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Topic starter
09/03/2022 8:31 am
A "WHODUNIT?" CHILDHOOD MEMORY
Pouring my coffee this morning, I smiled as I remembered a fun game I used to play with my Dad when we would go to breakfast at The North Pole, a small restaurant in Newport, Minnesota the town next to where we lived in the mid 1960's.
My Dad would always have coffee and I'd order a Coke...hey, I was only in my young teens, so Coke was my preference. The game we'd play went like this. I'd say to my Dad, "OMG look behind you", then when his head was turned, I'd pretend to put something in his coffee. Of course, he'd see me, but I'd sit there looking innocent. Then as he'd pick up his cup, my eyes would get big and I'd stare at him like I was eager for him to take a drink. But before he'd take that drink, he'd suddenly say, "look at that guy that just came in behind you". While I'd turn my head, he would then also pretend to put something in my Coke, followed by the same wait for me to take a drink look. It's just one of the many recollections of my Dad that are so precious in hindsight.
Another Dad memory involved him and (his brother) my uncle Ernie, who owned a 1956 Cadillac yellow hardtop. Why is his car important? Well this is where it got fun. Uncle Ernie was separated from my aunt Lillian at the time, and he was staying at our house. But he didn't want her to know that. Their separation was a troubled and bitter affair, as she'd follow him home from his work at Midwest Motor Freight attempting to see where he was living. She'd even tried to run him off the road a time or two.
One day, my Dad was at a car dealership in South St. Paul and on the lot was an identical '56 Cadillac like Ernie's. My Dad called Ernie and told him he had a plan to divert her attempts to see where he was staying. He would borrow the dealer Cadillac and meet Ernie at his work. When it was time for Ernie to leave work my Dad would drive the borrowed Cadillac out of the work parking lot and Lillian would follow him, thinking it was Ernie. Then while she was following my Dad, Ernie would drive in the opposite direction, go to our house and drive his car into our garage. This madcap caper went off as planned. After about an hour my Dad lost Lillian in traffic and he returned the dealer Cadillac and then drove home and parked his own '56 DeSoto in our driveway behind the closed garage door. Lillian was none the wiser.
The fun got better! That night my Dad told me to sleep in his car in the driveway and see if Lillian possibly came by our house, because the night before she was spotted sneaking around our yard. I don't remember what time it was, but sure enough, Lillian pulled up at the end of our driveway and walked up to the garage where she was trying to see inside. Then she went around to the back of the house where she attempted to climb our our fence to get closer to the house. Suddenly I saw her come running to her car, get in and take off! The next morning, we discovered that her climb over the fence caused her to lose her underwear, as there they were, big bright pink panties caught on a fence post. A most hilarious sight, to say the least.
She never did find out for sure if Ernie was actually staying at our house, as after they reconciled, we kept it a secret. But it was a secret that that's made me laugh many times through the years. My Dad, Ernie, and Lillian are all gone now, but my coffee this morning was a hoot recalling this almost "Spy vs. Spy" adventure replay in my mind.
I've always loved the '56 Cadillac and I know this memory is one of the reasons why. The photo below is identical to Ernie's Cadillac and the one my Dad borrowed from the dealer.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
09/03/2022 9:35 am
Great story George. How soon did Uncle Ernie and Aunt Lillian reconcile after the "pantie incident?" Got me wondering if Lillian used her panties as catnip to lure Uncle Ernie?
BTW, I'm a huge fan of the '56 Cadillac.
John Bono
North Jersey
Topic starter
09/03/2022 11:12 am
It was shortly after the caper shared above that they got back together. But truth be told that separation was just one of several they endured during their turbulent marriage. I think theirs was a true love, but they just had trouble staying together. I could share other interesting adventures between them that didn't involve cars.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
09/03/2022 11:23 am
George, I too am a big fan of the 56 Cadillac but also the 56 Lincoln Premier. Loved your story about Ernie and Lillian. I was thinking that had you blown the horn of the DeSoto when Lillian walked by, it might have scared the pants off of her.
Topic starter
09/03/2022 11:30 am
LOL, I never thought about honking the horn while I was in the car, as I was trying to not be seen. You know from past posts of mine, that you and I share the same love for the '56 Cadillac and '56 Lincoln. But I don't have a cool story to go with the Lincoln. 
Glad you enjoyed my story.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
09/03/2022 11:41 am
OMG...That is a hilarious story George. I can just picture the "lost panties" scene playing out; if only you had a video cam back then hey? Made for TV stuff! Lillian sounds like she may have had the potential to boil your uncle's bunny though. Love can be strange.....
That is a beautiful Cadillac btw; great colors.
09/03/2022 12:58 pm
George, nice car and great story.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
09/03/2022 7:37 pm
George! New pic! Got a little Tom Petty thing going on there!
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
10/03/2022 1:01 am
Great recollection George. Thank-you for sharing.
I've got great memories of my Dad when he got his succession of boats.
And the times I was always available to get to the Coast Guard stations to pick him up
George Schire and George Schire reacted
10/03/2022 1:36 am
Love your story George, and that '56 Caddy too!
George Schire and George Schire reacted