My grandfather (remember Cleopatra Jones is really my grandmother and her husband, James Jones is my grandfather) loved NASCAR Racing and he shared his passion with the rest of the family by taking us to the race track. The excitement of high-performance cars speeding around an oval 500 times made the males of our house become entrenched in deep conversation. This particular year the major NASCAR conversation pertained to recruiting all the married children and their families to attend the next Pocono 500 .
The Pocono 500 ("The 500") is an annual NASCAR summer affair that happens at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. This race track is nestled in the middle of the beautiful Pocono mountains and brings a roar of activity to this rural and serene town. Every summer, about this time, thousands of people engulf the town with one mission; to see their favorite driver navigate his decal decorated, very expensive car around the track.
Once all our family members were committed to attending the NASCAR event, the logistics and planning of how we would all get to the occasion would begin. What was the best route for the carpool of 7 vehicles filled with family, food, and lawn furniture to get to "The 500"? This was the mission of the monarch of the clan, my grandfather, and he spent hours planning our approach into Long Pond. His next mission would be to plan where to set up camp once the family made it's decent onto the Raceway's middle field and he studied a map of the inner field for the best location. Finally, he planned the food and beverages we would bring to the festivities and how they were to be cooled and cooked during our family outing.
The logistics of the big day began at 4:00 a.m. when all the cars were packed with all the bounty to start our travels towards the small town of Long Pond. My grandpa drove the lead car (an El Dorado) followed by numerous cars that lobbied the roadway to obtain a closer position to grandpa's forest green car. Once in Long Pond we strategically descended on the racetrack like a football team trying to get the quarterback to the goalpost, in our case it was the best possible position on the inner field. As the males of the clan regrouped and debriefed about the logistical plans for our campsite the females unpacked the food and rallied the smaller children together for some refreshments.
The excitement of the Pocono 500 is an acquired taste which takes a novice some time to understand the phenomenon they are about to partake. Being in the inner field had it's advantages and disadvantages; one of the main disadvantages is limited exposure to the race. What does this mean?....... a viewer can only see the race when you hear the cars coming close to your section of the field. The standard protocol was to follow the sound of the hollers and as they got closer to your section you began paying attention to the track so you could see the cars pass by. Imagine 60 cars speeding by you at 250 miles per hour and you trying to make out the cars.............. I know what you're thinking.......you're right you can't see anything!.............. But we had the best times sharing each other's company, playing games and occasionally being interrupted to watch the race cars as they passed.
My mother (grandmother) always supported my grandfather in his hobbies. I am not sure she really enjoyed the races as much as he did but she set the scene so we all would follow her lead. I loved this time our family spent together!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The NAACP Dinner and Dance
My mother was a great organizer and proved her vast influence to me every year at her yearly fundraiser; the NAACP Dinner and Dance. Cleopatra's goal was to have this annual formal event at the best and biggest venue in the area which was the Colonial Terrace, a Victorian Manson in Corlandt Manor. Mom worked on this event all year long by getting local businesses to buy tables, soliciting adveristments in the journal, and hanging posters in their establishments. Cleopatra also schmoozed with the aristocrats and politicians in the area and invited them to attend, sit on the dais or speak at the event. The NAACP Dinner and Dance came to be known as "the event" of the year in the county and everyone looked forward to attending the gala with anticipation.
During the day of the big event our house buzzed with excitement, everyone in the house prepared for the night of festivities ahead. Between the trips to the beauty parlor, barber shop, tailor, cobbler, cleaner, and florist our mother orchestrated our every movement to make sure every child in attendance looked their best. Cleopatra Jones definitely lived up to her name, that year my mother went to the NAACP Dinner and Dance in a light blue and white Senegalese Bubu dress and head wrap ordained with elaborate embroidery.
The journal was filled with advertisments and letters of endorsement from local businessmen and polictians but it also contained the agenda for the evening ahead. During the cocktail reception my mother was a terrific host who made everyone of her guests feel at home and made introductions throughout the room. While dinner was served my mother conducted the introductions of the dais and set the stage for the speeches and activities to come. After all the scheduled speeches and honors were completed it was time to dance and all the guests enjoyed cutting a rug with Cleopatra. What a great time filled with great memories and the song of the evening: Me and Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul!
During the day of the big event our house buzzed with excitement, everyone in the house prepared for the night of festivities ahead. Between the trips to the beauty parlor, barber shop, tailor, cobbler, cleaner, and florist our mother orchestrated our every movement to make sure every child in attendance looked their best. Cleopatra Jones definitely lived up to her name, that year my mother went to the NAACP Dinner and Dance in a light blue and white Senegalese Bubu dress and head wrap ordained with elaborate embroidery.
The journal was filled with advertisments and letters of endorsement from local businessmen and polictians but it also contained the agenda for the evening ahead. During the cocktail reception my mother was a terrific host who made everyone of her guests feel at home and made introductions throughout the room. While dinner was served my mother conducted the introductions of the dais and set the stage for the speeches and activities to come. After all the scheduled speeches and honors were completed it was time to dance and all the guests enjoyed cutting a rug with Cleopatra. What a great time filled with great memories and the song of the evening: Me and Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Sunday Morning
Growing up in a big family meant Sunday morning seemed like dress rehearsal for a major theatrical production at our Dutch Street home. The mission was for everyone to get ready for Sunday school and church: How does every person in the house get their chance to use the only bathroom in the house? I know it sounds amazing but we actually accomplished this fate and here is how we did completed this task without using the kitchen sink.
