T'was the night before Christmas

Christmas eve, 1944..I remember it well. The day was frosty. We were sitting in the kitchen in front of the big range, where big pots boiled and burbled and the cat edged closer and closer to pick up some extra heat. "The war will be over very soon now" said my grandfather who had arrived earlier with a big package. " I don't know about that" said my father." An American bomber crashed into Carrintowhill mountain last night. All the lads were killed. God rest their souls and give comfort to their people". This was all very strange talk to me. I had seen fighter planes and bombers rumble along the coast off course and trying to find their way back to base. I never knew that they could crash and all the lads get killed. I felt sorry for them for a little while and went upstairs to find my brother. "What is Santy bringing you?" my brother wanted to know." I want that lorry on McKennas window" I said. "You won't get that , its too dear" he said in a low voice. There had been talk around the house about things getting worse. Sure you couldn't get anything worthwhile in the shops. Mrs McDermott told my mother that the shipment of toys she had ordered for Christmas were on the ship that was torpedoed in Bantry Bay last week.

Memories

In looking at the names on the blog I noticed Bill Conaty’s name. I hope he remembers this story.

I was up in the mountains in the Roanoke Va. area back then and Bill called and said he was taking over sales in the valley from another guy and had several calls to make. If my memory serves me it was Bill Clime, (also now passed,) because he was going to a newly formed Norfolk Va. Office. Does that date this story!

Bill said he had been injured playing touch football but was still coming in from Richmond because he had made appointments prior to being hurt. Now back then we really didn’t have what you called an office so Bill said if I could help with the estimates he needed he would be glad to pick me up at my house and we could ride together to his appointments and he would bring me back before he went to his motel. That worked for me.

I was in my kitchen drinking a cup of coffee when I heard a distinct sound! It was a VW horn blowing. Sure enough as I glanced out I saw a VW bug with a guy in it so I grabbed my stuff and out the door I went.

Bill had opened his door and was taking the car off, you know like you would a coat! I thought, this is the tallest and biggest guy I have ever seen! He blocked out the sun as I came toward him! I guessed like 7 feet tall at least because he was glancing over top of my dogwood trees in the yard and talking about the great Mountain View. Now for all who know me tall is not something I am know for.

It was then that I noticed that his leg was in a cast! A BIG cast up to his knee! You know the kind with the little foot thingy so you can walk in it. My first thought was I sure am glad he wasn’t playing tackle! Now in those days any VW bug had stick shift and some how he could do gears and the clutch and drive that little thing. So he put the car back on and I got in and off we went. Oh, by the way, he had to put the driver’s seat back until it hit up against the back seat to be able to do all this.

At each stop it was the same. I would get out, he would get out and in we went. The customer would come out and greet us and usually they would grin and then ask did we come in that little car and if we were related! J Southern country humor ya know.

Now the VW back then only had a 46 HP engine and weighed like 1300 lbs. Going down hill was great because we had added the weight. Uphill was a religious experience. That is we hoped and prayed we could get over the next hill before it stalled out. They were fun times though and I wouldn’t trade the memories.

Rest in Peace Dear Violet(Vi) Pacileo

Vi Pacileo was laid to rest to-day September 17, 2007 in Arlington Cemetary among the heroes and heroines of this great land. She never shouldered a rifle, threw a grenade or slipped a fighter in for a tight straffing run. What she did was to stand by her husband Ritchie while he served in the US Navy active and for a quarter of a century as a Reservist in the US Navy. Rest in Peace dear Vi and may Eternal Light shine upon your great soul.

Ryan O'Steen 5th Annual Golf Tournament

5th Annual Ryan OSteen Memorial Golf TOURNAMENT OCTOBER 26, 2007, Twin Shields Golf Club, Dunkirk, Maryland...Call Jennifer O'Malley. Tournment Coordinator at : 301-317-3516 to participate in this great event.