Photo: elaine faith
Creative Commons

August is always a momentous month for us. No more so than this year, with my dear father living with us and celebrating his 90th birthday in our home. I have so loved having both of my parents here for this past year or so, they are living history, with their childhood memories of living in East Liberty in the 30’s and 40’s. Of childhoods filled with horse drawn carts bringing ice for the ice box, rags for cleaning, vegetables for the nightly soup to go with the day-old bread that was a staple in most Depression households. They told of sled riding down the dangerously steep streets near the zoo, and of ice skating on the reservoir of Highland Park.

Street cars, and before they were old enough for street cars, walking in all weather to school. NO snow days because everyone lived within walking distance of their respective schools. They told of candy shops and mom’s favorite childhood treat: a HUGE deli pickle! Her greatest treat was to visit the Isaly’s in Turtle Creek, to have a chipped ham sandwich and one such pickle. She was delighted! We will greatly miss having her own sweet brand of fun in our house, but we are so grateful for the times we did share. We trust the Lord to take care of her as she returns to South Bend.

~ Debbie Ecker