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Jimmy Del Ponte
On The Silly Side
(The
opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News
belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect
the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)
My
kids just got back from 3 days at Six Flags Theme Park with their
mother, and I'm sure she dropped a nice hunk of change. A family of my
friends with small children were heading up to Story Land in New
Hampshire. With gas and hotel, that costs a pretty penny. A day at
Canobie Lake Park, for a family of 4 without discount coupons, will
cost a whopping $120.00. Toss in the food and some souvenirs and you're
coming home with an empty wallet. It's all relative too. Back in the
day, my dad spent a lot of money to take us to Revere Beach, Paragon
Park or Norumbega Park for the day. There were always the Foss and
Dilboy pools, too. I never went to those pools because I am too much of
a germaphobe (HBF…Human Bacterial Frappe!). I think we went to
Wakefield's short lived Pleasure Island amusement park during it's
ten-year existence. Pleasure Island boasted appearances by Bonanza's
Michael Landon and the Three Stooges (with Curly Joe De Rita). We took
a couple of trips into Boston also to ride the swan boats, which was a
fun summer activity. There was always the old stand by – Revere Beach.
We were so lucky to have had this amazing amusement park when we were
kids. My friend Charlie's grandfather helped build the wooden Cyclone
roller coaster, and we actually worked at the Dodge'Em Cars for a
while. Our band, Shadowfax, also played at Hurley's Palm Garden on the
boulevard, right up until they snuffed the beach for condos.
When
we became teenagers, I can remember a few places we went to for fun
during the summer. One was the Sheepfold area of the Middlesex Fells
Reservation in Stoneham. We would arrive there in several carloads with
a guitar and a few coolers. We had a lot of fun, but if I remember
correctly, there were a couple of run-ins with the authorities as well.
Breakheart
Reservation in Saugus and Wakefield was a favorite spot for us also.
One year I tried to swim to the "island," only to be rescued by my
former girlfriend, who I was trying to impress. I dove in, swam like
Hell for 3 minutes, but somehow had managed to turn myself around
halfway to the island. So I was out of breath and yelling for help.
Good thing she was an avid swimmer and former member of the Medford
High School swim team. I learned a lesson about showing off.
We
popped into Sandy Beach in Medford every once in a while, as well as
Wrights Pond. At Wrights I believe you had to have a Medford Resident
sticker, but we still got in. My pal Bob is a Park Ranger up there.
Today,
the closest place I have found to Revere Beach is Old Orchard Beach in
Maine. We hit that fun spot a few times a year. They have a pier area,
a great beach and a decent amusement park. I call it Somerville with
water, because I always seem to see a familiar face from the "Ville" up
there.
We have our little trailer in New Hampshire, which is a lot of fun for a summer escape on weekends through October 15th.
Some
of you people are lucky enough to have a "cottage." They are usually
passed down from generation to generation. You kids are lucky! And if
its close to a lake or pond you are even luckier. We had one in Wareham
for a few years, but dad sold it when we stopped going down there. I
wish we had it now, that's for sure. My timing was all off. If my kids
had already been born he would never have sold it. Oh well, you can't
go back. I am happy with the options I have.
It's fun thinking
about the ways we kept cool in those summers of the 60's and 70's.
Driving our old clunkers packed with our friends to have a little fun.
Sure we were a bit careless, but somehow most of us made it. I think I
still have one of those matchbooks with the discount offer for Paragon
Park someplace in the cellar.
Thank you for the fantastic turn
out last Wednesday for the Project Star production of the mini-musical
"Back in the 'Ville." Keep your eyes and ears open for news about an
encore performance. You can email Jimmy directly at : jimmydel@rcn.com.
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