My Childhood Memories

Mom was home. We were fortunate.

Dad worked as a milkman @ Farrell's Dairy which was down the street from our house. Sometimes he walked home but sometimes he drove his car and parked it in front of the dairy and then drove home. I wonder if the neighbors found this strange.

My great aunt (Mabel) lived at the dairy and sold product there. Kids would come to her back door and yell, 'Mabel' when they wanted something.

Leo, my great uncle, also worked at the dairy.  He was a saintly man. He was always kind.  He drove a jeep which fascinated us. Neil talked about it alot. My father said it was a dangerous vehicle. He hasd driven one during the war.

We liked to come home from school and watch TV. My mother would ask us to go to the store. There were a  lot of different stores.

 

The bakery[Millers {rocks}(as Squirrel (Billy Joyce) called them], the meat stores (2 of them -Grandma Collins liked the one at her corner ( Kenny's) and my mom liked the further one (Kimmick's). There was a pharmacy across the street (Ryan's( Hammerschmidt) and later Dunn's(Knorl)  and Peewees was the grocery store. There were 2 stores: Wrights and Sirata's (convenience type stores). Jean's was a clothing store and there was a hardware store at the corner of Pomona. We could find most of what we needed here. 

On the weekends for something to do we would walk out Seneca- that is beyond Hayden to Woolworth's and Fishmen's and window shop at some of the other stores. We figured they'd kick us out if we went in because we rarely had any money to spend. In the winter it would have been nice to warm up there but kids got no respect. So it goes.

Our world was small and we had little interest in the bigger issues. We didn't have  a need to be concerned about those things. We were lucky to be protected from that by our parents. older siblings and aunts. 

Karen Sacco once told me she wrote to Dear Abby to ask for advice because the TV station changed the time Brady Bunch came on. This song reminds me of that.

Sr Patsy was a Rebel

 I loved hearing Sr. Patsy's stories. She told them well and they were always interesting and funny.

Her sister, Sr Victorine was the serious one. She was very kind, wise, generous, and patient. I look like her but fail short of her attributes. She reminded us often not to have expectations lest you be disappointed. She loved surprises, picnics, tailgating, and family get togethers. When she replied to a question she put great thought into it. 

We were so fortunate to have the sisters looking out for us.

When Sr. Patsy was old enough Sr. Victorine got her a job at the hospital in the Dietary Dept. After work on her first day her friend Maureen said she would love to have a job like that. Patsy went into her house, got her dietary uniform, and gave it to her.

Sr. Victorine was none too pleased to be informed that not only Patsy was a no show but someone else had showed up in her place.

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Sr. Patsy was gifted a ticket to Fla. by her friends (outside the convent). She was excited,  covered her teaching responsibilities, and readied herself for a great time.

The day before she was to leave she was called in to see the Mother Superior who told her she could not go.  'Nuns are not allowed to make independent decisions,' she was reminded in no uncertain terms.  

Patsy prevailed and enjoyed her time in Fla for the most part -but she did mention that many of the people on the beach were dead ringers for the Mother Superior and/or members of her family. 

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 Patsy was a notorious back seat driver. 

"NO BSD!"Patty would say before admitting her into her car.  She often reminded her that she needed a navigator not a nag -in- ator.

 Patsy:   "Use your signal Colleen!!!"  

 Colleen:   "I'm trying to save on the life of the battery."

Patsy (considering)

Patsy: "Go! Go! Go Colleen!" (despite any traffic law forbidding it)

It was great when we got GPS because before that  your stomach was in knots as she provided misdirection, barked out orders, and critiqued your driving -all delivered lovingly as only Patsy could. 

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Patty called Patsy and Mom's lunch visits the 'Ella and Patsy Show'.

Patsy would tell her stories in high dramatic style while my mother would just laugh or smile in response.

For some time neither could hear well. 

When I asked Patty if she needed anything at the store while we were at Mom's she would tell me to pick up some  hearing aides.

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Patsy's lifelong Pomona friend Eileen told us that another friend told her that she decided to join the convent. The friend asked Eileen to accompany her there. Eileen went with her to the convent and rang the bell but her friend had second thoughts and ran away leaving Eileen to catch up.

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Patsy was once and always a principal.

She loved the students and she was a firm believer in discipline.

One former student told us his hands are still cold after having been told by Patsy to make 100 perfectly round snowballs after he got caught throwing snow balls at the bus windows when he was in grade school. "...but Sister I have no gloves," he protested. "You didn't seem to notice that when throwing them at the bus," she replied.  

Patsy liked Tony Kenny and his songs.

Back in Buffalo!

 Retired and able to come to Buffalo for a longer period of time. I am a reverse snowbird. The weather, entertainment, and of course company has been amazing! It is especially nice after the horrendous year we have endured with pandemic restrictions and political turmoil. 

We lost Patsy but I'm so glad she did it 'her way.' What a rich life she lived!

