Ovaltine, Applebutter, And Blue Fish

OVALTINE, APPLE BUTTER, AND BLUEFISH

My paternal grandmother gave birth to eleven children------------my father, Alfred, Uncle Paul; Uncle Donald; Uncle Larry; Aunt Edythe; Aunt Virginia; Aunt Lillian; Aunt Ruth; Aunt Yvonne; Aunt June; and Aunt Alice, the oldest of the siblings and the one whose memory has stayed with me for all my seventy-seven years. Aunt Alice had no children and I believe she was attached to me because I was her first-born niece.

Aunt Alice lived in a two-story brown brick apartment building on a dead-end street that ended with a railroad track. The hallway and steps leading to her second -floor- cold- water- flat were dark--------dark-mahogany-like steps and railings, and walls the color of pecans. All kind of spooky; but for some reason, as a youngster, I was never afraid to ascend those stairs. Could it have been because of what awaited me inside?

The three- room flat was like none that I had ever seen. One entered a kitchen which exposed a large pantry with a tall, mahogany-colored wooden door just to the left of the entryway. Behind the kitchen, and running the length of the kitchen were two rooms separated by a wall. The front room to the left was used as a living room, the other room to the right was the bedroom. Both rooms lacked brightness due to the colors of the painted walls and the dark furniture; however, I was amazed at all the white lace coverings on each of her tables. A tiny closet-like “room” off the kitchen was only large enough to hold a toilet; no sink, no bathtub, no shower. It did have a door, though. Much to my surprise, bathing was accomplished once a week, usually on Saturday evenings, in a large silver-colored galvanized tub which was placed in the middle of the kitchen floor-----absolutely no privacy! A cold-water flat, by definition, had no running hot water; hot water for this tub was heated on the gas stove next to the kitchen sink which sat opposite a small kitchen table at which meals were served. The kitchen table was adorned with what I came to know was an oil cloth draping.

Aunt Alice shared this apartment with a man, I guess she was married to him, whom we used to refer to as deaf-and-dumb. There was no politically correct verbiage back then. She was the only one who could communicate with him although I doubt that she had taken sign language lessons. Somehow, they just understood each other and appeared to experience a peaceful, loving life. He was a hard-working shoe maker whose only vice, if one could call it that, was fishing for Blue Fish during the summer months. His entire Saturday was spent doing what he loved----fishing, cleaning, and packaging the fish in newspaper to distribute to family members. I must add that my mom became very adept at creating different ways to serve this delicious fresh fish, not to mention that it saved my mother and father much needed money.

Aunt Alice, the oldest of the eleven children of my paternal grandparents, would be at least one-hundred-and-three years old now if she were still living. My memories of this petite woman with sharp features have less to do with who she was, and more to do with what she had, and what she offered me whenever I visited. You see, the bottom shelf of her deep pantry was never without a big jar of Apple Butter and an even bigger jar of Ovaltine. There was never a time during my visits that I was not invited to sit with her at her oil cloth covered kitchen table, thoroughly enjoying my white bread (probably Wonder Bread), spread with yummy Apple Butter, accompanied by a big cup of liquid Ovaltine with crystals that seemed to miraculously dissolve into something equally yummy. It was always just warm enough for me to drink right away. Unlike Aunt Alice, these treats are no longer gone; however, they don’t seem to be as popular as they once were, at least not in my northern neck-of-the-woods. As I look back on Aunt Alice and her quaint abode, I have no idea what kind of work she did or whether she worked at all. I just remember this petite, brown-skinned, slim woman who had very sharp features and a very kind soft-spoken voice and who always seemed to be there for me. I will forever miss my Aunt Alice, and the joy I received sitting with her at her kitchen table, enjoying her warm quiet company, and my Ovaltine drinks and Apple Butter Sandwiches. I never really knew the gentleman she shared a home with; but I would be remiss if I did not thank him on behalf of my mother, father, brother, and me for his gift of his delicious Blue Fish.