Hey Wait For Me – I’m Coming!

The year was 1945. This is one of my earliest recollections in my early life. I was old enough to walk, but I can remember being carried in the arms of my father and mother.

This incident happened one Sunday morning at Hostyn Church. It was customary for the congregation to gather at the exit of the church after mass to visit. They talked about the weather, health, politics and any other subject that came along. After ten or fifteen minutes of visiting everyone got into their cars and headed for home.

This certain Sunday, my dad walked over to the car ahead of my mother and started the engine. When my mother got in, dad put it in gear and they headed for home each thinking that I was in the back seat where my older brother and sister were. Sometimes I rode in the front with my parents and sometimes I rode in the back. It just so happened that when I walked out of the church that day, I got separated from both parents and didn’t make it to the car by the time it took off for home. When everyone left, I realized that I was the only one left on the parking lot. With tears running down my face and screaming all the way, I started to run down the gravel road towards home. I had gone about 300 yards when a car came up behind me, coming to a screeching halt. It happened to be our Parish Priest. He picked me up in his arms and tried to calm me down. He asked my name and who my parents were. I told him my parents’ names were daddy and mommy, which didn’t help much. But, not to worry because about that time another car came barrelling down the road; and, in a cloud of dust, stopped alongside the Priest’s car. After some embarrassing explanations, I was exchanged from one pair of arms to another and was happily on my way home.

This incident happened more than 79 years ago but I vividly recall it and it stays tucked away in my memory to this day!