I guess I’m in a mellow reminiscing mood today … yesterday I celebrated another birthday … I was blessed to have my family around and sat back to watch my son and daughter reminisce about their childhood memories. It was like watching an old favorite movie … their eyes lighting up as they recalled special memories of their youth. That kind of set the stage for this week’s blog. Birthday memories … it took me back to my childhood days growing up on Smithton Street, on the Northside of Pittsburgh. We didn’t have a lot. Our little house had two rooms downstairs, a kitchen and a living room … no dining room or family room like today’s norm. Upstairs was my parents’ bedroom and my very small bedroom overlooking our yard which ran right up to the Cemetary. Our family room was actually the basement that also housed my dad’s workbench, and a makeshift bathroom, nothing fancy. My Mother would place a long folding table with folding chairs in the middle of the floor with balloons hanging from the rafters. A large canvas hung over clothesline that separated the workbench and makeshift bathroom, giving us our private party room! We always played in the yard until it was time for cake and ice cream. Since my party was co-ed and some of the girls were wearing party dresses, our games were pretty subdued like drop the clothespins in the milk jar and pin the tail on the donkey but later after the girls went home, we broke out into the games of Smithton Street like, Boston Baked Beans … which is another story for a later blog. My guest list was made up of the neighborhood kids and of course my many cousins. It was a nice guest list until it came time to do the traditional birthday punches routine … growing up in my neighborhood it could be quite painful with the Smithton street gang delivering their loving birthday blessings. Last night I spent much of the evening thanking my friends who sent messages via Facebook and looking at the names sending the messages … I again began to reminisce … so many great memories, so many great friends … again thanks to all! I truly miss those carefree days, but I will always have the great memories! After the Party … B-Day Memoirs!
Dad’s workbench