Sunday 6 June 2010

A Pot Of Paint! (And A Brush!)

I remember a night, long ago, I was maybe 6? Ma sent me to the shops, local, back in the days when kids could be sent to the shops without fear, or even the knowledge, that there were 'weird' fuckers out there waiting to pounce on yer kids!

Anyway, I remember this evening so well. My siblings had gone to bed, and Ma wanted something (cigarettes), from the local shop. I saw a little bottle of paint, and a brush in the window. But I knew, even in my little kiddie head, that we couldn't afford such luxuries!
This to me was all my Santa's dreams coming together. To say we were poor was an understatement! And yes, I know my Ma was buying her few cigarettes, but back then, that was such a 'way out' a luxury that kept people who had lived through both wars, well, SANE, that was their 'right' I suppose. Can any one of us 'young' people even imagine what it was like to live between two wars?? And back then smoking wasn't the bad thing it is today!

Anyway, that pot of paint and the little brush. I told Ma about them when I got home. I remember so well Ma counting her pennies, and asking if I knew how much that paint and brush cost, and if Tony, (the shop owner) would take the cigarettes back in exchange for them!

I remember not going back to the shop, whether that was 'cos I wanted Ma to have her cigarettes or just because I couldn't be arsed going back to the shop I can't remember!

But I do remember Ma asking.

That evening is stuck firmly in my head!

Love is such a wonderful thing.

xxxx

23 comments:

  1. Indeed it is, Map... indeed it is. It's what makes life worth living, isn't it?

    xoxoxoxoxo

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  2. A beautiful memory Map, it's strange how strong some recollections can remain when at the same time the most immediate stuff slips from the mind so easily

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  3. It's the little things.... and when we remember them years later it brings us closer in spirit.

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  4. Thinking about that gave me a little choke. A loving family helps you to cope with all that life throws at you - forget about money.
    Nothing wrong with fags in our day - the height of sophistication - even if you were a mill girl and Paul Henreid taught us to light two at once in 'Now Voyager.'

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  5. It's all perfectly understandable. You'd do the exact same thing for KateNap, and you know it!

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  6. Ah, this is sweet. It reminds me of my passion for felt tip pens... when I was a kid a new packet of felt tip pens was equivalent to getting an iPod.
    Sx

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  7. I love this story, and I love the way you tell it--you have a great writing voice! You should join us for Sepia Saturday sometime! The photos don't have to be very old, even, and you can just let 'em jog your memory, like this!

    just an idea.

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  8. It's that feeling of someone taking our dreams seriously - it always makes us feel special, whether we are 6, 46 or 106

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  9. OK But to stop me welling up here, you're going to have to add that she beat you about the head regularly...
    No?

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  10. Lovely memory, but what did you do with the pot of paint? My thing was crayons.

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  11. Pon; Yep! :¬)

    xxx

    Hoge; Yeah, and that's how my head works these days! :¬)
    (Good to see you back here!)

    Tempo; You are so right pal! :¬)

    Pat; I remember doing the 'two at one time' thing when I was a smoker! It really impressed the ladies. NOT! :¬)

    xxx

    UD; And you say you don't know me that well!? :¬)

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  12. UB; SORRY! (Just got new specs and I am still trying to get used to them! :¬)

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  13. Scarlet; Simpler times? :¬)

    xxx

    Leah; What a compliment! Thank you, and yes I just might dig out some pics and join ye! :¬)

    xxx

    Kim; Isn't that just it? And I am very lucky to be married to someone who has always encouraged me to believe in myself and follow my dream! (And, from what I can see, you & Maggie are equally blessed!) :¬)

    Macy; Funnily enough I don't remember the beatings! (Brain damage?) :¬)

    xxx

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  14. Madame DF; The paint was red. And I remember paiting red trees a lot! Maybe that accounts for my coloublindness? :¬)

    xxx

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  15. I love stories about true love....not the kind between men and women as much as how our parents were willing to sacrifice for us if it somehow made us better people.

    Your Ma did well...you turned out okay. ;)
    x

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  16. hope; I am most definitely the son of Ma & Da!
    :¬)

    xxx

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  17. She offered to return her cigs? That is love indeed.

    But... I came over here from Pearls to see if you went to the gym today,like you promised her you would : )

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  18. A wonderful memory, Map, one that brought a tear to eye. Love is what it's all about.

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  19. powdergirl; Welcome! I said "Tomorrow", it's still Today here! :¬)

    xxx

    Charlie; Aye Charles, 'tis! :¬)

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  20. It's these moments that seem to bond us to life more than any other, the simple fact of a mothers love.. / parent's love. Someday i hope my kid will remember something like this.. (though she'll be more likely to remember the time i chased her across the field in a rage... ) :-D

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  21. the watercats; We can only hope eh? But I'm sure they will have very fond memories of childhood! (Including being chased across fields!) :¬)

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  22. a lovely story, sugar. memories. xoxoxxoo

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  23. sav; Thanks missus, memories indeed. :¬)

    (Hope all is well as can be expected on the plantation.)

    xoxoxox

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