The Legend of the Band Aide Box

Many years ago there was a special little cottage located in Gem and Terrace Beach on Catawba Island near Lake Erie. This little getaway @ Gem and Terrace Beach was owned by Grandpa and Grandma and was only for their pleasure... and the grandchildren. Occasionally the parents were allowed as guests.

Back in those days Gem and Terrace Beach had Live Music with dancing under the stars, a Put Put golf course, a Penny Arcade, and Rollerskating Rink in addition to a well maintained beach area with Lifeguards. I was blessed to be a parent that was allowed to bring his children to Grandpa and Grandma's cottage for a week. My job was to ferry the Grandchildren to the many activities and make sure they had their daily allotment of Ice Cream Sandwiches, Strawberry Milkshakes and homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies. Grandpa always maintained a freezer full of Ice Cream just for this purpose and Grandma maintained a full cookie jar at all times.

One week when we were at the cottage, I got in trouble. Grandma had maintained an old metal Band Aide box filled with quarters for the Grandchildren to play Put Put. Grandma had hid it on the book case headboard of her bed. {It was a secret between Grandma and her Grandchildren.} When the Grandchildren wanted to take the money to play Put Put I said "No that was Grandma's money"...

Those little darlings called Grandma and told her the story. It wasn't long when my phone was ringing and I received a chewing out unlike anything I had ever experienced even in my misspent youth. "That money is for Put Put. You best start listening to my Grandchildren!"

Many years have passed and Grandpa and Grandma have passed and the cottage @ Gem & Terrace Beach had been sold. I took a drive around that direction not too long ago. The Dance Hall, Penny Arcade, Rollerskating Rink, and Put Put golf course are all gone. Now these areas are Condos on the Lake @ Gem Beach. (even the name has been changed) I sat on the beach that day and the memories of days filled with giggles, ice cream and sunshine flooded my mind.

Today I sent an anonymous package to the Grandchildren who were now parents. Each package contained an old metal Band Aide box (hard to find today) filled with quarters, labeled "For Put Put" and a million dollars worth of memories.... You see I am now the Grandpa and I must maintain the legend of the Band Aise Box. Mizpah ;-}}>