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It is the Great Depression era. Vacations are limited to a day. Preparation takes time. |
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I know I am only 5. It is all very real. Something is happening. I can feel the excitement as it is building. Mom is very happy. She is so busy in the kitchen. I can tell her emotions are at a high. She has talked with Grandma at least 3 times already. Oh boy, I really enjoy when Grandma and Grandpa are involved. What a nice warm day in July it is and the breeze is keeping the house cool. Mom is spending far more time in the kitchen than she usually does. Whatever it is she is doing, it sure smells good. It is Saturday. Saturday is hot dogs and baked beans for dinner night. That's traditional in our home. So I know my Mother is planning something big and it's not baked beans and hot dogs. At least, I don't think it is. I think, I better play it cool. I better be real good. I shouldn't play around my Mom where she has to pay attention to me. I need to just keep it cool. I must be doing a good job. I'm not bothering Mom. It's almost time for Dad to come home. Mom is still very busy. I have now tasted some of the yummies that she is making. Fresh squeezed lemonade, fried chicken and stuffed eggs. That is just a sample of what she is preparing. Dad works every other Saturday, so he has been gone for the day. It is about time for him to be home. When he gets home our evening will begin. We moved into our new home just one year ago in 1937. We live in Bexley, Ohio and our home is in a country atmosphere. Our nearest neighbor is across the street and is the original farm home that owned all of the property around us. Most of the property is still woods and vacant. In fact, I see my Dad coming home now. It's fun to see the excitement when he arrives and the joy Mom and Dad have when they are united for their evening together. Once home, Dad enjoys his moments with Mom and his first beer for the evening. This is where I over hear Dad ask "Are you ready to go?" to Mom. She answers" I have the picnic ready and we are packed". "Well," Dad says, "Ruggles Beach here we come!" What's a picnic? What's a Ruggles Beach? Hot dogs and baked beans are the menu for the evening. As I said before, it is tradition. The Saturday bath is routine for Sunday Mass. Mom and Dad explained during dinner what is planned to my older brother and I. We are going to Ruggles Beach and swim in Lake Erie. After we swim, we are going to have a picnic for the day. Grandma and Grandpa are going with us. Dad bought some sand shovels and buckets for us to enjoy at the beach. A lawn sprinkler system is my only swimming experience. I have no idea what Mom and Dad are talking about. I knew at least, if Grandma and Grandpa are going, we are going to have lots of fun. We are at Mass very early on Sunday at St Catherines Church. Mom packed everything in the car and Dad drove the car to pick Grandma and Grandpa up. As we traveled north to the lake, the windows were down in the car. The breeze kept me cool on the trip. Dad drove while everyone enjoyed talking with Grandma and Grandpa. I simply listened half way but primarily drifted into my own little world of fantasy. It seemed forever that we are driving, even though we are comfortable with the breeze blowing in our face keeping us cool in this hot summer day. Dad would periodically stop the car. My face would feel the wind chap on my face. As we entered a town, Dad asked all of us if a stop is necessary. I am not sure why he is asking until I began to have the need of the bathroom. Holy smokes, I am in trouble. Dad just asked if he needed to stop for any reason and I didn't say anything. Oh boy, now I am not sure I can hold until he asks again. So why not cry! I did! It got attention and Dad turned the car around and drove back to the last town. Wow, did I learn a lesson. Needless to say, Dad is not too forgiving for the moment. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa. That's where they come in. They make these moments that could be tense and allow it somehow get smoothed out. In any case, that is why I chose to sit in between them during the trip. It seems easier that way. After an eternity passed, Dad announced that we are almost there. As Dad drove, I kept looking for something, anything that seemed to be worth this long trip in the car. All I could see is another town. Nothing unusual! Yet everyone else in the car seemed to be more anxious. Why? Then Dad said "There she is! Can you see her? Isn't she pretty?" Who is she? and what is so pretty? "Where Grandma? I don't see her" I said. "Tommy, look to your left out the window. Do you see that dark blue?" asked Grandma. "That's Lake Erie!" She exclaimed. Well, I certainly have to admit that I have not seen the dark blue in the sky before, but I am game to find out why everyone is so excited about. We find ourselves a parking place for the car in the parking lot at Ruggles Beach. Once we are parked, we all get out and stretch from the trip. Mom starts to organize the group. My brother and I go with Dad to a changing room. Dad gets us a towel and key to a locker for our clothes. We change into our swimming suits. This already is fun. It's new and we all are doing it together. The park is with picnic benches, men playing horse shoes, swings and slides overlooking the beach. We go down a long white staircase to the beach. The park is with tall trees giving the area plenty of shade. Grandma and Grandpa elect not to swim and sit in the shade overlooking the beach. Mom and Dad and my brother Mick and I go to the beach to swim. Now I really did not know what I am doing. My Mom began to introduce me to the lake. I enjoy the sand but I am having difficulty when I enter the water. There were pebbles that made it difficult for me to enter the water. Whose idea was that? Nice soft sand then zap and I am struggling on pebbles. I am getting used to it. I am playing in the sand and building a castle, only to sit and watch it wash away. Frustrated by the loss of my artistic endeavors,I decide to try the water once again. As I approached the water I am challenged by this swimmer of similar age floating by me. I ask myself, why can't I? I ran up to the person and asked how do you do it? It was easy. Walk in the water with your hands and let your legs float behind you. What fun! I no sooner mastered my first swimming lesson and Dad called us to dress for supper. Boy I am hungry. We showered with Dad, then dressed and joined up with Mom, Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma and Grandpa have the picnic all out and ready to eat. I sat at the picnic table covered by a red and white checkered table cloth. I was handed my dinner of fried chicken, potatoe salad and baked beans. Mom asked if any one would like fresh lemonade. Grandma set on the table a relish dish with celery, homemade sweet pickles, kosher dills, bread and butter pickles. She also put a sprinkle of stuffed olives with the relish as well. Stuffed hard boiled eggs are passed around the table to everyone. There is no annoyance of bugs because of the fresh breeze from the lake. A fresh chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting is the dessert offering. I now know what a picnic is. What fun! It is worth the wait and all the planning. After eating this sumptious meal, we pack up our belongings and the picnic leftovers. Dad checks his map and the way home and announces for all of us to get aboard the car. As we look back at the lake in the sky, we all settle in for the ride back home. Sharing our experience with every one is a part of trip home. For some reason it seems shorter going than coming. There would be other trips to Ruggles beach for the family in the future, but this is special in my scrapbook of life. |
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