A Very Special Time
My father, older sister and brother went to Chicago to visit my grandmother. I was only six and my grandmother made it quite clear that I was to wait until I was older to visit her. Of course I was disappointed as I saw them get into the car and leave without me.
Mom sensed my disappointment and as I sat quietly eating breakfast at the kitchen table, she smiled and said, “I’ve got an idea, Adele. You and I are going to do something special today.” She got her purse and opened it up. She counted the money that she had in it. “Adele, how would you like to take the Greyhound bus to Muskegon? We’ll even go to the Franklin House for lunch.” I was so excited. I had never been on a bus before and I had never eaten at a fancy restaurant. She continued, “We are going to dress up. You are going to wear that pretty pink Easter outfit I bought you with the little hat. Instead of braids, I’m going to curl your hair.”
Mom didn’t have a car, in fact, she never learned how to drive a car. As we began walking downtown she smiled and took my hand. “We’ll go window shopping”, she said and then we’ll have a sundae at Woolworth’s dime store. But, first we are going to have lunch at the Franklin House.”
Now the Franklin House was one of the best hotels in the state of Michigan. People who visited the White Lake area found a bit of luxury when they stayed at this hotel situated close to White Lake and Lake Michigan. It was built in Montague at the turn of the century and was the main attraction in this little town.
I was in awe as I entered the restaurant. It was elegant. White linen tablecloths were on each table with pretty centerpieces. We were directed to a table and at the request of my mother, we sat near a window. A young man with a white topcoat gave us very large menus and poured water into beautiful crystal glasses. My mother pretended that we had done this many times before, perhaps we were rich people coming into town to eat. She looked at the menu and ordered something for us. She winked and smiled at me. Even though the food was served in courses, all I remember of the food was the chicken noodle soup.
When we finished eating we walked down to the bus station. Mom requested that we take the scenic bus tour. Muskegon was only sixteen miles away but there were two ways in which you could go. The first was a bus taking you directly to Muskegon. The second was a bus taking the Scenic Drive. This route wound around the beautiful hills and countryside of Western Michigan. It passed by the inland lakes and Lake Michigan. It also went by the ‘Block House’ where the bus driver slowed down and told us the history of this wooden fort.
As we entered the bus, we found two vacant seats and mom insisted that I sit by the window so I could look out and see the scenery. I remember having to almost stand in order to look out. All this time my mother had the happiest look on her face. I had always seen her working around the house, tending to all of us, but now I felt I was seeing my mother for the first time. I loved her so much.
When we got to Muskegon we window shopped. There was no mall at this time, so we walked outside looking at the many displays until we got to Woolworths’ dime store. By now I was looking forward to a sundae. I had never had a whole sundae of my own. We sat at the counter and mom had me order two chocolate sundaes. I was indescribably happy as I looked at her sitting next to me.
We didn’t buy anything in the dime store. It seemed as if we looked at everything though. Finally we came to a machine that took pictures. Mom took out a quarter from her purse and insisted that I have my picture taken. She said I looked so pretty, and the pictures would be a remembrance of our time together. (I still have and cherish those pictures of me in my little pink Easter suit and hat.)
It was wonderful spending a special day with my mother. There was no brother or sister or dad. There were no interruptions with life’s daily routines. It was just mother and me, together, being a mother and daughter who loved one another. It was a very special time in my life.
Mom sensed my disappointment and as I sat quietly eating breakfast at the kitchen table, she smiled and said, “I’ve got an idea, Adele. You and I are going to do something special today.” She got her purse and opened it up. She counted the money that she had in it. “Adele, how would you like to take the Greyhound bus to Muskegon? We’ll even go to the Franklin House for lunch.” I was so excited. I had never been on a bus before and I had never eaten at a fancy restaurant. She continued, “We are going to dress up. You are going to wear that pretty pink Easter outfit I bought you with the little hat. Instead of braids, I’m going to curl your hair.”
Mom didn’t have a car, in fact, she never learned how to drive a car. As we began walking downtown she smiled and took my hand. “We’ll go window shopping”, she said and then we’ll have a sundae at Woolworth’s dime store. But, first we are going to have lunch at the Franklin House.”
Now the Franklin House was one of the best hotels in the state of Michigan. People who visited the White Lake area found a bit of luxury when they stayed at this hotel situated close to White Lake and Lake Michigan. It was built in Montague at the turn of the century and was the main attraction in this little town.
I was in awe as I entered the restaurant. It was elegant. White linen tablecloths were on each table with pretty centerpieces. We were directed to a table and at the request of my mother, we sat near a window. A young man with a white topcoat gave us very large menus and poured water into beautiful crystal glasses. My mother pretended that we had done this many times before, perhaps we were rich people coming into town to eat. She looked at the menu and ordered something for us. She winked and smiled at me. Even though the food was served in courses, all I remember of the food was the chicken noodle soup.
When we finished eating we walked down to the bus station. Mom requested that we take the scenic bus tour. Muskegon was only sixteen miles away but there were two ways in which you could go. The first was a bus taking you directly to Muskegon. The second was a bus taking the Scenic Drive. This route wound around the beautiful hills and countryside of Western Michigan. It passed by the inland lakes and Lake Michigan. It also went by the ‘Block House’ where the bus driver slowed down and told us the history of this wooden fort.
As we entered the bus, we found two vacant seats and mom insisted that I sit by the window so I could look out and see the scenery. I remember having to almost stand in order to look out. All this time my mother had the happiest look on her face. I had always seen her working around the house, tending to all of us, but now I felt I was seeing my mother for the first time. I loved her so much.
When we got to Muskegon we window shopped. There was no mall at this time, so we walked outside looking at the many displays until we got to Woolworths’ dime store. By now I was looking forward to a sundae. I had never had a whole sundae of my own. We sat at the counter and mom had me order two chocolate sundaes. I was indescribably happy as I looked at her sitting next to me.
We didn’t buy anything in the dime store. It seemed as if we looked at everything though. Finally we came to a machine that took pictures. Mom took out a quarter from her purse and insisted that I have my picture taken. She said I looked so pretty, and the pictures would be a remembrance of our time together. (I still have and cherish those pictures of me in my little pink Easter suit and hat.)
It was wonderful spending a special day with my mother. There was no brother or sister or dad. There were no interruptions with life’s daily routines. It was just mother and me, together, being a mother and daughter who loved one another. It was a very special time in my life.
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