Jerome
Thought I might use this blog to reflect on my growing up in the 40's and 50's in Jerome, PA. Much of that might explain how I see the world and todays political mess.
Jerome is/was a coal mining town of about 1000 people. It's size doesn't seem to change. My family lived in the center of town, actually not far from the mine and the "coal dump", which I think was actually slate. Yet we were in a nice part of town. In fact most parts of Jerome were rather nice, I think.
My father was a small town-country doctor, who also had some connection with the coal mine, I think as when miners got hurt inside the deep mine, they would have to lower him down the shaft. Poor city guy from Montreal. Not a jock he, but a good sport and professional, obviously.
Since he delivered most of the kids in town, he knew everybody...and well I do believe. When thre were famioly fueds or drunken brawls he'd be called (something he did not relish). When someone fainted in the Nazarene Church, having become overwhelmed with confessing or the spirit or whatever, he would get called up there.
One evening a baby was born down in his office (which was in the movie building on the side.) My mother went down to help him. My brother and I waited patiently at home, and then not so patiently, as I went down to the office to find out when dinner was going to happen. My mother, always patient, just explaiined that I'd have to wait as a baby was being born. I didn't quite get it, but knew by the tone of her voice that it was obviously more serious than dinner at that moment. so retreated to some Chef-Boy Ardee canned ravioli to hold me.
I remember when older I'd be embarassed by all the attention my father would bnring to the family when we were in public, such as when we went for foot long hot dogs and everyone at the counter would call out: "Hi, Doc," when we'd enter. Now I think that is nice, but as an adolescent it was soooo embarrassing that I'd say why can't Daddy just come into places like everyone else?
Wish this blog had a spell check.
Jerome is/was a coal mining town of about 1000 people. It's size doesn't seem to change. My family lived in the center of town, actually not far from the mine and the "coal dump", which I think was actually slate. Yet we were in a nice part of town. In fact most parts of Jerome were rather nice, I think.
My father was a small town-country doctor, who also had some connection with the coal mine, I think as when miners got hurt inside the deep mine, they would have to lower him down the shaft. Poor city guy from Montreal. Not a jock he, but a good sport and professional, obviously.
Since he delivered most of the kids in town, he knew everybody...and well I do believe. When thre were famioly fueds or drunken brawls he'd be called (something he did not relish). When someone fainted in the Nazarene Church, having become overwhelmed with confessing or the spirit or whatever, he would get called up there.
One evening a baby was born down in his office (which was in the movie building on the side.) My mother went down to help him. My brother and I waited patiently at home, and then not so patiently, as I went down to the office to find out when dinner was going to happen. My mother, always patient, just explaiined that I'd have to wait as a baby was being born. I didn't quite get it, but knew by the tone of her voice that it was obviously more serious than dinner at that moment. so retreated to some Chef-Boy Ardee canned ravioli to hold me.
I remember when older I'd be embarassed by all the attention my father would bnring to the family when we were in public, such as when we went for foot long hot dogs and everyone at the counter would call out: "Hi, Doc," when we'd enter. Now I think that is nice, but as an adolescent it was soooo embarrassing that I'd say why can't Daddy just come into places like everyone else?
Wish this blog had a spell check.
posted by PB at 9:34 AM
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