This is a true story--and reflects my remembrance of a happening in the summer of 1960---Arlington Va.--my moms parents--my Grandparents house---I was 15 years old--I had come up from Florida to visit for a month--it was my last visit to that wonderful house--and a pretty scary one at that.

Footsteps on the Stairs

The beautiful old two story stucco on South Wakefield St.in Arlington had been my Grandparents home for about 40 years and had been the focal point for family activities.
It was the summer of 1960,I was 15, and visiting my grandparents on my summer break,and for the first time it would just be the three of us sharing that elegant old house.I actually had my choice of the bedrooms and chose my Uncle Roberts old room at the top of the stairs to the right.It would turn out to be a decision I would never forget!
Two years had passed since our family had moved to Florida and I had grown a lot and was thrilled to have the chance to visit my Grandparents.It was not the first time that I had slept in Roberts old room,11 years earlier I had spent a terrifying night at the top of the stairs to the right. When I was 4 there had been an 8 foot sailfish mounted on the wall behind Roberts bed,but to me it was a Monster,and when the lights went out and the shadows of the night came out to play that awesome creature came alive. He rose from the sea of twisted branches and frightening shapes that danced across the walls in the moonlight. I could see his large mouth open to devour his prey--and I spent the night in terror hiding beneath the covers to avoid his icy stare.
The room also had a large walk in closet,its entrance looked like the opening to cave.I used to imagine ghastly demons coming out to grab little boys when the lights went out.
I now considered myself nearly grown,the old sailfish had been moved to the weekend retreat in the Blueridge foothills---I had already caught my own by then.
My Grandparents went up to bed and I stayed downstairs--walked through the house reminiscing about my younger days spent there.Grandad had told me the house was built around 1920--to me each and every room held fond memories.The huge dining room had been the scene of lively Sunday dinners after church--where everyone was encouraged to share in the conversation and also share in saying grace.
Many of us kids back in the day sat on phone books to reach the table .
I was just walking around the house--next stop the kitchen where I used to watch Grandmother prepare the meals--used to love to clean the bowl of cake icing--but what I really loved--as I swung open the old frigidaire--was Pink Parfait---darn there wasn't any.She used to put it up in those burrr!,cold aluminum ice trays.
The old ringer washer was it it's familiar place--that machine had washed enough cloths to outfit a small city.
I crossed over the hall into the parlor. I could still envision those prize winning Christmas trees that Grandad created--he was so talented--first he flocked the trees before decorating them----Flocked----for you young folks--that is spray snow--which comes in many colors or did--Grandad loved the pink-----and underneath those trees were glorious presents--each wrapped with exciteing colorful wraps and candy canes ---
I turned from my memory and there was the old piano--many a young hand had struck those keys creating our own master pieces--and I remember my mom may she rest in peace--playing beautiful songs on that piano--said she played by ear--I was amazed,"how did she do that?"
more later yall

Black Thursday

It was a pleasantly cool day in early May in Florida--the day held great possibilities-but first I had to mow the grass --I was getting the lawn mower out and could hear the melodic sounds of my brother Ron and my dad having a discussion on whether my brother could drive dads new car to school.
My brother had just gotten his license over the weekend and wanted to give his friends a ride to school--dad in his wisdom said no.
Dads new car was a Ford Falcon Squire Wagon--the one with the fake wood on the sides and a 289 Cu In- V-8. He had just gotten the car and didn't want to sacrifice it right away to the young and often adventuress younger son--I thought to myself--good choice dad.Dads car pool showed up and dad was off to work--and brother Ron was throwing a sales pitch on mom before the car pool was out of sight.Mom as usual buckled under the pressure and off to school went brother Ron and the Ford.---I started the mower and began to cut the front yard.The temperature dropped and it got a bit windy and I thought we were about to get an early morning shower-suddenly a gust hit followed by a loud crashing sound------the new surfboard that dad had bought my brother came spiraling out of the rafters in the carport-and had hit the concrete breaking the surfboard in half---OH brother dad was gonna freak!!---About the same time the lawnmower quit and I went to get fuel and I filled it up spilling quite a bit on the top in the process. When I pulled the cord to start the mower --it caught on fire--I freaked thinking it was gonna burn up and grabbed the closest material to dump on the fire---SAND--which I dumped on the burning running lawnmower engine--yeah I got fire out--and the motor quit running and wouldn't restart-----OH we're just getting started here folks--almost on cue--mom came running out of the house hollering that Ron and his friends were in the emergency room--because they had been in an auto accident---there were no serious injuries---it seems my brother made a U-turn on a curve --and was hit broadside by a car doing 60 m.p.h--it bent the wagon into a U shape--lucky that kids were not killed--It seems my brother had forgotten one of his friends and was turning to go back and get him.
I had to drive 25 miles to pick dad up at work--Dad was relieved as we all were that none of them were seriously hurt--save scratches and sore muscles--then I told him about the surfboard and the lawnmower--
Dad and his ulcer decided to go to the coast and fish for a while on the Titusville Pier---he called and borrowed his cousins Ford wagon for the trip---On the way back from fishing dad met a car coming from the opposite direction--the car was flashing his lights off and on--dad slowed and then saw why the light flashing was happening---a huge cow was charging head on with dad in his lane---they hit instantly--the cow died and the wagon was destroyed and dad narrowly escaped injury as the cow nearly came through the windshield.
This all happened on what we now call Black Thursday in the family.

