A Little Inspiration
A Winter Walk with Grandma
By Jacklynn MacKenzie
I can remember vividly the long, cold wintery nights, when I was a very young child, getting all bundled up after supper, donning the mitts, scarf, the heavy winter boots( with the imitation fur at the top), and heading out into the night to the store with my grandmother.
The snow lay glistening on the sidewalks, shining like so many little diamonds, under the lights of the electric poles all the way down the street.
As the snowflakes fell softly down upon us, even my hair, which was sticking out under my cap, was white--resembling my grandmothers.
I loved kicking the snow beneath my feet, and I especially loved the warm feeling (although it was very cold outside), as my grandma held my hand ever so gently, but securely. I always felt so safe with her--she was so quiet and gentle, and always so good to me---too good! I shudder to think how many times I embarrassed her in front of people, just to get my own way, or at least try to. And probably to my disadvantage, she usually gave in to my whims.
I can remember going with her to MacDonald's Store ( Not the Big Mac Place we are so familiar with today)., but MacDonald’s store down on Park Street right next to my friend Faye Ponds' house. Upon entering the store, I was always astonished to see the boat in the big glass bottle. I never did figure out just how the boat got into the bottle, although it kept me up at night wondering.
The store was filled with all kinds of groceries but they were of no interest to me. All that was on my mind, besides the boat in the bottle, were the many tasty candy treats under the glass-covered counter, just begging to be tasted. and a willing and happy taster I always was. Grandma always bought me a bag of candy, which in those days, really was a "Big Bag of Candy". There were honeymoons galore, liquorice balls, and salt water taffee, was gum shaped like lips or trains and filled with delicious, syrup, smelling like teaberry or wintergreen. There were gumdrops, hard candy, marshmallow strawberry candy, bubble gum (which I liked best). I could go on and on and all of this for just 5 cents a bag. Wow!
Grandma would buy some groceries and my bag of candy and then we'd begin our short walk back home in the snow. In the distance you could hear the bells of Holy Cross Catholic Church ringing. I always loved to listen to the church bells, but they held a special meaning on these occasions when I was walking hand and hand in the winter snow with my Grandma.
© Copyright, As seen in the January Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada
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