My Bank Street Home
Younger Me
Five Lined Skink
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SHS Memories povided 10/04/2017
- I was born in Monroe County, IN shortly before the start of WWII. Less than a year afterwards my dad died (Big "C") & mother returned to her home in Louisville. We moved in with my aunt, also a widow, who owned her own home at 32d/Bank St. The house was adjacent to the old K&IRR yards & I clearly remember the smell of switch engine coal smoke & the effect it had on my aunt on her MON wash days. One of the earliest memories was watching flowers tossed onto the Ohio during Decoration Day ceremonies at the bottom of 33d St & the grey LSTs moving down stream from the then govt operated Jeffboat. Church/school was Our Lady's on Rudd Ave. My grade school teachers were Sisters of Charity (Charity -- HA!). The singing sound car tires made while driving over the K&I Bridge's perforated steel road bed & the sight/smell of steam rising from Bank St's asphalt after a high summer rain storm. So many shortcuts/alleys there in Portland. We had a swing under the back porch & I still remember the creak/crack of the swing's chains & watching the Five-lined Skinks dart around the cool concrete on hot summer mornings.My mom had to work so the chore of raising me fell on my aunt who was already into her 60s. A wonderful cook full of old German receipts who made everything from sour kraut to chili to cherry pies -- from scratch. This was a good neighborhood with Irish & German families & I was a lucky kid. So funny. I used to hate short pants & now, 8-9 months of the year, that's what I wear. My aunt/mom provided for me the absolute best they could & what success I've enjoyed in life is directly attributable to the care & example of those two wonderful ladies.