Some traditions, we don't realize were traditions until we look back. Weeks spent at Grandma's house. A perfect example. I honestly don't remember where mom and dad went. I know once they went to Vegas and I flew from there to Sky Harbor in Phoenix. I think mom went to deliver sailboats with dad a few times, and I know there are many others. I just don't remember why. I remember being though. Being was fun.
Almost the first thing I'd do was to walk down to the corner by the Circle K and wander through the Christian Emporium. I loved that place. I'd buy stickers, pencils, and once I bought a new Bible for school. I LOVED that Bible.. Eventually I'd cross the street.
I remember the first Chinese restaurant that my parents took me to. Right off the Antelope Freeway (14) in Palmdale. I don't remember the name but I think Golden was in the title. We had duck. It was oily. I didn't like it and I don't think Mom and Dad did either. However, across the street from the Christian Emporium in Phoenix was the China Doll. I thought it was glamorous and exotic. I dreamed of going through those double doors with their big brass handles. I never did. It's probably not there anymore but it was all the time I was growing up.
I'd walk regretfully past those exciting doors and past the cool double doors of Bashas to Skaggs. Skaggs was a drug store kind of like Thrifty or Rite Aid or Walgreens. I'd wander the store but mostly I looked at the office supplies. I loved office supplies. I really don't know why but I did. Eventually, I'd get tired of the floor clerks trying to decide if I was stealing things and I'd grab my preplanned purchase. I always felt a bit like Francie Nolan about this time. Down at one end of the aisle was a wide array of coloring books. Whether eight or fifteen, I always bought one. Grandma thought I was crazy but it was tradition. I loved coloring. Then I'd grab a box of 64 Crayola Crayons and pay for them. The clerks always smiled. I guess they thought anyone who bought crayons and coloring books couldn't possibly steal.
Back at grandma's, I'd grab a glass from her little metal cabinet next to the deep freeze, and pour me some tea. It was always too sweet but that was one of the traditions at Grandma's. She'd open her deep freeze and pull out a round tub from Baskin Robbins. She always had several of those. From the depths of said tub she'd bring "candy" and cookies. Some of these were delicious while others... well...
You see, grandma was a mom during the depression. She had to be creative with sweets for her kids so then, and in all the years since, she'd take left over crackers, bread crumbs, pretzels, cake, you name it, and dip it in chocolate, butterscotch, and white chocolate. Voila! Instant candy. Most of it was pretty good. Some of it...
Then I'd sit there and color a page. Grandma usually watched. I didn't realize she watched at the time but my mental picture shows her sitting there watching every move I made. I wonder about that. Once my picture was finished, I'd organize my crayons. Why I organized the crayons AFTER my first picture, I don't know. I just did. Then I'd put it all away and grandma would pull out the dominoes.
Crow's Foot. No, not those little lines around your eyes as you get older. Dominoes. Some people call it "Chicken Foot" like in my link up there but we called it Crow's Foot. We played ruthlessly... well, since Grandma's name was Ruth, I guess we played Ruthfully. When I was younger, Grandma magnanimously let me win. I hated that.
I'd pick around on her piano. She told me once if I ever learned to play it that I could have it. I never did. It's probably best. Grandma loved to play on it herself. Sometimes we'd walk down and do the laundry. We'd stop and say hi to "Miss Alice". Sometimes we would get into her little storage unit and dig out something of importance. Sometimes it was yarn for a new granny square afghan, othertimes it was a pressure cooker or to put something away.
I don't know if we ever had dinner at Grandma's when pinto beans weren't on the table. That's what I remember most. Pinto beans, cornbread, and ranch style dressing. Prickly pear cactus jelly. I can't remember what else. Those things stand out like crazy. I read books, grandma made quilts. I'll have to tell you about her quilts.
After dinner we might play cards. Crazy Eights, Old Maid, and War. I'd color some more and Grandma would fill in another notebook of songs. She made dozens of those books. I still have one. The cover is off and it's a bit tattered but I keep it in a plastic sleeve and flip through it every now and then. Her spelling was always a bit interesting. "Angle" for angel for instance. Dad laughed when he saw my copy of her copy of the song California Joe.
"... and cooked a side of liver."
Side of liver? I'd never heard of it but what did I know. Dad knew. He corrected my butchering terminology and I corrected my song. "Slice of liver. Got it."
At night, I'd climb into "my" bed and hunker down under the covers. I could hear the sound of the air conditioner clinking in the late hours. There was a certain scent to Grandma's house at night that was different than during the day. It was comforting. | 