Footsteps on the Stairs

The large RCA radio still worked. It stood 4 1/2 feet tall and many a night I lay on the carpet beneath its pale yellow dial and listened to the radio broadcast " The Shadow Knows" and one night listened in horror as the execution of the Rosenburgs was broadcast--that was the first time I heard about execution treason and the death sentence.
I moved into the living room where I loved to relax on the soft comfortable furniture. It was in that room that I viewed my first color T.V,the Friday Night Fights and my Grandparents favorite,the Lawrence Welk Show. I felt comfortable in the old house-even the sweet smell of Grand dads pipe tobacco lingered in the air--it had been a long day--time to go to bed--I crossed from the living room into the hall and stood upon the large metal grating at the bottom of the stairs,it made its familiar vibrating sound that carried through the house. The grating was actually the vent for the huge coal furnace in the cellar below---and there looming before me the ascending 17 steps --the pathway into the darkness--the very steps us grandkids had learned to count on.
Each step made a distinctive creaking sound and the old shaky bannister had a sound of its own and if you steadied yourself against the wall to the right it made a moaning sound.The unique sounds were both familiar and comforting. I ascended the stairs to the top and found myself counting from 1 to 17,old habits were hard to break.
I turned on the light to Roberts room and it still looked as I rememberd it--there was no entry door and my friend the sailfish was gone, having found a new home above the mantle at the home in country.
The big dark walk in closet didn't look as big anymore--and to show how I had grown I walked right into it and pulled the light string--no monsters grabbed me.
I began to empty my suitcase into the chest of drawers beside the bed and made an exciteing discovery--My Uncle had left this young teenager a couple of treasures,paperbacks---Peyton Place and Lady Chaterly's Lover--oh my the heavens had smiled on me--I began reading and what I read made this a very special evening in deed and spurred in me the most amazing feelings--believe me those books had my undivided attention.

Morning all---just a few thoughts about the Waldorf apts in Arlington where I spent four years from age 3 till 7--
We had ice cold milk delivered to our front door--I guess ya better be home or it would be cottage cheese--
Pity the poor salesman coming to that complex--there was some kind of warning system--at this apt--this beehive of activity--would suddenly become deafly quiet--what no one home--we were all taught to be silent and maybe the guy would go away----EXCEPT--THE FULLER BRUSH MAN--oh my god he was given the red carpet treatment--ya know why? Cause he gave the ladies freebies---whoa there--not that kind of freebie--free combs-and kitchen gadgets--everyone loved the Fuller Brush Man.
For all yall that are now used to going to the doctor--where they herd you in--put about 6 in little rooms and the doc makes little 2 minute stops and then they herd in the next 6---not so back in my old days--the 40's and at least my early 50's---the doctors came right to your house---you heard right----to your house--you didn't even have to get outta bed---now how's that for service.
That's it for the morning post--as they say---gotta make hay while the sunshines-----The Codger