Well we've headed out of town. LuLu is very happy to be included and looking forward to her return to Boca. Pleep loves catching a ride on LuLu. He says it will help keep up his cowboy skills.
Stopped by Dolton the south suburb I grew up in....the hacienda on Blackstone Ave. The hood is 100% African American, very different from the ethnic suburb I grew up in. The street looked very tidy and well kept so it was a joy to walk down memory lane. My parents bought the house in 1956 (I believe they paid around $24,000) . Yes one bathroom for Mom, 3 teen age girls and Buba (grandma in Serbian) who helped Mom raise us after my father died (my age 11). Mom sold the house in 1972 when she married Chris and moved to Kansas City.
Stopped by Dolton the south suburb I grew up in....the hacienda on Blackstone Ave. The hood is 100% African American, very different from the ethnic suburb I grew up in. The street looked very tidy and well kept so it was a joy to walk down memory lane. My parents bought the house in 1956 (I believe they paid around $24,000) . Yes one bathroom for Mom, 3 teen age girls and Buba (grandma in Serbian) who helped Mom raise us after my father died (my age 11). Mom sold the house in 1972 when she married Chris and moved to Kansas City.
We also went over to check out Mitzie's Snack Shop at the Dolton Bowl. Totally renovated and updated and hi tech. Pleep loved the hot pink and lime green bowling balls.
Mitzie's Snack Shop has been made into more of a fast food venue. After my Dad died and until I left for college I watched my Mom work 7 days a week 365 days a year.....it was what we knew. How she sent me to the college of my choice on selling "Bowlers Specials" for 58 cents is beyond me. The Bowlers consisted of a hamburger, fries and coke. Go figure.
This is definitely where I learned the South Side work ethic and can do attitude. I also learned that you can't depend on a man/husband to take care of you hence the relentless pursuit of my taking care of business. Back in the day most girls went to secretary or nursing school and the ones who went to college typically went for a teaching degree. The death of my father and watching my Mom work in her own business certainly shaped ol' Boca on what to do. Perhaps an example of life handing you a lemon and you do your best to make some lemonade out of it....def. a south side virtue.
This is definitely where I learned the South Side work ethic and can do attitude. I also learned that you can't depend on a man/husband to take care of you hence the relentless pursuit of my taking care of business. Back in the day most girls went to secretary or nursing school and the ones who went to college typically went for a teaching degree. The death of my father and watching my Mom work in her own business certainly shaped ol' Boca on what to do. Perhaps an example of life handing you a lemon and you do your best to make some lemonade out of it....def. a south side virtue.
Also stopped by Boca's high school, Thornridge. Happy to see it was in such great shape and well taken care of. My sophomore year (1967) the district start "busing" to this all white suburban high school. This was 
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y first time to go to school with black kids let alone get to know and have some as friends. Today the school is "all" black as well as most of the neighborhood. My family had left the area (1972) before the suburban white flight took hold in Dolton.
Where did the neighbors go? Florida? Ah, further south to new suburbs I guess. I am grateful for all that I learned at
Thornridge and for all the wonderful friends I made there. I have not missed one class reunion and absolutely look forward to them and reconnecting with my growing up posse. Yes, as painful as high school and teenage years can be my memories are of fun fun and more fun. I graduated in 1970 so you can imagine the fun I am talking about!
A fine way to say good bye to Chi-town....sliders. Pleep loved them. We hope he doesn't find out you can order them on line and have them shipped anywhere in the world.
MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK
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y first time to go to school with black kids let alone get to know and have some as friends. Today the school is "all" black as well as most of the neighborhood. My family had left the area (1972) before the suburban white flight took hold in Dolton.Where did the neighbors go? Florida? Ah, further south to new suburbs I guess. I am grateful for all that I learned at
Thornridge and for all the wonderful friends I made there. I have not missed one class reunion and absolutely look forward to them and reconnecting with my growing up posse. Yes, as painful as high school and teenage years can be my memories are of fun fun and more fun. I graduated in 1970 so you can imagine the fun I am talking about!A fine way to say good bye to Chi-town....sliders. Pleep loved them. We hope he doesn't find out you can order them on line and have them shipped anywhere in the world.
Located 85 miles from
both Louisville and Nashville, this was the first park with no entrance fee or gate for the most extensive cave system on Earth. With over 365 miles of passageways Mammoth Cave is over twice as long as any known cave....they are guessing there may be another 600 miles of undiscovered passageways. The park was authorized as a National Park in 1926 and fully established in 1941 and named a World Heritage Park in 1981.
The park consists of 53,000 surface acres of which Buba, Pleep and Lu enjoyed ch
asing the turkeys and deer. Over 10,000 years ago the Paleo-Indians hunted animals in the Green River valley near the cave. From 4,000-2,000 years ago the early Woodland Indians mined minerals from the caves. Later when the European settlers arrived (around the late 1790's) the cave served as a mine for saltpeter a key to the manufacturer of gun powder....although Buba knows of another use for it. A must see for the spelunker!
both Louisville and Nashville, this was the first park with no entrance fee or gate for the most extensive cave system on Earth. With over 365 miles of passageways Mammoth Cave is over twice as long as any known cave....they are guessing there may be another 600 miles of undiscovered passageways. The park was authorized as a National Park in 1926 and fully established in 1941 and named a World Heritage Park in 1981.The park consists of 53,000 surface acres of which Buba, Pleep and Lu enjoyed ch
asing the turkeys and deer. Over 10,000 years ago the Paleo-Indians hunted animals in the Green River valley near the cave. From 4,000-2,000 years ago the early Woodland Indians mined minerals from the caves. Later when the European settlers arrived (around the late 1790's) the cave served as a mine for saltpeter a key to the manufacturer of gun powder....although Buba knows of another use for it. A must see for the spelunker!
