Far Away, Long Ago

The first twelve+ years I lived in Glen Ridge, NJ.  I remember that we lived close enough to the elementary school that I could walk to/from home - even during lunch break.  Here is Central School (there were three in the small town).  Last time I stopped by it had been converted to a bank or some such.

 

My parents bought their second home and moved when I was in first grade.  That was a big house.  It was kinda tough learning to shoot baskets using the hoop that my dad mounted on the garage.  The turn-around at the top of the driveway was not very level and - as you can see- it wasn't unusual for the ball to get away and go bounding down the hill and across the street.  Oh, the top story was being remodeled to be my bedroom - cool.  Then my dad got transferred to Chicago - not cool.  I never did move to that third story.

My parents would take me (and my sister and brother) to First Baptist Church in nearby Bloomfield.  I remember the attendance pins I got for being present in Sunday school year after year.  One neat thing about Sundays too is that we always sat in a pew with my grandparents Woodward.  Another sweet memory: Pastor Jones always delivered a junior sermon at some point, something for which he always needed a "helper".  I liked being chosen to help.

At that point in my life most of my relatives on both sides of the family lived in NJ.  My Grandma Cranmer lived in Manahawkin, then about two hours drive from our house.  After marrying Rufus Cranmer (I never did meet my Grandpa Hawkins until sometime after I was five years old, I think.), she lived in this house located immediately adjacent to the small service station that he owned and operated.  Lots more memories from those visits, but I'll save them for another time.