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A New Era


Today a New Era dawns for the Ball family.

Not because it’s a new decade but today, January 31, 2020, we closed the back door for the last time at 531 North 6th Street, Cuba, IL. 61427, my childhood home for over 50 years, since March 1966.

That address (P.O. Box 606) has been emblazoned in the minds of my brothers and me for so many years we will never forget it. So many cherished memories, lessons learned, family meals, gatherings, special pets, hospital visits, holidays celebrated and friendships nurtured. In short - our Home. Funny, we always called it Mom’s house. Dad lived there to of course. They were married for over 55 years.

It was always home - where Mom lovingly raised her family. “Make sure you’re home in time for dinner.” 

Where Dad taught us to play ball. Fix old cars. The skills of an outdoorsman. Where my siblings and I practiced archery, raised flying squirrels, summer fish fries in the yard, watch the leaves blossom in spring, raking those same leaves in the fall. Shoveling snow for the neighbors.

Echos of Mom’s voice every morning on my way to school, “Quit jumping over the hedge!”

“Ok, Mom,” As I went sailing over the hedge to practice hurdles for the Jr. High Track Team.

And late one afternoon, “Dad help me!”

 “What happened to you?”

“Fell out of a tree, broke my arm.”

“Surprised you didn’t break your neck, Mom’s in Canton with the car. Let’s hope this Ole’ Willies Jeep starts so we can get you the hospital.”

“But Dad, who’s going to finish my paper route?”

It was laughter (on my part) when the training wheels came off my brothers' and sisters' bicycles. They could not ride them.

“Told you, should have never let Dad put them on. You guys are babies, I never had training wheels.”

“How did you stop?”

“Used to ride into Mom’s Lilac bush and climb off, or just fall over.”

So many firsts:
  • A new Kodak Instamatic camera, remember the one with the flashcube.
  • My first BB gun. No, it wasn’t a Red Ryder. Daisy.
  • Remember the Sting Ray Bicycle - mine came from the local Gambles Store. But secretly we all wanted a Schwinn.
  • Polly my pet parakeet.
  • Then there was Pixy, the cute little Red Beagle.
  • My Mercier a 10-speed French Racing Bicycle - we actually went to Peoria the bike shop ordered it special from France.
  • A real record player - played a lot of Mom’s favorites. Elvis, Tom Jones, and Englebert Humperdink.
  • Wow! A Pioneer 8-Track Stereo system.
  • A 1965 Rambler with a straight-six. Bought it for $50.00 sold it four years later for a $100.00.
The list goes on-and-on. And I’m sure my brothers could contribute a few themselves.

Today truly is a melancholy day for me. Tears of sadness, joy, loss, and most of all hope.

I hope that the young family now moving into Moms' house will build a wonderful life and a comforting home just as my mother and father did at 531 North 6th Street, Cuba, IL.

Truly a New Era.
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