Country Store and Family Time

There was a small store that we would walk to; and it was there that we purchased treats such as Lick-M-Aid. This was a very ooey, gooey and sticky, pleasure. The product was packaged in an envelope (like Kool Aid), we would lick our fingers and stick them into the envelope to retrieve our powdery treat. I remember grape and cherry were my favorite flavors---any one have a wipe---oh, never mind, they were not invented yet. Other delectables I remember were Rock Candy and the ever popular Tootsie Pops.

Let's see who can blow the biggest bubble with our Double Bubble gum. Along with the gum, you got a comic that featured a character named Pud.

Many of our groceries were bought at this store. We did not have large grocery stores on every corner. We took a bus to the only one that I can remember; so a lot of times we walked to the local country store.

When it is hot outside; you head for the beach. Daddy would have us all get into his paneled truck that he used for work. There were three of us at the time and not enough seating in this old truck; so daddy would take a bench style seat out of another vehicle to accomadate us.
There was no Air Conditoning or seat belts in those days; but we all arrived safely and probably a little sweaty.

Along the way, we kept entertained by reading the signs placed along the road. These signs were called Burma Shave signs because that is the product that they advertised; an example is: "It has a tingle and a tang that starts the day off with a bang.

My father liked to play the slot machines in the arcade at the beach and that is probably where he was when my sister, Lynn, got lost looking for him. She followed a man wearing a yellow bathing suit because that is the color of the suit daddy always wore. I am sure she must have been scared not knowing where her daddy was. Eventually she was reunited with her daddy and the rest of the family.

Another trip I remember going on was a ride to Sugar Loaf mountain. This is where my mother's side of the family had some of their family get togethers in the summer.

The other place for us to see our aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents was at uncle Tom's on the 4th of July. Grandmother's birthday was very close to that date so we always got together.