A Random Memory from My Lips to my Daughter's Ears

In 1952, singer Patti Page’s hit song…How Much is that Doggie in the Window…was one of the popular tunes on the airwaves. I lived in Cleveland during that time. The song was playing on our car radio when my Dad turned it off. We were running an errand and I got out of the car and saw a toy store with a bear in the window, and made a bee line for it. The bear had brown fur and a green ribbon with tiny white stripes on it. I gazed at that bear and begged my Dad to buy it for me. My Dad was a sucker and I was his favorite daughter (only daughter) and we walked into the toy store and he bought that bear for me.

I didn’t need it wrapped or in a bag…I hugged it all the way to our car. To my surprise, its nubby tail had a squeaker in it and hence, I called my bear, Squeaky. Funny, when we turned the radio back on, the Doggie song was playing and my Dad sang…How Much is that Bear in the Window. He changed the lyrics and sang it for days that way.

When I went off to college, I took Squeaky with me. He would be a reminder of my home and my parents and he would be my safety net. When I got married, Squeaky moved with me to St. Louis and I had him for years even after some of my kids were born. Squeaky no longer squeaked, and the bottom of its feet wore off and I sewed some brown fabric on both. I had to replace his ribbon and I put him on the dresser in my first baby’s bedroom

Along the way, Squeaky got misplaced but in fact I am sure my then husband threw him away. But I still remember how I first saw Squeaky and how my Dad bought it for me and sang his own version of Pattie Page’s hit song. I would tell this story to my kids. I never thought anyone heard my story or even cared about it until this Christmas.

I was at my youngest daughter’s house and she handed me a present. I opened it and found some vinyl records along with Pattie Page’s record…How much is that Doggie in the Window. When I saw it I was touched and amazed that my story reached one of my kids.

I guess my memory did touch someone and for that I am grateful.

Thank you Becca for making my day and my Christmas!

Congratulations OLSH Chargers on your WPIAL Win!

This past Sunday, I attended a football sports banquet for my grandson’s team. He played football at OLSH. The football program has only been around for eight years. The first couple of years they didn’t win any games or if they did it was a few. Last year, when my grandson, Matt, was a junior at OLSH, they won their division and but lost in the playoffs. This year, they won and were the Big 7 Section Champs and the Class A WPIAL Champs! They got to play at Heinz Stadium which was quite an honor and one that they will remember for the rest of their lives! In reality, not a lot of athletes ever get to play at a pro football stadium.

In the past two years, I pretty much attended and cheered on my grandson and his team with all the other families and fans. It was an awesome season. A number of Matt’s family and relatives enjoyed watching the games and cheering on the team. They came decked out in the OLSH school colors and even made signs, cheering on Matt and the team.

While attending the banquet, I was impressed with the football team especially the 15 seniors. I enjoyed watching them and listening to their speeches. I don’t remember everything that was said but I felt like I was part of their extended family. Since they were freshmen…and now seniors, they still were funny but they had matured quite a bit. They had grown into extraordinary and respectful young men.

Each senior was given an award and they were allowed to say something…share a memory or give thanks. Pretty much most of them thanked their parents. When Matthew got up, he not only thanked his Mom and Dad, he also thanked me. I was touched and moved by this. He had introduced me to a few of his teammates, one that night and others when we ran on to the field to celebrate some of the teams’ wins.

  

My praise has to go to the families who sacrificed quite a bit by sending their sons to a catholic high school. And for all their time that they extended with their driving to and from practices and attending the games…some at home and others far away.

Mostly, I was impressed by how my grandson has grown and matured. He also was a dynamo and a force to be reckoned with on the field. He was chosen to the 1^st Team All-Conference for defense. Being his grandmother…he should have been named Defensive Player of the Year…and a number of coaches would agree with me. Regardless of football…I am so proud that Matthew always asked me to come to his games and invited me to his banquet. He is not only my oldest grandson but we share something special.

Congratulations to the OLSH Chargers for a wonderful, dream year!

Thank you, Matt!