Episode 6: Put a cork in it

My dad traveled frequently for business when I was growing up, so Mom was often left in charge of duties that perhaps were not really in her wheelhouse. Such was the time that I came home from elementary school with a list of items that I was to bring for my “science kit”. I forget what most of the items on the list were, but do remember that we were to bring a magnifying glass and that all items were to be held in a cigar box. Apparently, in the 1960’s, everyone was expected to have an old cigar box available. Another must-have on the list was 6 corks.

Now, my dad would have known to just drive to Ernst Hardware and buy 6 corks. Mom, on the other hand, had probably never been in a hardware store and that would have been the last thing to occur to her. Instead, she had the ingenious idea to invite the neighbors in for an impromptu party, drink at least six bottles of wine, and give me the corks. Needless to say, I was the only kid in the class with wine-stained corks in my science kit.

Episode 7: Up a tree

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