Memorial Day Memories
Growing up in uptown Harrisburg, PA, I was always excited about the summer holidays. But the Memorial Day weekend holiday always started the party off. Back then, I don’t remember much attention directed toward our beloved veterans as it is now, but I was young, and my mind was focused solely on young adventures.
I knew I would have a new summer outfit that day, and I could hardly wait to see what my mom would bring home for me to wear when she got off from work on Friday. As a kid, I always loved her taste, and she was consistent with great choices throughout the season. These new summer ensembles would proudly be worn at Hershey Park when we had the funds to go, and if not, we opted for the more affordable Pinchot Park or William’s Grove Amusement Park.
William’s Grove was fully equipped with picnic tables waiting to be covered with red and white checkered tablecloths, a picnic basket full of fried chicken, potato salad, Middleswarth Barbeque Potato Chips, Wonder Bread, and a freshly made poundcake that no one could resist.
And finally, a cooler, with no wheels on it, filled with ice had to be hand carried to the picnic table, filled with orange, grape (ginger ale sodas in case anyone got a tummy ache), and a whole watermelon waiting for its cutting when the time was right.
As the neighborhood awakened, you could smell fresh cut grass and hear the swishing of the towel in a water bucket with neighbors washing their cars and talking trash with each other. At the same time, kids grabbed the water hose and begged to have the water squirted on them, and the scraping of the grills as people were preparing for a cookout.
Now that I am older, I didn’t realize how much I missed those start-of-the-summer rituals. Sometimes, you won’t even smell the charcoal on the grills in neighborhoods now. Instead, I feel we are on Noah’s Ark, sending out a dove, searching for a cookout, and seeing if it will return with a grilled hotdog in its beak.
I also realize Covid put a hold on outdoor family gatherings. Last year, I did a road test and had fried chicken wings and a fish fry gathering. I was a little nervous since I have health challenges and still am a high-risk case. However, we all survived, and no one reported any sickness.
If opportunity permits this summer, go visit with family and friends and fire up the grill. And if you need me to help get the ball rolling, I’m happy to provide the red and white checkered tablecloth with possibly a pound cake.
Happy Memorial Day, family. Stay safe and stay blessed.
Warmest always,
I'll see you around the pages.
Barbara Nyaliemaa Mosima
Note: Ms. Mosima's debut novel, Why Have Dog and Bark, is available now on Amazon.