Some highlights:

Reconnecting with friends and family 

uotdoor concerts/events

ilne dance -learning

using GPS to find my way around (much better than the old way-trial error and so less

time consuming!)

hanging with Sassy 

No Regrets (well maybe a few) ( Raising our Family)

Patrick getting lost at Darien Lake
Patrick getting lost at Seaworld
Thinking Stephen was lost when he was hiding in the bedroom behind the curtain with a spray bottle.
Brian saying he liked the 'free snooges', telling me it was a little 'winny' out, and asking if there was going to be a 'tomato'
Stephen's night swimming (shorts) lesson
Brian swimming like a windup toy and the 'sharks' in the pool
Brian Stephen and Tyler -the grapefruits
TP houses
Stephen's stuttering re. daycare. 'I wanted to give Brian a hug and a hug...'
Brian telling Stephen that if anyone bothered them he will ask if they wanted, 'a piece of him'

Stephen disowning of PJ 'He's my neighbor' when PJ joined the Oasis Dolphin school yard cleaners and appeared on the tv screen at school 

Brian:"I love you more than thunder."
Shorty cuts

Derek telling the cashier," I like buttered toast."

Stephen interference with street lights- inherited?

Ste: Give Loulou her privacy

Brian tap dancing 
Brian's frayed cowboy hat (kindergarden), Peanut, Mrs.Cummings
Frederick/ The Hillbilllys'
Patrick carrying my dress in the bank

Getting locked in Encanto Park
Patrick telling Grandma Farrell to fold his pillowcase so he could see 'Mousy'
Patrick bringing home presents and me making him return them.
Brian''s drawing pic of Nanny w/ a whiskey bottle in her purse
Stephen pic of Mrs. Nelson (story)
Patrick's white (angel) shorts- "Can you see my rump?"

Patrick's self portrait and caricature
The cottage: PJ throwing little Neil's underwear on Jimmy's roof
Jimmy falling through the ceiling (getting Maddie's sandal)
Jimmy's  reports on the stock market
Jimmy preparing and renting his cottage
Patrick telling Denny he had chicken pox(again) so he could stay home
Stephen's witch stories
Cookie vs Sprinkles

Joy of the Early Days (Raising our Family)

When my children were small I would often make up games As they got older their attraction to them diminished to the point that I was forced to abandon the practice.

We would play the birthday game where I would wrap up their toys nicely and they would get to open them ["Oh its my truck(again)!] I would take plastic eggs and put notes inside such as, 'good for trip to the store with Mom.'

Stephen retold in his own adorable manner some of the stories told to him. Most always he was the star/hero in his telling. Some I have videotaped and enjoy watching.

One day I told them that I would put each of their names in the hat and the one that was chosen would get to go to the library with me. I told each of them to write their name on a piece of paper. The older two, who by this point had tired of this 'nonsense', wrote the youngest child's name on the paper and when I picked out a name..surprise ...it was his.

Prayer for Brothers and Sisters (From Sister Patsy)

Heavenly Father, You've given me so many gifts. Perhaps the dearest of all is my precious family. I thank you now especially for my brothers and sisters. Be with them Father. Surround them with Your presence. 

Open their hearts to a knowledge of Your constant care. Help me to show how very much I appreciate them, how grateful I am to live at this particular time in history, and to be a part of this particular generation. 

You fashioned me even before You created the world. If there have been rifts between us, grant us the wisdom to mend them. Open us all to your healing presence: The peace that comes with forgiveness and abandonment to Your will. 

If I have ever taken my family for granted, forgotten to tell them how much they mean to me, or refused to respect and trust them, forgive me. I know that you want what is best for us. Remind us that we reflect Your love in our love for one another. Remind me too that all your children are my spiritual brothers and sisters. 

Moey and me.

Front: Brian P.,Moey, Joanne, Me

Back; Neil, Michael P., Joey, Dad, Christine P

Me, Peggy, and Neil.

Guard me from a judgmental heart. From prejudice and jealousy. Let me cherish each person I meet as a part of Your eternal family. I place us all in Your hands recognizing that You watch us with a Father's tender regard: ever alert, ever merciful. Keep us close to one another in this life and be with us as we journey to our final home together. Amen.

Grocery Shopping (Childhood Memories)

One of our childhood chores was going to the neighborhood store to pick up items for our dinner. 

Of course we weren't real thrilled to do this as it interfered with our after school TV watching or play time. In addition it sometimes entailed not only shopping for our family but for my grandmother. She lived on the next street and we were always trying to discover new short cuts through neighbors yards to shorten the trip. We were mostly caught and turned away.

Another objection we had was going to different stores: one for baked goods, another for meat, and then my grandmother used the other meat market. 

Not to mention the hoodlums who lived at the corner of Pomona (my grandmother's street)  who constantly tormented us, "What's in the bag?" ( usually some odd assortment of housewares) which upon investigating they would immediately lose interestand and allow us to pass.

Of course my grandmother was wonderful so you had to smile and suck up your impatience with the experience or you would be scolded when you returned home.

 

One time my brother Marty was sent out on one of these excursions. When he returned home it was pouring rain and he had ridden his bike. 

My mother came out on the porch to greet him and retrieve the goods. He handed her a brown paper bag that was empty. It had been through soaked by the rain and the contents had fallen out. She kind of laughed (still in shock after losing 1 # ground beef) and asked," Where is the change?" 

"It was in the bag," Marty replied.