The memories that were made around
THE FIREPIT
My husband had a great idea
I'll build a FIREPIT
It will be like camping.
So with the help of my dad
They dug the hole,
Added built in benches
It was grand...
We had breakfast, hotdogs, chili
Oh yes, Marys chili
She made it on our FIREPIT
We  added neighbors, and all our kids.
Of course samores were a big hit.
One night we hauled the little
Black and white TV out there
And watched THE BLOB....
With our just popped popcorn.
Back then SCARY.......
The stories that were told
Around that FIREPIT
Solving the worlds problems
Which seemed pretty simple back then.
The neighborhood was like a family.
The FIREPIT was a gathering place
for laughing, sharing stories,
And eating....
~
By judy

Finding an old friend
from years ago
when we were young
and not so slow...

WHEN ~ THEN

We would pass in the hallway
on our way to class
saying "hi" with a smile
as we walked past..

WHEN ~ THEN

It's Friday night
are you going to the game?
Of course lets meet
on the corner of Starr and Main

WHEN ~ THEN

We would meet our classmates
in the stadium to cheer
Warm in our mouton coats
The 50's were good years...

WHEN ~ THEN

The game would be over
we'd walk home in the dark
back to the corner
where we would then part...

WHEN

Now to the stadium
we still go
but now our grandkids
are putting on the show...

by judy

Can you imagine?
The time when being ask
To stay after school
To clean the chalkboards
And erasers was fun.

Can you imagine?
Waiting for the teacher
To pick you to
Take papers to the principle.
Yes, that was special.
And i never thought to peek.

Can you imagine?
Learning to do the waltz
And the foxtrot in gym?
Boys on one side of gym
And girls on the other.
Pick a partner...
No, no, boys are yucky.
That was grade school
When they really were.

I can't imagine not growing up
In the 40/50's
With kick the can,
Home made circuses
And running down to a friends house
And calling,
Can you come out to play?

I can't imagine not having a memory.

By judy

There is nothing more beautiful
to me than Autumn...

The big old Harvest Moon
Shining brightly...

The colors of red, orange and yellow
falling from the trees...

Squirrels racing around looking for nuts
too bury for their next meal...

The kids raking the leaves in piles
Ready, Set, Jump...

The trip to the pumpkin patch
for pumpkins and donuts...

And the smell of apples
at the apple orchard...

The memory of colors, smells and tastes
and time with family, makes this season
SPECIAL TO ME...

by judy

The first day of school
was a special time.
The kids would be happy
and the mother would cry.
We would start the day
with a prayer and the pledge.
And sing the Star Spangle Banner
With our hand on our heart..
We would learn reading
and writing and arithmetic.
Make projects into a beautiful
gift for mom or dad.
Out for recess, playing dodge ball
and then a race.
Everything went well
until you get a ball in the face.
At lunch time I would walk
home a mile each way.
Mac and cheese
then back for the day.
Everyday we did the same thing.
we'd listen to teacher
or visit the principal.
He would smack you with a ruler
on the back end.
and when we got home,
we'd get smacked again.
The first day of school
in the simpler time.
When they would teach
you the ABC's
And read you a nursery rhyme.
You learned from the first day of school.
By the teacher who knew the golden rule.

By judy

Getting ready to go fishing,
Started the day before.
Dad would hook up the water hose
To a pump that pumped water
Out of the creek in front of our cottage.
He would water the lawn
So the earthworms would
Show there heads
Or
Tails...how can you tell?
As soon as it got dark,
My dad would say grab your Flashlight..
So out we would go
To find those earth worms.
Or as a fisherman would call them
Nightcrawler's...
I loved catching those worms
Almost as much as i loved fishing.
And i usually went out barefooted.
It was like finding a treasure
When my flashlight would spot one.
And i could snap that worm up
Faster than they could hide.
We would each have a can
To put our worms in.
When we had a few dozen
My dad would put them in a bait box
With moss.
Those worms had it made.
Until the next day.
We would get up at day break
And head on out on Lake Erie.
With my fishing pole, my snacks,
My book (in case fishing was slow)
And our worms...
Gone fishing...

Lake Erie THEN and NOW
as a child
summers were spent
at our cottage
on  the beach of
Lake Erie.
Clear water i could see the bottom.
as a child
i would take a bar of soap
into the clear water
and wash up,
shampoo my hair,
then take a swim.
i lived in the clear clean water.
collecting sea shells,
colored glass which washed up
on the sand.
when a storm popped up
we would have white foam
wash up along with a dead fish or two.
but the white foam came from
the angry waves.
the foam never lasted long,
and mom picked up the dead fish.
water was back to being clear and clean.
now we never drank that water,
or bathed in it when it was angry.
But it was a beautiful beach.

NOW...
Sad to say it is green slime.
i went out and took pictures of the water.
the beach is now Maumee State Park
and thanks to the stuff than
runs off into Lake Erie
it is green, and angry again.
Can't find a clean spot anywhere.
Warning signs are posted.
Seagulls still are walking the beach,
hoping for a crumb.
SAD....
Then and Now...