Monthly Archives: December 2025

Call The Fire Department!

Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2025 by Paul

Christmas Memories: Dad was the General Manager of a 13-store dime-store chain called “Ralph’s  5, 10, and 25 Cent Stores”.  Dad and the boss, Ralph David Lebowitz, shared the chain’s buying responsibilities.   They went to wholesalers’ warehouses to make their … Continue reading →

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Ugly With a Capital UGH

Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 by Paul

Christmas Memories: Mom was always artistic and perhaps what todaywe would call “avant-garde”.  It is Christmas time in 1956, and I am ready to come home from school, wait for Dad to get home, and then go out and pick … Continue reading →

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A Long Standing Tradition

Posted on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 by Paul

When I met Sue, I was alone, living in an apartment, and it was fall with Christmas on the way.  I was lonely, and Sue asked me to join her and her mother at Disneyland for Christmas Eve. I accepted, … Continue reading →

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Working At The Dime Store!

Posted on Monday, December 8, 2025 by Paul

Why was the snowman looking through the carrots?  He was picking his nose. The old stores had wooden counters, and the goods were laid on the table, separated by glass, which was in turn held by clips.  Every “bin” had … Continue reading →

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Packard Anyone??

Posted on Sunday, December 7, 2025 by Paul

The Christmas season in the dime store business was always hectic.  I remember many times Dad would come home from work in the “Step Van” that was fully loaded with goods to be delivered to his Van Nuys store!  Dad … Continue reading →

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We Are Off Like A Shot! The Day Is Full!

Posted on Saturday, December 6, 2025 by Paul

I had to work hard for my first bicycle!  I am probably ten years old, so this would be 1954, and I wanted a red two-wheeler.  Well, Dad got me a fantastic bike that I used for years and years.  … Continue reading →

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Today Decorating Goes Into High Gear!

Posted on Friday, December 5, 2025 by Paul

It is now 1954 on Christmas Eve, and our family is doing the traditional Christmas Eve activity.  First, some background is required. Mom and Dad were married twenty years before I came along, and during these twenty years, Dad was … Continue reading →

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Busy Busy Busy; I Needs To Retire!!

Posted on Thursday, December 4, 2025 by Paul

For the rest of the year, I plan to revisit old Christmas memories (The Ghost of Christmas Past?)  Please laugh and giggle along with me as I navigate my misadventures on the way to adulthood (some people are not sure … Continue reading →

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We Are Having A Mid-Week Crisis!

Posted on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 by Paul

I envisioned the house decorated for the cleaning folks, but alas, many boxes remain, scattered throughout the home.  Domilita and her staff will be here at noon, and hopefully they can find the floor. To add to the confusion, Mary … Continue reading →

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Decorating Gets Underway, One Day Late!

Posted on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 by Paul

We were up and moving at 7:00 am; Mary fixed coffee to get our hearts started, we worked in the office paying bills and taking pills, and then got dressed for the big move!  Seventeen trips back and forth from … Continue reading →

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