Hello Friends and Family,

1975 - Showell, Maryland, Part 2

Link to this year's index by clicking here.

I suspect that almost everyone has memories like this of their younger days — ones we cherish into our old age. A short distance from Granny's house was a general store. Granny often asked me to walk here to pick up a loaf of bread or a bottle of milk. There was usually a bit of change left over to buy a treat for me and my younger shopping companions (I was the oldest grandchild).

A bit further up the road was another general store, a bit bigger and owned by my Uncle Whitey's father-in-law, Mr. Paul Long. Both he and my uncle worked there pretty much full-time plus Mrs. Long had an attached diner for workers from the chicken plant and any farmers taking a lunch break. Two summers during my teenage years, I worked at the general store — usually sweeping floors, carrying out (and burning) trash, filling the cold-water bath soft-drink coolers, and sorting the returns by vendor, etc. Because of the family connection, this was where Granny got most of her groceries.


On that same road (Pitts Road), halfway between the two general stores was the Showell Methodist Church. Every Sunday, the whole clan met there, and afterward, most returned to Granny's house for a hot breakfast and family conversation.


As I mentioned in last week's LAHP, because of my visit, they arranged a family reunion and I was so happy to see all my aunts and uncles, enabling me to revive memories of my youth. Pictured here are Uncle Whitey and Aunt Betty Ann. BTW, they also owned and worked a farm not far from Showell. Additionally, Aunt Betty Ann worked at the diner attached to the general store.


Next up are Aunt Barbara and Uncle Ed. He was in the Air Force servicing electronic equipment and later, after retiring from the military, took a job servicing traffic signals for the State of Delaware.


Here we see my mom's baby sister, Aunt Ellen, and her husband, Uncle Ralph.


I was sad that I inadvertently failed to take a picture of my Uncle Jack and Aunt Betty Mae. He served in WWII, was wounded, and received a Purple Heart. After the service, he worked in a laundry/dry cleaner in Chincoteague then later for the Post Office. This is their daughter, Sandi, and grandson, Greg.


Cousins all — in front, Nancy, Sandi (again), Debbie with Mona in the back.


Next is another cousin, Marie with her husband, Bob, together with their son, Brian.


Three younger cousins, Mack, Ralph J. with Neal in the back.


Although I did not take the photo below (obviously), I thought it was a fun one to share. This shows Granny's grown and nearly grown family at the beach at Ocean City. The back row shows me clinging to my dad (Burt), Uncle Jack, Aunt Betty Ann, Uncle Whitey, Uncle Ed. In the front row, we see Aunt Betty Mae, my Mom (Carolyn) holding my sister, Connie, Aunt Ellen, and Granny.

The memories are so precious and become more precious every day. I hope you enjoyed my stroll down memory lane.


To be continued...

Life is good.

Aloha,
B. David

P. S., All photos and text © B. David Cathell Photography, Inc. — www.bdavidcathell.com