You ask: "who is he?" Well let me tell you!
Buster Crabb was quite a swimmer, and the original Buck Rogers of film serial fame. Young, good looking, and friendly. We had gone to a Douglas Aircraft Picnic on a Saturday Afternoon and there he was in the pool. I wish I could remember the name of the Park, I doubt it still is
around today. That would have been back in about 1937 I'd say. There was a fountain in the middle of the pool and a small deck around it. Buster was setting there talking to the kids. As
my memory recalls he had been an olympic swimmer. The three of the "Smith" kids got into
the pool quickly and made their way to where he was - hey - a celebrity then was just as
exciting as one is today.
We lived on that bit of excitement for quite awhile as I recall. Those Family Picnics were such
a great time for the families of Douglas. Matched only by the Christmas Parties they use to
have. A shame those things don't exist any more. Everyone got to know everyone else and it
was good for the men as well as for their wives and kids. Dad left home to go to work every
day and Mom stayed home to take care of the house and family. Those choice times of being
acquainted with the men who shared the bigger part of Dads life were pretty important.
Thinking about those Christmas Parties - They were always held in one of the big hangers at
Douglas in Long Beach. I can't remember Santa being there, but I'm certain he was some
where around in the crowd. There were toys and stockings filled with an orange, apple
and hard candy. You know I don't think people use hard candy today like they did back then. There was big striped ribbons and small ones too. Pieces with flowers or a figure of some
kind in the middle. Colors were mostly red, white and green.
Of course, then was when Dad would take us to McFarlands for English Toffee. Oh, that was
great eating. There may be other brands, but nothing could match McFarlands, that is for
sure. Christmas was great because Ralph always set his Electric Train up and we would have
it running under the Christmas Tree every year. Tangerines, Hard Candy, Nuts and of
course English Toffee. Never could have been a greater Holiday.
You know when I was a kid there were three times each year that were super special. One
was Easter another Thanksgiving the last Christmas. Back then life revolved around the
home and family. The depression kept things pretty simple. Come to think of it, we did
not even have a radio. I hadn't realized entertainment as we know it today wasn't even a
dream back then. Our time was spent "making up" things to do. Our imaginations were
busy all the time. I don't believe I ever heard the word "bored". We didn't have time to
be bored, we were too busy having fun with "nothing". Go figure that one out.
Vacations - there wasn't money for travel. Camping was pretty much the limit, and then
there wasn't much of that either. Any camping we did was pretty primitive compared to
what is done today. No sleeping bags. Beds were made up with quilts as pads and as covers.
Tents were made of heavy canvas that had been water proofed with some oily substance
that smelled. No zippers, just snaps or ties for closures. I don't recall any ice chests either.
Well when you were born back in the "dark ages" what do you expect?
Easter was special because it always ment "new clothes" and shoes. How exciting. We were
all waiting for the Easter Bunny to come and there would be more candy and of course a very
special dinner. The boys and I would color Easter Eggs for the baskets. They were always
left on the Dining Room Table where the Easter Bunny could find them and add them to our
baskets. You know being a kid, even back then when there wasn't a lot of money (not that
we knew that at the time) but Mom and Dad made every Holiday special one way or the
other. Now as I look back on it, I wonder how they managed it. Probably did without so we
kids could enjoy everything. Sounds like parents!
Written this 13th day of May 2009
by: Eileen Rosenberg
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