MY EXCURSIONS ....SUMMER 1953

On week days, Mimi went to work at the clock shop which was downtown.  She traveled to and from work via a cab.  Both Grandma and Aunt had a penchant for costume jewelry and perfumes.  Mimi also had a nice collection of dresses in the closet.  Every work day, it was a major project for Mimi to get dressed for work.  She would look in the closet and make her choice....the only two choices I can remember was the "silk chantung" or the "dotted swiss"....Then the jewelry.   Finally she would yell  "Mom, here's my cab."   Grandma would walk out to the alley on the other side of the white picket fence  (passing Nora's and Lem's house)   and help Mimi into the cab.  Mildred walked using those heavy braces and crutches...her legs were locked stiff and she would lean to one side and swing a leg foreward and then do same with other leg.  Sometimes, she fell and it was a frightening experience that made her cry.  When she was at work, Grandma was doing a variety of things like the wash, cleaning..etc., so that left me alone to invent things to do.  I walked alot that Summer..going everywhere...exploring..talking to people.   My Father sent money to them to help with my expenses and a little of it was funneled my way by Grandma.  As I told you, Grandma told me to not keep company with Carla...but....we did make plans through the open windows at night and would meet somewhere at a certain time.  Grandma and Mimi went to church every Sunday and I enjoyed going with them..lots of cute girls in Sunday School..and I  fell in love with them all.  I spent alot of time down at Tick of Time Clock shop and learned how to take apart and clean Meter Clocks used to measure gas flow at oil  refineries and pipe lines.  This was long before we discovered that certain hydro-carbons were cancer causing, and both Oscar and I would sit at the bench in the back and stir parts in Benzol to clean them.  I liked to walk the two miles to Newblock Park which was a large open area with lots of trees and a huge swimming pool. I liked to look at the girls..especially their legs....On that walk to the park, I crossed over a bridge that passed over a number of railroad tracks.  One day, I saw a train approaching slowly and as the Diesel engine passed underneith, I dropped a heavy stick of wood I found on the bridge and it hit a large fan turning on the top of the engine.  Splinters went every where and I prided my self in my aim.....Mimi will be home soon and we can watch TV together and laugh.  Every day was an opportunity to see how I could make my presence known.....and I usually found a way.....(to be continued)