In early 1962 Nana K. moved to Clark’s Lane. She and Molter J. Kernen had often talked about the 843 house having seen it so many times in passing. They had planned someday to retire and live in that house. Now she moved there because the house was on the bus line and was within walking distance of grocery and small department stores and her workplace at St. Joseph Infirmary.
Remaining in the McKay Street home after the death of my father was too painful for her. The new home had less yard space but was ample for her needs and she would not daily be reminded of looking out the back window and seeing him working in their garden.
Furniture pieces that were appropriate for the Mc/Kay Street home did not fit in the smaller Clarks Lane house and were given to Miles’ brother William. A new flowered loveseat and chair came to the location. The old refrigerator was placed in the utility room and a new table and chairs were purchased for the kitchen.
Connie and D.J. slept in the beds upstairs and Duion’s crib was placed in the front bedroom along the bathroom wall. Back in those days, diapers were still used and four-year-old D.J. knew the value of costume design.
To the consternation of his dignified Nana, there he was in his
underwear with a diaper tied around his neck for a cape, jumping up and down on his Nana’s bed yelling, “Suuuuu….per Mannnnn!”
The antic entertained his baby Brother but not the Nana who turned to me and gave the stern command, “Get him down from there.”
It wasn’t the last time this scene would be played out in the front bedroom. Duion would laugh and I would haul D.J. off the mattress of the poster bed. Some heroes fly and some heroes bounce. Mothers encounter both.