Today had sun which as since disappeared. The morning is chilly, only 50°. The dogs’ barking, especially Henry’s, got me out of bed. It was a neighbor at the door. It was 9:30. Now, an hour later, I am ready to face the world fortified by two cups of coffee.

When I was a kid, every day was new and every day was old. On week days, I walked to school. I sat at my desk until lunch and potty break. Geography and English were my favorite subjects. I always had a book hidden in my desk hoping I could sneak in a few pages, but in the eighth grade, I got lucky. I hit pay dirt. I sat by the window and the bookcases, and that is where I hid my book. I used to slip it between the pages of my textbook to read it. I read The House of Seven Gables, Oliver Twist, Dracula and more that year. I never got caught, but I came close once. I was reading, wearing the head phones from my transistor radio and eating Mint Julep candy, the hard green candy which needed a strong jaw, when Sister Hildegard called on me. I heard my name and stood up. She spoke louder. She thought I was hard of hearing or why else would I have head phones. She didn’t notice the lump in my cheek.

Saturdays were always new. Mostly the weather determined what I’d do. Winter was easy. I’d often go to the matinee in the movie theater up-town. That’s where my love for movies started. They never showed new movies. I even saw The Wizard of Oz there. Of all the cartoons they showed before the movies, Road Runner was my favorite. I had a nickel for candy and always chose something long lasting like Sugar Daddy Pops. My teeth took a beating. Other winter Saturdays were for skating and sledding.

Once the weather warmed, I walked all over town or rode my bike. I remember trips to the library and filling my bike basket with books. I remember jumping over the railroad ties which had double OO’s on them or I’d cause my mother’s back to break.

Sundays were old and new. Church never really changed except for the sermons. I always wished for a hidden book. We sometimes spent the day at the beach. We went to Gloucester. The water was cold. My mother packed great lunches. Pepper and eggs in a roll was my favorite. Other times we went to East Boston to my grandparents’. Those visits were always the same.

We went to bed early on Sunday nights.

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