A Ride in the Blue Galaxie

ALLEN FAMILY ARCHIVE Joann Barbara (Allen) Sondy October 2007

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M

y “Pops” (John Allen) worked for Ford Motor Company; a job / career that I believe filled him with tremendous pride. I’m not sure what he did because when we, as grandchildren, were with him he didn’t talk much about his job.

I would have thought of him as an executive because he was always well dressed and neat as a pin. Probably a testament to my grandmother’s (Neeny’s) devotion to her husband.

Pops passed away in 1968 when I was just eight years old. My brief memories are fond and loving; Neeny and Pops doted on all of us. My sisters, Cathy and Pat probably have more stories about those special times and sleepover Saturday nights.

Going to Neeny and Pops’ was usually so grand. By that I mean, our Mom (Cecelia) would generally make sure that we were well dress and groomed; and of course, reminded to be on our best behavior.

They were living on Grixdale Street, just south of Seven Mile near John R in Detroit, at a time when the city still had a few good neighborhoods remaining with corner markets and neighbors who watched out for one another. Dad (Roy) would pull the family station wagon up to curb and we would dash out of the car, up the front stoop to see who would be the first to ring the buzzer.

This two-flat was a magnificent building, at least to my child-like perception, well maintained by the owners, who lived downstairs, and my grandparents. My brother (Brian) and I would rush through the front door to see Neeny standing at the top of the stairs in the doorway of their apartment who had already pressed the buzzer anticipating our arrival. Probably putting her finger

Top: Pops behind the wheel of his 1966 Ford Galaxie. Me with my two sisters and Brian waving to the camera. Top of page, Pops’ car.

to her lips, indicating that we should keep our footsteps light and voices down.

Don’t get me wrong, all this fuss about children making unnecessary noise was done out of respect. It was recently described so eloquently to me that Neeny (Caroline) was a “proper” Englishwoman – genteel and respectful; qualities my parents firmly believed (except for my occasionally rebellious father).

I can still see Neeny standing at the top of stairs as Brian rushes past me to reach to top of the stairs first. A crisp white shirt and dark skirt; protected by a maiden’s apron. She was so beautiful. A hug and a kiss on the cheek. I don’t know what perfume she wore, but it had a faint floral scent; not overwhelming but rather delicate.

Her short hair neatly coifed. A set of matching clip-on ear rings and broach. A delicate wristwatch. Untarnished stockings. I don’t think she ever wore pantyhose, preferring stockings. (A trait I also preferred).

And there was Pops coming to greet us; a tall slender man wearing dress slacks and a sleeveless t-shirt. Having just gotten up from his favorite chair. I don’t remember if Pops watched sports on TV or not. I do know that he was well versed on current affairs. He was the kind of grandfather that would come down on one knee and scoop you up for a hug and kiss. Pops was utterly fascinated with my brother Brian; maybe it was the red curly hair flying out from under a boy’s baseball cap… everyone thought him the cutest – except me.

TOP: Dad (left) with Neeny and Pops in front of the Galaxie parked in the driveway of our Betley house in Utica.

ABOVE: Brian about 3 years old (c1966) playing up the “cuteness factor” for the camera.

Pops behind the wheel of his new car while Neeny and Brian standby.

The grown-ups would move off to their respective places for conversation; Mom and Neeny generally to the kitchen and Dad and Pops to the living room. Of course, Brian and I went to the kitchen to see what treat Neeny had baked during the day.

(Stories about her expertise in this area deserve their own entry.. more on that another time.)

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Neeny’s “buns” still warm, cooling on a rack ready for the taking.

A tone lighter than golden brown, perfectly shaped to about three inches in diameter; a density somewhere between a crumpet and French bread. Sliced horizontally to make two discs, a pad of Land O Lakes butter and teaspoon of Lyle’s Golden Syrup on top.

This is pure heaven. (Another favorite topping would be Downy’s Honey Butter.)

Why is that we associate memories with food? Is it that food feeds our thoughts and reminds us of the people in which we share?

If Brian and I were lucky enough to spend the night; which didn’t happen very often because Neeny and Pops were in their sixties at this point and Mom and Dad probably felt that we would be too much for them to handle. How lucky Cathy and Pat were to have so much more time with our grandparents.

Spending time at the Grixdale apartment was an adventure. So many secret places to explore. Deep dark closets to hide from Pops. A large soaking tub in which to splash around and make Neeny giggle when the droplets hit her cheeks. Photo albums stowed away in tables, pulled out and examined. And, none of us will ever forget the Curio Cabinet.

Cecelia, Roy, Pops and Neeny celebrating Christmas in the mid 1960s.

It wasn’t the cabinet itself that was of any interest but rather its contents. Little animal figurines from the Red Rose tea boxes, small flower vases, glass blown flowers, special tea cups and saucers, and other momentoes given to Neeny over the years.

There were certain items that we could take out and touch but generally it all stayed in the cabinet behind the glass doors.

By now Pops was usually ready to take us somewhere, remember he made automobiles and loved to drive. His car was parked out back in the small driveway off the alley, not in a garage. Pops took excellent care of his Ford Galaxie. It gleamed in the sunlight, the interior free of any dust and dirt.

As a young man leaving southwest England heading to America beginning a new life; working for Ford Motor Company in those days must have been exciting. A good job with security and

LEFT: Cathy, Pat and Joann. The new Ford Galaxie didn’t put the same kind of smile on our faces as our little brother. (c1966) -3-

benefits with one of the world’s largest & oldest companies. I wonder, was this Pops version of the “American Dream”?

Pops would generally use the excuse that he needed to get something from the corner market; probably tobacco-related.

Why walk when you can drive? It was an opportunity for Pops to get us in the backseat and ask us questions about school and our older sisters. Generally being the quiet one of the group, I let Brian talk about the adventures with his friends or tattling on Cathy for doing something that angered Mom or Dad. I was so unfamiliar with the city of Detroit—even as an adult. My parents just didn’t like to go downtown except for rare occasions.

After the “white flight” to the suburbs many families turned their backs on Detroit. This might be why I embraced living in Chicago as a young adult, exploring its diverse neighborhoods; something that I didn’t do growing up around Detroit.

Pops would park the car outside the store and leave us in the backseat, indicating that we should stay put and he’d be out in a jiffy. And he was. Not only did he get his pack of cigarettes but he brought us a surprise as well. M&M’s! A bag for each of us! We never shared.

At the Grixdale apartment in 1967 John “Pops” Allen during the mid 1920s

Quickly telling us that it was our little secret and not to tell Neeny or he’d be in trouble. Followed with a reminder not to drop any on the seat. No Cathy. No Pat. Just me and Brain with our “Pops” out for a ride down to the store.

“Which is your favorite color?” Brian = Red. Me = ??, I liked them all. If they had blue M&M’s back in the sixties, I think Pops would have chosen that color. Just enough time to munch down about half the candy and carefully fold over the top and tuck it into my pocket for the ride back to suburbia the following day. Of course I’d have to admit to Mom and Dad that Pops gave me the candy… but that was OK because it was from Pops.

Is it the car I remember or the candy-coated chocolate? Probably neither.

I wish I could climb into the backseat of that gleaming turquoise blue Ford Galaxie and drive around the block with my “Pops” one more time. Oh, don’t forget the M&M’s.

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