No uncles were hanging ‘round when I was growing up…

but there was my cousin Freddie.

I was crazy about Freddie; he was my favorite.

Freddie was in the navy, stationed near Key West, Florida. Anytime he was on leave my cousin would visit us in Miami.

I loved it. My older sister hated it. Musta been that puberty thing or somethin.’

Anyway, I hadda lot of firsts on account o’ cousin Freddie.

One time when he came for the week-end, my cousin took me to the park. Then outta the blue Freddie said we were takin’ the bus downtown.

Now ya gotta realize, we were poor and takin’ the bus downtown was a really big deal.

Freddie was goin’ to a square dance that night and needed a new shirt. We strolled up and down Flagler St. gazin’ in the store fronts. He just had to have the right one.

Suddenly, I gazed up and my heart stopped. It was perfect. A dark blue dress shirt with a snappy collar, sharp and crisp. “Oh Freddie,” I sighed,  “look at that one. That’s it … that’s the one.”

“We’ll see,” he smiled. “I want to check out a few more.” He took my hand and we strolled along, went into a few more shops.

At the end of the day though, Freddie bought the blue shirt that I liked so much. I felt like a princess.

There was another surprise before we headed home. Freddie bought me a hot fudge sundae. My first. Never had I tasted anything sooo delicious.

I am addicted to this day.

May Your Glass Always Be Half Full

My buddies at the LBC have their own tales to tell:
Gaelikaa,Maxi,Rummy,
Shackman,The Old Fossil