Friday, March 22, 2013

As Luck Would Have It


                                                                                            



Brodeur's Store on Oakdale Ave was quite upscale for a little kid

from my part of Merritton, but I used to go in after school

anyway.

Brodeur's  sold a lot of things. 

Things that were important t to a little girl.


Like those hose big red wax Marilyn Monroe lips.

And pastel coloured candy necklaces that were strung on long

pieces of elastic.

And chocolate chunks that were touched by dozens of grubby hands

and pooped on by 10 bizzillion flies while they sat unwrapped

on the counter for days before some kid coughed up a nickel and

became the envy of us all.

And double bubble chewing gum, which wasn't a great chew,

but came with a cartoon.


But most importantly,  Brodeur's sold lucky rabbits' feet.

And a lucky rabbit's foot was the one thing for which I would have

gladly traded one or two brothers.
 

My dad hunted rabbits, so we ate them and I was used to seeing

their carcases in the basement but I would never have asked Dad

for a leg.

After all, those were unlucky rabbits or they wouldn't have

been lying dead in my basement.

Lucky rabbits lived in some faraway land where they didn't need feet.
 

But even without the rabbit's foot I did have good luck enough

to have never had the money to buy one.

And I grew up in Merritton.

Which is about as lucky as a kid could get.




***

8 comments:

Katharine said...

Wax lips and double bubble... ah the memories!

Magaly Guerrero said...

You put such a huge grin on my face. Poor little bunnies, indeed. Not lucky at all.

We, on the other hand, get to read all these wonderful stories from your childhood and see it happening through your words. I wonder if part of my luck has to do with the fact that I'm walking around with two Magaly feet!

Doug Jamieson said...

Another great trip back in time. I remember all those things, too. That was a good time to grow up. It took so little for us to have fun. Thanks for another gem.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

What a great photo, Francie! I remember all those candies too. I had a lucky rabbits foot keychain when I was a kid. It had been dyed some fluorescent colour (green, I think). I'm glad that's one little accessory that's gone out of fashion. How gruesome, when you think of it.

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

OHMYGOD...Marilyn Monroe lips!! Yes, I remember those. And pastel coloured candy necklaces...yes, yes, yes! I remember those, too. What a wonderful trip down memory lane.

I had a lucky rabbits foot, also. Not sure when. It may have been in high school. I'm also glad that's over and done with. The idea of it now would horrify me!

Introverted Art said...

I think there is something so magical ability those memories, about this longing for things we couldn't have immediately but were within reach of our little fingers. I say that especially because it seems kids get everything so easily nowadays... There was something really amazing about waiting the whole year to get that doll we really really wanted

Pandorah's Box said...

Hahaha! 'Those were unlucky rabbits'. That made me laugh!!

Victoria said...

Beautiful photo Francie....wow..I totally forgot about those rabbit feet..they used to really scare me..poor sweet bunnies..I recall some being dyed green.. yikes. You have conjured up some memories I had forgotten about...ha ha...great read!
Wishing you a lovely day..always a pleasure reading your blog..and fun catching up on all the posts..you are brilliant!
Hugs
Victoria