Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Gene was one of my happier childhood memories. Growing up on Herriman St, we young kids all looked up to him. Today, 55yrs since I saw him last, I can vividly recall his constant smile and quiet laugh. He was never short tempered with us or critical of us neighborhood kids (while all other adults got fed up with our noise). He always had time to stop and talk to each of us, especially if he was teaching "little Joey" to walk or talk outside (1959?). We all felt he was a great guy and each of us rowdy neighborhood kids (ages 8-12) trusted him and respected him.
There was a lifetime full of memories compressed into the 10yrs of my early life on Herriman St, and Gene is prominent among them. It seemed his wife Marie was ALWAYS in the kitchen ~ either cooking, or cleaning an already spotless house, or singing or telling us kids 'important things' from her back porch. She was always far more serious with us than Gene was.
I'm sorry Joey, if you had sisters in 1958 I don't remember them, and it seems my own sister would have known them. Either they're completely blocked out or they came along much earlier or later than the late 50s.
What a happy family this was. The picture of Gene and Marie put my decks awash with flashback memories ~ I remember them both with dark hair and young smiles, and how much joy little Joey brought them both.
When I think back on Herriman Street today, I remember Gene as a steadfast, positive contributor to our little neighborhood btwn Fitch and Grand ~ the Mitchells, the Campbells, the Minicks, the Castlers, the Lynches, the Gardiniers, the Pasternacks, the Golas and several others all admired Gene and spoke highly of him.
You know your parents from your own lifetime of memories, Joey. But please know that they touched other kids' lives, too. They were good people, and I have remembered them with a quiet smile for all these 55 years.
