Page 45 - REALLY What A time Book IX

REALLY SO WHAT
What A Time

MY FAMILY

As he grew older, seven to nine, he became interested in
model airplanes. It didn’t take long before he tired of the
rubber band models. He then switched to gas motors and
wire controlled models. They were more complex, with
steering hand controls and motors that needed maintenance,
understanding and gas. The models themselves cost more,
and were larger.

The closest model airplane stores were in Washington, 8 to 10
miles away. Joe would make trips there on the AB&W bus
line. They were big red buses, which I sometimes got to go
with him. They went down from Fairlington across the
th
Potomac on the 14 Street bridge to the Post Office Building
off of Independence Avenue. From there we walked the 5 or
6 blocks to the stores. It was a real adventure for me. Imagine
two kids under 12 doing that alone. Yea, one 10 the other 6.
It was here where he bought his gas engines, several different
sized Olson’s, steering apparatus, gas, tanks, and models, glue
and dope to paint them. It would take most the day, but I
don’t recall stopping to get anything to eat. Both of us were
pretty skinny so maybe eating wasn’t high on our agenda.
With his bundles we would head back to the Post Office
Building and wait for the next bus home.

Of course his newspaper business paid for his hobby and
interests. I must say he stayed with delivering papers for a
long time. I tried it but wasn’t really cut out for it. Sometimes
the papers would end up in the sewer drain instead of being
delivered.

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