Ma and Pop

Ma

 While driving to Joe's (Paul's friend) house today to pick him up for lunch, I realized he lived really close to where my maternal grandparents, Ma and Pop, lived for many years.  So many happy memories.  She and my grandfather lived in the second floor apartment and we loved the uniqueness of it.  The bedroom had a closet that if you ducked under the hanging clothes and went past the boxes stored, there was a private area with a window that looked over the street!  Off the living room was a dark closet with shelves that held toys.  It seemed every time we visited, the toys were new and exciting.  There were always new coloring books and sharp crayons.  I learned how to knit clothes for my Barbie doll.  There was even a small cement pond with a statue of a boy fishing and peeing (I did clarify this memory with both my mother and sister!).  I loved sticking my feet in the water.  I learned how to ride a 2 wheeler in the driveway.  (Of course I fell as soon as I realized Pop had let go of the seat back at the end of the driveway!)  We got to pet the landlady's dog.  It wasn't even cute or friendly but since we did not have a dog, it was special.  My grandfather had the neatest tools.  There was an oil can that made funny popping noises when we oiled the bike chains.  Crazy clippers that looked like big scissors to trim the edge of the grass.  The basement was just creepy enough to want to go down there and help with the laundry.  The landing had also had a closet that stored all the food goodies.  And the best part of sleeping over were the folding cots set up in the dining room that made it seem like camping.  I loved watching bowling with Pop and as he kept score with the shortest pencils ever.  It was always special and exciting to visit.

I was really lucky to have both Ma and Pop.  Ma would always tell me if I got the chance to go anywhere - GO!  So I go! I hope I can have a similar positive impact on the lives of my grandchildren.  Unfortunately I have not finished downloading pictures onto my laptop so I have limited photos before 1998.  So I presently have no photos of Pop.  

A great Italian lunch with Joe and seafood dinner with Tina (friend) and we are on our way to Savannah.  Crazy to think we are starting our second sailing season planning!

Gotta love those sucky bags (otherwise known as vacuum bags).  With luck we will arrive early afternoon.