Betsy's blog

Sometimes it is hard to get to a beach.

You just have to make do.

The annual Chatham Lobster Fest took place once again at Fisherman's Cottage, Cape Cod, home of the lobster jello mold which started the fun Fest in the first place.  When something that spectacular, its copper color glistening in the summer sun, is hanging on a kitchen wall, how can you not make Lobster Jello?
Small, hand-decorated sail boats in fish-filled blue jello waters are now part of the scene, as well.
All it takes is two boxes of red jello, two boxes of blue jello, some seaweed (lettuce), two beady eyes (blueberries)  and antennae (this year the ends of fresh green beans). Add many dollars worth of chocolate pebble candy, gummy fish and lobsters. Voila! A Lobster Fun Fest.
  And occasionally someone even eats some jello.

Pamela just wrote about the Nordstrum sale and it reminded me of shopping for treasures in Boston's famed Filene's Basement.

My earliest shopping memory, probably going back to the late 1940's was the trip to Boston for school clothes. My mother would remind me to wear a "full slip."  This important lingerie item was for modesty's sake. No dressing rooms in the Basement.  A giant bending staircase descended the several levels, and men congregated there to await their wives, girlfriends, mothers.  Was my full slip protection from leering eyes?  I think the men were often just bored, hot, and tired.  I hope.

Next came the lesson in finding the date stamp on a tag.  After so many days, the price on the tag was marked down 25%.  After another few days, to 50%. And then to 75% off. In the latter years, if you bought something that was 75% off, you would take it to a special "Charity Desk" and pay with cash or a check made out to one of about 30 organizations that included the Aids Action Committee, American Cancer Society, United Way.....

If you worked in downtown Boston, a trip to "The Basement" often became a part of your lunch hour routine. Go find a great dress, notice that it is only 25% off, hide it on a rack where it might go unnoticed. If it is a size 4, tuck it away between some size 16 suits, for instance. Then wait the proscribed number of days and hope it is still there because now it is 50% off. This must have been the beginning of DEAL OR NO DEAL.

I want to point out one more thing about shopping back then. This was no "sandals and jeans" event.  A "lady" (even a 10 year old one) got dressed up. You wore a skirt or dress. No knee socks and certainly not those crazy bermuda shorts.  And if you were heading over to shop for anything at Gilchrist's or RH White's after the Basement visit, you ought to have your white gloves ready, too.

What was the first movie you remember seeing in a movie theater? 
Question submitted by mainmor.

"I thought this movie was going to be in technicolor, " I complained.
I remember going to see THE WIZARD OF OZ and being very upset when it wasn't in color, as advertised. It was a strange sepia color, as dusty looking as the pre-tornado Kansas it portrayed.  But then, be still my heart, Dorothy, tossed and blown, awakened in Oz, and the world became magically, extraordinarily vivid, alive with color. It was unforgettable.
(Note: the only thing that still comes close to matching that amazing moment when a colorless world is changed to a kaleidescope of color is whenever I leave the dirty, dark concrete back ramps and walk through the entry way to my seat at FENWAY PARK.)   

Have you noticed that a certain once-chatty person has not be blogging for the last few days?

Here is notice that I am still interested in all your blogs, funny stories, pictures, adventures.

But I am somewhat occupied taking care of my four terrific grandchildren. FOUR!  That is a whole lot of kids.

Does anyone know where to buy a "mojo bag" because Gerry is going to need it?

I just had this exchange with a telephone answering system in trying to get to my doctor:

Computer voice:  Say the name of your doctor.

Me: SLAVSKY

Computer voice: I will connect you to the Pharmacy. If this is wrong, push * and repeat the name.

Me: SLAVSKY

Computer voice: I will connect you to the Lab. If this is wrong, push* and repeat the name.

Me: TATIANA SLAVSKY.

Computer voice: I will connect you to Jim Phillips.

We're going meta today: What questions would you'd like to see become QoTDs?

What was your favorite children's book?