Miss Jean of Boston's Romper Room Sometimes the craziest things transport us backward like a time machine. While holding a skillet to make an egg omelet this morning, I held it up to my face and said... "Romper bomper stomper boo, tell me, tell me, tell me do, magic mirror tell me today, did all …
Author: fergysun
I'm Don Ferguson, I live in the coastal New England town of Newburyport Massachusetts and blog to track memories, sports adventures, create stories and to pursue interesting ideas.
Dear my personal Dear Abby,
In the morning I like to review the Dear Abby section of my local newspaper. I prefer Dear Abby to the endless home town articles complaining about dog poop, mask wearing, politics and the environment. I suppose it's because Dear Abby offers solutions to the day to day issues that plague our complicated lives. For …
My Christmas List…
Every year, I get asked repeatedly for my Christmas list. My response has been the same every year... "I truly don't want or need anything" or "I have everything I need already". I've been wondering though how I've come to feel this way.. am I just too lazy to put the time and effort into …
Apple core..Baltimore, who’s your friend?
I finished an apple this morning and while holding the apple core in my hands, I channeled a childhood voice in my head and shouted. Apple Core... Baltimore.... Who's your friend? and then I blurted out my daughters name...Izzy! As I raised the apple core to throw it at my daughter she looked at me …
Going to the head of the line
Yesterday, my wife Abby asked me to go with her to the local farm store to pick up our Thanksgiving day turkey. I figured she needed help lugging the 20 pounder around the store while shopping for fresh veggies and pastry's. The doors open at 9:00 AM and she wanted us to be there 1/2 …
When people from Cambridge give directions…
I consider people from Cambridge to be a very approachable group as people go. We look eager to talk to anybody and some might dispute it but, we strangely look like we might know an answer to just about any questionBut wait ... anyone from Cambridge knows that "out of towners" asking any of us …
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A Personality Test
Growing up...A trip to Fanny Farmer in Central Square for me was better than a trip to the toy section of Sears and Roebucks in the late 60's. The toughest part for me however was pushing past the Transcendental Meditation (TM) recruitment zombies that stood on the corner in front of Cochrans. "Want to take …
Through His Eyes…
Lately, I have stopped watching the news and reading the newspaper because I find it too painful. I realize however, that in doing so I have in essence locked myself into a one sided opinion unable to see or hear opposing options. I know better... I learned this lesson during a class I took while …
Pitching Coins
Sunday Morning:I learned to pitch coins in the mid 60's against the brick walls of my neighborhood church between Sunday morning masses. It helped to kill the down time between the morning and afternoon masses as a paperboy selling the Sunday newspapers to the faithful. To play the game each player would take a coin …
Poor Fashionistas
Who knew that the old worn out, duct taped Chuck Taylor's and Jack Purcell's we wore on the basketball courts of Cambridge would one day become high fashion footwear.... A company called Golden Goose is selling a posh version of our duct taped Converse Jack & Chuck's street shoes for over $500.00... (see add below). …
Endure ..It’s what we do
I saw this sign hanging outside a church in downtown Portsmouth NH. The message was a simple request Hang On America and a reminder ..We can Endure. I haven't been able to shake thinking about the message. This year has presented struggles i.e pandemic, isolation, politics, race, sex and financial issues. But are these new …
Mind Your Own Business
Happy Birthday Ma... Today July 22nd is my mothers birthday... and I'm thinking about all the gifts she gave me throughout her life. One of those gifts was sage advice. This post is one of those memories I still laugh about today..and use frequently.My mom was well noted for her expertise in the use of …
What’s your nickname?
There was a time when just about everyone I knew had a nickname. There's something about using a "nom de nick" that seems to promote a closeness or linkage to me. The more nonsensical or outrageous the nickname the more permanently it will stick. Some are fond names and other are memorials to behavior or …
The Sweet Smell Of Home
At times back in the day the air from Lafayette Sq along Main Street to Kendall Sq. and all the way to Lechmere station in Cambridge Ma smelled as sweet as candy. Many of the candy factories there produced some of our favorite treats, including Necco Wafers, Sugar Daddies, Charleston Chews, and Junior Mints. The …
On The Corner of Pleasant Street and Putnam Ave
In Cambridge before video games were a thing, kids played the game of stick ball. Using card board bases, a ball (rubber pinky, pimple or half ball) and a broom handle, we played a short version of baseball which made it fit the close quarters of back yards, alley ways and busy streets. The toughest …
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Richards Drive-in old school social distancing
Richards Drive-In Memorial Drive Cambridge Ma If you grew up in Cambridge during the 50's and 60’s, there were a number of Adventure Car Hop Drive-in restaurants featuring car hop / curb service. Cambridge had its own Car Hop called Richards Drive-in on Memorial Drive next to the Art Deco styled BB Chemical building (which …
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Cambridge’s Mass Ave a High Fashion Mecca….
On a recent trip to Europe I was struck by how well dressed Europeans are in the big cities I visited like Rome and Barcelona. As I walked though their city streets I found myself remembering the days when Jackie O' inspired a desire for fine clothing among Cantabrigians before spandex and sweatshirts replaced a …
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Crossing The Divide
The best way to be human is........being human, with a human being. Historically, Americans have come together in times of crisis. Lately however, it seems a perfect storm of crisis has made it more difficult than ever to unite us as in the past.. Politics, unemployment, social distancing and the Covid19 pandemic has us scared, …
Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction?
Payday weekend always seems to take on a wild west type atmosphere around the base. Most Marines living on base are in their prime, fit and ready both physically and mentally. Trained to be ready.. always prepared to engage any target...not to question the who, what or the why. That is …
Finish this short story…
HELP ME FINISH THIS SHORT STORY.......... Calm replaced the chaos of his childhood home in the days following his mother's passing. Seated on the edge of her bed he welled with emotion as he sifted through her things. All her earthly belongs now fell into three piles. Most would go to Goodwill, some for …
What’s in the cards for you?
While reading Dear Abby in the morning newspaper, I stumbled on a brilliant idea. It was an article recommending that dementia caregivers create “business cards” stating briefly, “My companion has dementia. Please be understanding.” Caregivers would give these to hosts and hostesses when entering restaurants, or discreetly hand them to salespeople if situations start to …
A New Sense
It's no secret that my hearing is shot to hell lately.. with the help of hearing aids I can get most of what people are saying but I'm sure a lot goes by that I miss. I've often heard that when someone losses one of their five senses the others sharpen...some report to almost to …
When Things Get Lost In Translation
A Tuna sandwich is a staple of mine.... It originated around the 19th century when Americans started combining the leftover fish scraps from dinner with mayonnaise for lunch. In 1977 while serving as a Marine Corps military policeman at MCAS Iwakuni Japan, I longed for American style food and in particular an old style tuna sandwich... …
Hugs on Hiatus?
Will the Corona Pandemic and the practice of Social Distancing leave a lasting scar on us similar to what the Great Depression and the Spanish Flu did to the Greatest Generation? Social distancing has put hugs on hiatus for a good reason I know but.. will they ever return? My buddy Steve mentioned how awkward …
We Are The Lucky Ones
Being lucky is believing you are…. Growing up I was always superstitious about luck and purposely didn’t play the number, the lottery or bet the horses. I think it’s because I sensed that luck came in small quantities and wanted to save it for things more meaningful to me than money. The Corona Virus …
The Bow Legged Blogger 