A day in the Life .. Lee Part 1
So far it has been easy to ask for a day to remember ...the mornings were
pretty much the same .... This day is Friday May 7th 1955 . Six years old and
rushing toward 7 . I am in Second Grade , Mrs Schoonovers class .. walking down
the Hill toward School I caught up with my friend rex riley . We exchanged
pleasantries , which consisted of a series of short grunts and complaints about
the block long walk .
There was a distinct scent of fir in the air and most of the Houses to our
right and left were showing off the new spring blossoms . Bright pink tulips ,
red Rhododendrons being the most conspicuous . The monkey tree next to Bob
Chadburns house always caught my attention ..in the distance the School was
easily visible , with better vision I might be able to even see my desk .
It had been raining , the crossing guards ( seventh and Eight grade boys
and girls ) were in their Yellow raincoats ..the flags with the glossy White
staffs and Red Banners waved in the wind .
Turning around looking back up the Hill I could see small groups of Kids my
age and older ..behind us . Some laughter , some light conversation .
We passed by Verdumun Oil ..A gas station and Oil Supply depot on the
corner of 33rd street and Capital Highway ...latter I would play for the Little
leauge team supported by this Buiness . Outside milloing around int he yard
where the Oli truck would be parked were several men in overalls getting ready
to go to work ..the smell of oil and gasoline over powering the faint scent of
trees and flowers .
Capital Highway is a major road in the area ..running past Multnomah Grade
school , and forming the downtown core of Multnomah , now called Multnomah
village . Capital Higway was one of the first parts of the larger Capital
Highway road system that at one time ran from Pendletlon Oregon through Portland
turned south and continued to the Oregon Border with California
Crossing Capital Highway I turned to the right ..my School room was two
doors up on the left side of the Hallway . Four doors away from the Principals
office .
Before going into the room I stopped and spent some time with Rex outside
on the play ground . We had a nice place to play ...A monkey bar set , one of
those long horizontal ladders , to hang from , some marked out hop scotch areas
and three vertical poles with attached Balls ..thether balls .
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Tetherball is a North American game for
two opposing players. The equipment consists of a stationary metal pole, from
which is hung a volleyball from a rope, or
tether. The two players stand on opposite sides of the pole. Each player tries
to hit the ball one way; one clockwise,
and one counter (anti-) clockwise. The game ends when one player manages to wind
the ball all the way around the pole so that it is stopped by the rope. It must
not bounce .
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IN a few short hours this game would play a significant role in my life but
at this moment the ball just hung there lightly bouncing against the wind . The
School Bell would ring Three times , we had an early Bell announcing the opening
of school , a second Bell alerted us there were five minutes left on the
playground and the final bell ..was ..the final Bell . I waited for the second
bell before making my way to my desk .. In second grade we were poised on the
promise of having our very own desks the next year , but in Second grade we
still shared a desk ..usually there were four of us gathered around the desk
...We sat where Mrs Schoonover decided it was best for us to sit ... We began
the day with the Flag salute . I Pledge Allegience to the flag , one nation
under God , indivisible with Liberty and Justice for ALL . I don't remember a
school prayer . The God part made sense to me ...I didn't know much about Him ,
but something inside knew there must be a God , and in 2nd Grade I guess I just
assumed that Liberty and Justices would be for all ..I had no reason to suspect
otherwise .
For the next few Hours I have no real memory of what was going on , one
reason of course for wishing to relive this day . I Know there must have been
laughter , outright laughter , muted laughter , restricted laughter , under you
breath laughter , eyes dancing but lips closed kinda of laughter as well . I
don't remember very much about Mrs Schoonover . I Belive she was older , with
white hair and thin. My report cards from her , show an eerie similarity to
report cards from future years ...My positive subjects were , Science , Math ,
reading , and History ...Spelling was among my werst . IN the " deportment "
area I seemed to have issues with Focus , Being quiet , and respecting Authority
. ..
On this day ... morning recess would change my life .. This morning ( or
arguably one very much like it ) I would meet my life long best friend Lee
...
We would meet in a game of tetherball ...why Lee , why Tetherball , why the
life long connection ?
I really don't know I do know it happened , we happened ...its been a wild
ride , filled with fun , strangeness , anger , parting and renewal ...for the
past 60 years we have been " friends " . One of us will probably bury the other
... one of us will be left wit precious memories running from the 50's to ..well
whenever .
I so wish I could remember more about that day Lee and I met ...nad the
subsequent days that must have followed . Lee did not live in my area , we
didn't have access to phone as we do now ..our friendship must have begun at
school ..but how it grew past the confines of school puzzle me
...
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I have been really enjoying digging back into my childhood , Today I had a
chance to call Lee and talk to him about some of what I was trying to remember .
He told me that in addition to the Monkey bars and Jungle Gym we also had a
swing set and a merry go round on the Playground . I also found out from Him we
Had the same 3rd grade teacher ..which helps explain how we continued our
friendship .
As I drive about town , and see Children at play I am reminded of my own
childhood . which of these children will be making life long friends ? Which
will become the leaders of tomorrow , and which will struggle ? Most of all what
can I do to sew into the lives of those coming behind me ?
A singular thought keeps recurring . when I went home my Mother was there
..the door was open and in the kitchen the smell of fresh cupcakes wandered
through the house ... The kitchen table , with a plate of treats and a cup of
Kool Aid ..was a pleasant place to dive into our homework , or explore a book .
Seems to me that Parents are too busy in part these days ...our economic System
and our desire for more stuff pushes families apart ...How can we encourage
parents to sepdn more time at home , rather than less ...either the Husband or
the wife , but someone waiting at the door ...
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