The final toll
2 slight injuries
2 totaled cars
a totaled surfboard
a ruined lawnmower
an agitated ulcer
and I think a new insurance company
and yet another remembrance from the 1960's
Eric the Codger

Monster on the Wall part#8

He not only took 900 feet of line but also a bit of my heart. My arms felt like rubber and I was nearly spent.They offered me help but again I refused--he would win or I would-there would be no other way.
The Captain and mate were discussing how unusual this fish was--that most sails were caught in 15/20 minutes--as I began the arduous now painful task of retrieving so much line.I had to fight for every foot as this beautiful fish cut me no slack-his head was turned away from the boat as he fought with all he had.
Gail rubbed my shoulders,they poured cool water on me and the reel and the mate then tightened the drag to put increased pressure on the fish.Once again I slowly pulled in this ultimate challenge to my resolve. I was sick from the sun and drained physically but doggedly kept pumping and retrieving line--until my beautiful Blue Monster from the sea neared the boat once more--the struggle was an hour long and for the first time his long lithe body could be seen below the surface---He was an 8 footer just like Grandads-the mate stood by the transome with gloved hands waiting to grasp the leader when this marvelous Blue Dynamo did what would seem impossible--he lurched away and was at full speed in a second or two--the reel played its mournful tune and the mono disappeared along with the fish--only to reappear 300 yard away--blasting from the ocean like a rocket bound for heaven-in one last almost suicidal attempt at freedom.
This beautiful fish had more heart than seemed possible--and with that last frantic attempt--his head turned toward the boat for the first time--and the mate screamed at me to reel fast and take up the slack or I would lose him.
I couldn't feel my arms anymore--could barley turn the handal--and at last the mate grabbed the leader and pulled him to the boat--and said my God he is foul hooked in the top of his head--making his capture far more difficult--1 hour 28 minutes---They ask if I wanted to let him go--I kept my mouth shut-all I could think of was showing grandad,
there would be no mercy from me this day-but there should have been.

This all transpired in Dec-1959---in 1992 I finally wrote a story about it--this one.
P.S
I sent my Aunt in Delray a copy of the story and she contacted Captain Adams home and found out that he was dying of cancer--they went to the hospital and read him the story and he cried from happiness to have been rememberd for what was his livlihood-I am so glad to have brought some joy to him.
I also thank my father for teaching me to enjoy the outdoors,my Uncle for inviting us,may he rest in peace and to all that release their prey to fight another day-- The Codge

In the 11th grade--our gym finally got modern and got a washer and dryer--and bingo we had nice clean towels--We came in off the field and showered and the coach hollered at me to go get the towels from the back--yes I was as I came into the world--naked as a Jay Bird--when I ran to the back office--as soon as I entered the room where the towels were the door between gyms opened and in came one of the girls to get their towels--she was dressed I wasn't--I did a fast about face and hauled butt--which she also got a look at-
When we changed classes we had to walk by the bleachers and all the girls gym class was sitting there--and of course word had spread and all these girls started snickering and laughing-when I walked by--and untill the day I graduated I heard the little jokes and teasing. The Codge

Grandfather C--liked autos a lot--and was always buying them--Hudson Hornets,Packard Clippers and Cryslers--and others--he would give us grand kids the royal tour of the new cars including all the technical knowledge--I think Clippers had hydraulic shocks that you could adjust from the car--and Hudsons had some great transmission. When Grandad drove to South Florida every year for the Winter he seemed to have a new car each time---and describe the ride and fuel useage etc. He loved his cars----another family member loved his as well--he is the family member no one told us about--Great Uncle Samuel Conner Pandolfo--G Grandmother Lenas brother--just type it in on the computer under his name----or his car---The Pan---and you will see why they didn't tell us--but I think he was railroaded----Eric the Codge---go to pan towners web site--history of pan auto to read about uncle Sam Pandolfo