I feel a novella coming on! Our house at 223 Howerton had a built in double shelf in the hallway for the telephone. There was a place for a note pad and pen and of course the phone book – BIG phone book that doubled as booster seat around the holiday table. The phone itself a rotary dial, with a cord that stretched for miles. We had four options – go down the hall to the last bedroom, go the opposite way to the living room, go to the kitchen table or stand by the shelf. But we were limited to those points. Not like today where the phone reaches everywhere, fitting in the palm of your hand.
I found a replica of the shelf, I wish I had a picture of the actual.
I have vivid memories of my dad standing at the shelf, talking on the phone with Grandma J. I could not understand most of what he said as he usually spoke in Czech but I pretended I could. Lol.
You see every single year on HIS birthday, he’d call his mom and CONGRATULATE her on having such a fantastic first born son! And that my friends she did. My dad was fantastic!
For years on his birthday, he’d take us all out to lunch usually at Snoga’s BBQ or Pesos Cafe. And while it was his b-day, he treated us! He was one of the most giving people I ever knew.
I think of my dad daily with fondness and I am forever grateful for the legacy of love he left to all of us. I can only hope my two look back and think of me like that one day. And oh what I would’t give to be able to call him up today and congratulate him on his Chili aka Jilly.
Here we go again. Another year in the books. Should I call this the beginning of my 55th year or end of my 54th? Funny math y’all gets me every time. I think I like beginnings better!!
Any Woo. I might get misty over here so I am going to quit my yacking and get to packing. For what? I’ve no idea. Wishing you the best day ever.
Those old phones were heavy enough you could believe they might be a murder weapon.
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Not even the whole phone. The receiver doubled as a hammer 🔨
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Happy Birthday! We used the phone book as a booster seat occasionally too and yes of course a rotary phone. We had a desk though and not a long cord. You stayed at the desk in the middle of the kitchen so everyone could hear your conversation because if your parent’s couldn’t hear it, you shouldn’t be sayin it!
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Thanks Janet!
Makes me laugh to think about sitting at the desk with everyone listening. Too funny!!
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When we lived in Indianapolis, the place we rented had a shelf like that built into the wall, with a flip-down compartment for the phone book. Always thought that ws cool.
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Fancy for the time. I am amazed by how things have changed. Never thought we’d give up our land line but we did. Don’t even miss it.
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Happy Birthday. Enjoy!
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Thank you Peter 🎊
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Happy Birthday Jilly. hope it is a wonderous one. Have you ever read the book, “We’re Czechs” by Robert Skrabanek?
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Thanks for the bday wishes Bill! I’ll look up the book. I’m always looking for another to add to my TBR queue
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