a trip down the stairs to my grandparent's basement was always an adventure. once our feet touched the cold linoleum tiles my grandfather would begin offering us every item in view. do you need a broken beach umbrella from 1969? how about a box of giant rubberbands? an old bottle of scotch originally received as a christmas present in 1977? when i would explain i lived in a small college then manhattan then brooklyn apartment he would yell, "You need a stretcha!" (stretcher) and would then proceed with the offerings. we were not allowed back upstairs until each member of my family agreed to take some object home.
when we were younger, we would always look through the basement bookshelf that held books that belonged to my mother or one of her two brothers. there were old mad magazines, textbooks, notebooks filled with homework assignments, nancy drew novels and hardy boys books that had lost their covers. once i brought home a copy of native son. another time i found how to be a nonconformist.
i rediscovered this book while going through my old books in new york. originally published in 1967 the book was written and illustrated by elissa jane karg. as a teenager, i loved comparing the advice she gave for being a non-conformist in the '60s with what i considered to be acts of non-conformity in the '90s. (the idea that following any rules is a form of conformity had not yet hit me.)
the illustrations are charming and definitely have a '60s vibe to them. the book was recently re-published and is available here.
now my grandparents live in a small condo in florida. there is no basement for storing old possessions. yet when we visit, i am still told i need a stretcha and am not allowed to leave empty-handed.
a lovely story risa. that book looks really cute, too.
Posted by: shari | June 04, 2007 at 12:06 PM
I love it - "You need a stretcha!" Of course, we all do. Not living in the same country as my grandparents, I didn't have the opportunity to sift quite as frequently as I would have liked.
Posted by: Sonya | June 04, 2007 at 12:21 PM
wonderful to enjoy memories.
enjoyed your little story.
Posted by: jessica | June 04, 2007 at 12:49 PM
that is a wonderful story...and your grandpa said "stretcha"...was he from New England??
In my head he said it in a Boston accent
Posted by: stilettoheights | June 04, 2007 at 04:01 PM
that sounds like my kind of basement!
btw.... your comment this morning to me... tears in my eyes. thank you. i can't wait to sit and have coffee with you. it will happen!
Posted by: lisa s | June 04, 2007 at 05:57 PM
I loved your comments!!!! What a great description! I could hear Poppa talking and see the basement. Too bad he doesn't use the computerbecause I think he would enjoy this too
Posted by: mom | June 04, 2007 at 07:19 PM
This book is great, those illustrations, wonderful!
I too spent a lot of time poking around my grandparents basement; my daughter, niece and I spent 2 hours this past weekend in a large closet full of photos. I took home quite a few that I have never seen before!
Such great memories!
Posted by: Stephanie | June 04, 2007 at 08:21 PM
Oh! I love your Grandpa! They're in Flaurida now, fab. Mr. Lovee's grandparents would always say, "Oh, we gotta go visit Saul, ya know, that boy's got such great Calah (color)." I love it! Wonderful Illustrations. I don't think I need that advice today. Maybe tomorrow. heeheheee... xxxooo
Posted by: Vanessa V | June 04, 2007 at 09:15 PM
Risa, what a wonderful story!!!
I love the illustrations too!! My parents have a loft with some 'treasures' in too!!!
Thanks for your comment yesterday xxx
Posted by: julie | June 04, 2007 at 11:19 PM
your grandfather sounds adorable!!!
love the illustrations!! both sound like
great books!!
i love book recommendations so bring it on!
Posted by: Anastasia | June 05, 2007 at 02:09 AM
oh does everyone retire and move to Florida?
haha
reminds me of Seinfeld....
guess they love the sun!
Posted by: Anastasia | June 05, 2007 at 02:10 AM
Your grandfather sounds like a wonderful character, how I would love to explore an old attic or basement for treasures. Love the illustrations in that book!
Posted by: cruststation | June 05, 2007 at 11:40 AM
your grandfather sounds great - I would have found lots of fabulous things down there for sure :)
love that book!!
Posted by: Maditi | June 05, 2007 at 11:54 AM
This post took me back to my grandmother's basement, not to mention her attick. Oh, sweet memories.
Posted by: Britt-Arnhild | June 05, 2007 at 03:17 PM
Risa
I, too, can here Poppa talking (and can also hear what Grandma would be saying)..His "gifts" to all of his grandchildren was and is something that he treasures.
His idea of a stretcha is something I have heard my whole life...Yet I can pack a car trunk better than anyone I know, and can fit more clothes into a suitcase and more items into a refrigerator/freezer!
Posted by: jeff | June 05, 2007 at 10:18 PM
Wonderful! I love it! Reminds me of my gram's basement where my cousin and I used to play as kids. It had a cement floor and a ton of stuff - everywhere! It was a treasure trove to be sure.
My gram has since passed away and her house (which I practically grew up in) has been sold. But those fun memories are still so vivid in my mind. Thank you for reminding me!
Tiff*
Posted by: Tiffany | June 06, 2007 at 05:16 PM
Your grandpa and I would get on just fine.
Posted by: shula | June 07, 2007 at 04:42 AM
Reading this just made my day...I have these same memories. Right before they moved out, I was bestowed an old alarm clock from the '50s, an old West Point postcard and a wartime picture of Poppa...
Posted by: Seth B | July 25, 2007 at 11:44 PM
I so enjoyed your blog. Thank you for sharing your interesting life!
Posted by: patsy | July 31, 2007 at 03:15 AM