Growing Up In Simpler Times

While I was out Christmas shopping yesterday, I thought about what my father must have gone through when I was young. He died before I was married and had children and realized what an unbelievable job he did buying a house and raising four boys. Neglecting to thank him remains the biggest regret of my life. I was the oldest of the four boys growing up in Natick. My mother was sick most of the time, and my father had a very interesting but demanding job at the Navy Yard in Charlestown. He was a boilermaker in the days when most U.S. Navy ships were powered by steam. He and some other guys who lived nearby car pooled into Boston every day. It was a tough commute even back then and it made for some long days.

However, at Christmas we always had enough gifts under the tree. Of course things were much different then, no computers, no video games, no electronic gadgets, no cell phones, very little TV, etc. All we really needed was sporting goods because we played outside all year. Yes, kids actually played outside even in the winter. If it snowed we just shoveled off Billy Deans' driveway and played basketball from morning 'till night. His mom didn't even complain when we broke a window occasionally. When the pond froze over we skated and played hockey until one of the parents came to get us. Our equipment was usually held together with tape but we didn't care.

This is a great, exciting time to live, but things can get a little crazy at times so I enjoy thinking back to the simpler times. I'll be writing a lot more about growing up in Natick, joining the Navy, Vietnam, etc.