Caught on Film

My last picture showed my brother and me with Grandad Ewen. This picture shows my first cousin, David; my brother Henry, and me. It was taken about the same time period, late 1950s, and represents most of the pictures taken during this time. [Although more 1st cousins are usually around.]

We are standing just inside the front door. Granny is holding David's hands, and I seem to be glad that I have the "prize" held high in my left hand. [Being left handed of course.] Not sure exactly what this is, but I seem happy that I have it. David seems a bit upset, and Henry seems his usual calm self, with some kind of object held in his mouth. My dress again is outstanding. Shirt disheveled, only one suspender showing, cuffs opened, and most of my shirt tail about to join the outside world. What joy on my face.

Granny Ewen seems to have become the sheriff, waiting patiently [or not so patiently] for this adventure to pass. What adventures there are in childhood. Grannies being the sheriffs, and the grandchildren being the "Cowboy and Indians". Lock 'em up says the sheriff. This one caught on film.

Lost your Marbles?

"Have you lost your marbles?" A question stated frequently in my growing up days. I always took this saying as coming from the generation before, since playing marbles seemed to be during my Dad's generation. You could still buy a bag of marbles at J.J. Newberrys on Main Street, but this section of the toys was gradually replaced by sacks of army men, cowboys and Indians, fire trucks, and all the real boy toys.

At one point, I even tried to play marbles, but the rules we never quite clear, and my thumb hurt after trying hard to flip those little round, glass, balls. In the real marble playing days, I guess that if you really lost all your marbles, you could become sad, angry, and feel a loss. Coming home dejected, I could see where your mom might ask, "Have you lost your marbles?"

The picture to the right shows some of my Dad's marbles. They have been placed in a "Lamb Mason" jar with the tin lid. Various shapes and colors...various sizes...various game playing experience...how would you know which one to pick as your shooter? Perhaps a "cat eye" would work. I suspect that most of the expert marble players are gone. Someone should write the rules down for future generations. At any rate, if you have lost your marbles, I have some.

Ups and Downs

Living in Winchester, KY during the 1950's and 60's had its ups and downs. Going up and down the stairs to the basement at 25 Vine Street was one. Getting up and down from the couch watching Superman, Twilight Zone, Perry Mason, and Alford Hitchcock on our black and white T.V. was another. Up and down from the bunk bed endlessly, day in and day out, night in and night out. Playing up and down Vine Street during those school free summer months was always another exciting one. Traveling up and down Broadway to Jackson Street to visit Mam maw and Pap paw was a favorite. Running up and down our neighbors fence line as those black dragons huffed, and puffed, and steamed their way into my memory was a ear full. Walking up and down High Street to Hickman Street school where the old junk yard offered many hours of activity was a creative one. Climbing up and down on the stockyard fences to get a good look at the passing cows, horses, sheep, and sometimes pigs was always a nose full. Sneaking up and down the steps to the third floor boys bathroom to check out the latest educational drawings on the wooden stalls was always an eye full. Moving my special cup up and down from the table and sharing the cinnamon toast as family stories were told, was a special one. On and on it goes, up and down it goes. Yes, my early life living in Winchester, KY certainly had its ups and downs. They filled my senses with wonder... my eyes, my nose, my ears, my touch, and even my taste.

Super Heroes

Black and White T.V. introduced me to my first super heroes. Mighty Mouse on Saturday mornings..."Here I come to save the day"..., and Superman weekly..."able to leap tall building in a single bound". George Reeves played Superman and I was his side kick. Using a towel pinned around my neck to fly, I would imagine all kinds of adventures. Here a bad guy, there a bad guy. I was fighting for truth and the American way. Occasionally jumping from my bunk bed, I would fly, even if for a brief moment.

News came that Superman was going to be at our state fair the summer of 1959. Man what excitement this produced in my bunk bed jumping. Noting my jubilation, mom and dad agreed to take me to the fair. That summer, the fair was going to be in Louisville, Kentucky some two hours by car from our home. I was going to see Superman in person. Each day I would sharpen my Superman skills, fighting robbers, crooks, thieves, and many more bad guys. I was getting ready to see Superman live.

On June 16, 1959, word came via Black and White T.V., that Superman had committed suicide. What, Superman can't die. No...this didn't happen...I am going to see Superman at the state fair. Let's go...let's go.

We did attend the state fair in 1959. Pat Boone replaced Superman, but it was not the same to me. Super Heroes don't die...or do they?

A New Mystery

Exploration was my middle name. Well actually it was Edward, but exploration would have fit in 1959. Having completed my tour of Mam maw's and Pap paw's parlor, I would move on to the bedroom. Now this was really Pap paw's room. It was where he literally spent his life, due to his stroke. His chair set angled out from the wall where his crutches stood. There was a T.V. tray next to his chair where Mam maw often left crackers, a glass of milk, and his bag of black lickerish sticks. To the right stood an end table that sat between his chair and the large, four-poster bed. My exploration was often curtailed in this room, due to the fact that Pap paw was there, and frequently other family members were visiting, at anyone time. These facts made it much more difficult to examine the territory.

It so happened that one day as Pap paw and I were alone in his room, he had to go to the bathroom. He would maneuver his crutch under his left arm, raise from his chair, and negotiate a passage to the bathroom. The timing was now perfect for me to explore the bedside table that, to this point, had been pretty much neglected by my determined examination.

The table was magazine rack, pharmacy, hair dresser, post office, message board, candy store, bank, storage rack, and the many other things that came in handy just getting up in the morning and going to bed in the evening. There were combs, hair brushes, make-up containers, lip stick, hand mirror, top value stamps, coins, notes, and candy. You get the picture. There was one drawer at the top that beckoned to be opened, and who was I to deny that Siren's call.

The top drawer had a single nob that could be used to open this lightly packed space. My eye came to a blue box which had gold lettering on the top. The box was almost shaped as a cube; and it was somewhat heavy as I began to raise the lid. To my astonishment it contained an eye! Almost dropping the box, at first, I thought, what in the world?! What did Pap paw do to have an eye in his bedside table? Knowing my anatomy now, the pupil was round and jet black. This was surrounded by a light blue iris (the color part of the eye)that reflected the rooms light perfectly. The iris was surrounded by a sea of white. I touched the white part and it felt like glass! A glass eye! Golly gee! Returning the box to its rightful resting place, I closed the drawer and quickly returned to my sitting position on the bed. A glass eye, a glass eye...my mind raced through the possibilities. A pirate placed it there...no, no. Part of a Halloween costume...no,no. Murder...surely not. But why? As Pap paw returned from the bathroom, my determination to solve this new mystery began.