Things I miss:

Ice skating at night on the pond at the end of my street. A man that lived right on the banks would turn a flood light on to shine out over the ice, so we could all skate safely. When he turned the light out, we knew it was time to go home.

Hot fudge sundaes at the drug store ( not called a pharmacy back then ) that had a soda fountain.

Riding the bus with my mother when we would go shopping in all the big stores in Providence. Of course we always ate lunch out too when we went, and that was always a real treat.

Saturday afternoon high school football games,, and the BIG game each year ( Warwick vs Cranston ) which was on Thanksgiving morning. I know Gretchen remembers that too! In the afternoon it was off to Aunt Milly's house for a huge Thanksgiving dinner - Italian style - with enough food to feed an army.

The long drive ( or so it seemed ) to Lexington to visit Aunt Lilly, and the fun I had exploring in her old house - especially in the attic, and also "playing" her piano.

Going out on Dad's boat in Narragansett Bay and digging for clams with our toes at low tide.

Visiting my Uncle Vinny's hobby shop in Providence. I never walked out the door without some trinket or craft to make, that he would give me before we left.

And of course, going to Uncle Archie's pizza shop in Pawtucket and feeling special because I could go in the back and watch him at work in the kitchen. And of course there were always pizzas to take home too.

Washing and drying the dinner dishes with my brother. Yup - the days before there was ever an automatic dishwasher in the house. We would alternate each week - one week I'd wash and he would dry, and the next week we switched. I always liked to dry, since when my brother dried, he'd wait till the towel was nice and damp, then chase me all around the kitchen, snapping the towel at me. It stung like crazy when he connected, but it was all in fun.

I could go on and on with what I miss, but you can see it's just about all family related. They are all gone now, and I'm the lone survivor.



Things I don't miss:

Walking to school in nasty weather. Yes - we WALKED to school if we lived under 2 miles from the school we attended.

My mother telling me that I did something that I didn't do. To this very day, if anyone says I said or did something that I didn't, it makes my blood boil!!!

My high school English teacher constantly comparing me to my brother. I think the old bird had the hots for him. One day she started in about my "brother John" and what a wonderful student he was and yadda-yadda-yadda. Before I realized it I came right out and told her "I'm not my brother John". Oops - I thought my butt was headed straight to the principal's office, but she never said or did anything.

I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of much right now. That's a good thing - the good far outweighs the bad!