

HHNT

BTExpress said...

Thanks Jill. Today I realize we were poor, but money wise only. I was rich in so many other ways and loved my life growing up. I wouldn't trade it for anything. But I also like the luxuries I have today and wouldn't want to give them up either.

S said...

Oh god we are all so oldddd...remembering the good old days and all that!

Why, these young whippersnappers have no idea about the good old days!

Kittie Kate said...

I'll miss my new Mom (the woman I call Mom), the one who's taken care of me. She doesn't live in this state. She's not my blood, but my Mom in my heart.

I have Parkinson's in my family and also when the brain stem shrinks. Good luck! Treasure her! Mom's are hard to come by.

Happy HNT!

Amorous Rocker said...

I am sorry to hear about your mother. Alzheimers is such a terrible thing to live with and it's so bad to watch it over take someone you love. *Sigh* ((Hugs))

Those were wonderful pictures and I really enjoyed reading the post. Thanks for sharing. Happy HNT. =)

Stealth said...

hey tony, i fixed your link on OS's page..

I would love a simple life. God would I ever. LOL

SignGurl said...

Those are the sweetest pictures ever!! They are made even more special by the handwriting of your mother.

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother, Tony. I'll be thinking of you. Keep me posted on your Michigan arrival.

Lapis Ruber said...

So sorry to hear about your mother - it seems we have something more in common as mine is going through the same problems.

Terrific trip down memory lane - you had some good times.

BTW your link from the Os Comment is messed up (finger trouble thinking about that threesome?) Happy HNT

Katie :) said...

memories are wonderful!
HHNT

lime said...

the shot of you and your holster and gun is just priceless.

thanks for revisiting this. looking forward to the next chapter.

naughty endevours said...

Bless you all. My gramma is into the mid-stages of Alzheimers and it makes me think about how vibrant she used to be back when she cared for us. Roles are reversed now.

Anyhoo. HHNT!

Sexy Duet said...

Great photos, I love looking at old family photo albums - so many good memories.

Sorry to hear about your mother, our thoughts will be with you next week.

Happy HNT!

Ms SD

Vixen said...

Aww.... :)

happyHNT

Libby said...

tony-i'm so sorry to hear that about your mom! and God bless you for knowing she gzve you the best she could!

Monogram Queen said...

Awww wonderful pics and stories. It's funny, my grandparents always moved with us too, virtually next door usually! I was blessed with a close relationship with them until their deaths. I still miss them and always will.

Tara Tainton said...

I love these intimate glimpses into your incredible and full life... and such a lovely mommy tale. ;) These photos are amazing! thanks so much for sharing

xoxo
Tara