In my first post I left readers hanging by the wheels of Electra, my little red plane, with a question … Why do I use a pen name? To answer that, please be my passengers as we travel back in time to 1956. Let’s visit my home at 2441 Fenwick Road in University Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.
We go inside and take a look around. Noise is coming from the basement of my old brick house. “Come on,” I suggest to my passengers, “Follow me downstairs, sounds like there’s a party going on.” That’s when it hit me, it was August 30th and everyone there was celebrating my 12th birthday. Mom is about to serve lunch to ten school friends. We eat hamburgers, potato chips, dill pickles and drink “bug juice,” (Kool Aid). Next is the dessert, vanilla ice-cream Dixi Cups and cake. Out comes the lopsided yellow birthday cake with Mom’s secret chocolate frosting (which I still use – it’s fantastic, so let me know if you want the recipe since I don’t keep those kinds of secrets anymore).
We play a few games like stare at a tray full of “stuff,” close our eyes for one minute, open them, and then write down all the things we remember being on that tray. Another game we play is musical chairs after which we sit in a circle and play hot potato. Now it’s time to open presents. The only ones I still remember are the poodle skirt from Grandma Rae, a pink sweater from a friend, a three speed English racing bike from Dad and what I thought was the best gift of all … my first diary from Mom.
I recall, as if it were yesterday, sitting cross-legged on my bed and staring at the diary’s first page. There were lines on that page needing to be filled in with name, age and address. I held a sharpened #2 pencil poised to write Gail Kronheim, my real name, but hesitated at first. Then came a perplexing pause … what should I do? I don’t like my name! It’s not fancy, it’s not cute and nothing rhymes with Gail other than jail, pale, nail, whale, fail, etc. To top it off, I can’t think of a single song about anyone named Gail. So why not just use a similar, but more elegant name? Thus was born my first pen name, Abigail. . Many years later there would be another.
Stay tuned to learn more …
Beautiful writing my dear talented friend! You make those memories come alive and invite us in to the party and then afterwards, to some secrets revealed! Who amongst us really doesn’t like to hear such morsels to digest and then spread further? Great job Abigail!
So glad to see you visiting my Blog! Sky Writing with “Electra” is so much fun and a great way to keep in touch with my many friends. For me, it’s like scripting then sharing and keeping my recollections.
How can you remember your 12th birthday in such detail?
I’m impressed.
Not sure which Jan has commented but I know several wonderful Jan’s. I have a vivid memory which is enhanced by looking at old photos, day dreaming and talking to family and friends.
I am so smiling as I , too, relive similar memories from that time in our lives …. Ah …. Childhood ‼️
Look forward to more and more of your story ❤️
Barb, Thanks so much for posting a comment. Glad I was able to transport you back to a time long remembered by those of us who were tweens in the 1950’s! Hopefully my little red plane will continue to transport readers back and forth in time. Time traveling this way is both fun and challenging.
Oh how I can relate to your story! What happiness you must have had in your childhood! I’m really enjoying this!
So glad you read and enjoyed the post. It’s very fun to write and it’s even more fun to hear back from my friends near and far!
Love,
“G”
Your post transported me back to my childhood. I recall the “memory game” with the items on a tray. Kool Aid was called “bug juice” at camp. And oh a pink diary with a key.
Being a chocolate fan, I would like your chocolate icing recipe if possible. Thanks.
Great hearing from you. Thanks for following my blog. Miss our chats. Blogging is a great way to stay connected – kind of like watching a soap opera together. In the meantime here is the frosting recipe:
FAVORITE CHOCOLATE FROSTING
6 Tbs. butter
6 oz. bitter chocolate
1/2 Cup hot milk
3 C. confectioners sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Melt butter and chocolate in double boiler. Pour hot milk into sugar and dissolve. Combine all ingredients and beat 2 min. until spreading consistency.
So very beautiful. I never had those memories. I had one birthday party when I turned 13. I do remember meeting you and your wonderful parents. You are one special friend.
As are you and Tom! Thanks your many years of friendship and understanding re my love for Dave as well as yours!
So vivid and warm. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Rob.Having great fun with this new adventure! Hope you keep reading the Blogs. My new book is in honor and in memory of Dave.
Wishing you and family well.
Love
“G” AKA Dylan Weiss
Wow Gail, you are incredible – to be able to write about your early years so vividly and unwrap memories for everyone. Keep it up! But where was Mava? (whose name I probably misspelled).
You are right Mary Ann! She is a stuffed animal replica living in my family room! I will send you a picture! HAHA!
Great memories. AS your baby sister Jane, I recall some of those parties my two older sisters had. Was that the party where the song “Who wears short shorts?” was played? Or was that a party in the basement at 2441 Fenwick rd. that Laura had? Can’t recall. But I also wrote feverishly in my diary….Dear Diary…what will tomorrow bring? Keep going. It’s wonderful.
It was my 12th birthday party. We all had our birthday parties in the basement until we moved to a larger home. Do you recall Mom making me or, was it Laura, inviting someone to our party that no-one at school would befriend because she was different?
“We eat hamburgers, potato chips, dill pickles and drink “bug juice,” (Kool Aid). Next is the dessert, vanilla ice-cream Dixi Cups and cake. Out comes the lopsided yellow birthday cake with Mom’s secret chocolate frosting …”
So you’ve always been a health food fanatic. How often do you get your pancreas tested, assuming you still have a pancreas?
“I can’t think of a single song about anyone named Gail.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nuy3mK86SLU
Pray this guy doesn’t write a song about Dylan.