Sharing the Bathroom:
In order to take care of our cleanliness we had to be creative in our use of the bathroom so that everyone would have their turn to do "their business". Many times we all shared access to our accommodations, which meant doubling up use of the sink and the bath tub. My Mom had a sign on the bathroom door which read, " Please knock before entering, I'd hate to be caught with my pants down" (It had a embarrassed cartoon figure with his butt showing - I loved that sign).
The first task was to find out if someone was in the restroom, to accomplish this task we usually knocked on the door to see if the bathroom was occupied. If someone was in the lavatory the person waiting needed to know if a boy or girl was inside and what the person was doing. If the kid inside wanted the kid waiting to enter the bathroom they would say come in, if they wanted their privacy the kid outside would have to wait their turn. Usually the person in the bathroom would let the waiting person in the bathroom, no matter what they were doing, if they were the same sex. The small girls of the household took baths together and the boys followed this same procedures unless your were a teenager. As the girls and boys grew older and began to develop each person received their privacy in the facilities (I always wondered why it took my older sisters hours in the bathroom until I became a teenager).
As you can imagine, many of us kids used the bathroom at the same time no matter what anyone was doing. In our house being modest was not really an option usually each child was not interested in the other kids body parts. Four or five children would be gathered around the wash basin at the same time to take care of their hygiene. On Sunday morning the little ones only had to wash their faces and brush their teeth because they would have taken their baths the night before.
Ready for Inspection:
Once everyone in the house was dressed in their Sunday best we now had to pass inspection before starting our trek to the Dutch Reform Church about a mile away. As we came downstairs to eat breakfast the inspection started with Mom standing at the foot of the steps observing each child as they descended. If any child didn't meet the muster they were sent back upstairs to correct the problem which meant we all had to wait to before eating Sunday breakfast. Usually the younger kids had forgot to brush their teeth or wash their face so Mom kept a washcloth nearby to keep them from having to return back upstairs.
In God's House:
Most of the time we went to Sunday school at our neighborhood church but on special occasions we would attend church with Mom. Going to church with mom was exciting because everyone knew Cleopatra Jones so the old mothers of the church would always have something for us like candy or gum. My Mom always looked so pretty in her church clothes; she usually wore a suit with a matching hat and gloves. She always smelled nice too, her favorite perfume was Shalamar.
Now making sure 12 children behave during the service could be a major chore and funny at times....... Stay tuned!
Sharing the Bathroom:
In order to take care of our cleanliness we had to be creative in our use of the bathroom so that everyone would have their turn to do "their business". Many times we all shared access to our accommodations, which meant doubling up use of the sink and the bath tub. My Mom had a sign on the bathroom door which read, " Please knock before entering, I'd hate to be caught with my pants down" (It had a embarrassed cartoon figure with his butt showing - I loved that sign).
The first task was to find out if someone was in the restroom, to accomplish this task we usually knocked on the door to see if the bathroom was occupied. If someone was in the lavatory the person waiting needed to know if a boy or girl was inside and what the person was doing. If the kid inside wanted the kid waiting to enter the bathroom they would say come in, if they wanted their privacy the kid outside would have to wait their turn. Usually the person in the bathroom would let the waiting person in the bathroom, no matter what they were doing, if they were the same sex. The small girls of the household took baths together and the boys followed this same procedures unless your were a teenager. As the girls and boys grew older and began to develop each person received their privacy in the facilities (I always wondered why it took my older sisters hours in the bathroom until I became a teenager).
As you can imagine, many of us kids used the bathroom at the same time no matter what anyone was doing. In our house being modest was not really an option usually each child was not interested in the other kids body parts. Four or five children would be gathered around the wash basin at the same time to take care of their hygiene. On Sunday morning the little ones only had to wash their faces and brush their teeth because they would have taken their baths the night before.
Ready for Inspection:
Once everyone in the house was dressed in their Sunday best we now had to pass inspection before starting our trek to the Dutch Reform Church about a mile away. As we came downstairs to eat breakfast the inspection started with Mom standing at the foot of the steps observing each child as they descended. If any child didn't meet the muster they were sent back upstairs to correct the problem which meant we all had to wait to before eating Sunday breakfast. Usually the younger kids had forgot to brush their teeth or wash their face so Mom kept a washcloth nearby to keep them from having to return back upstairs.
In God's House:
Most of the time we went to Sunday school at our neighborhood church but on special occasions we would attend church with Mom. Going to church with mom was exciting because everyone knew Cleopatra Jones so the old mothers of the church would always have something for us like candy or gum. My Mom always looked so pretty in her church clothes; she usually wore a suit with a matching hat and gloves. She always smelled nice too, her favorite perfume was Shalamar.
Now making sure 12 children behave during the service could be a major chore and funny at times....... Stay tuned!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
4th of July Picnic
On the morning of the 4th of July the Jones household began buzzing early, everyone down to the youngest person was preparing for the BIG picnic at George's Island. George's Island was a huge state park located at the end of Dutch Street where visitors could picnic, fish, play and launch recreational water equipment like boats or jet skies. It was our local park where we spent many great times growing up, but the 4th of July was an exceptional event and also a major production at our house.
The Preparation:
On this special morning, Cleopatra (Mom) got up first and began to prepare the delicious food she would take to the park for the upcoming festivities. She gave marching orders to all the children of the house to help in preparation of the affair. First up, the boys: Kevin, Johnny, Butch, Rayfield (Ray), Henry, and Gregory had to wash the barbeque grills, clean the coolers, buy four blocks of ice from the ice house, get the blankets, and some extra chairs ready to load in the car. Mom drove the older boys down to George's Island (the Island) to scout out the best location for the merriment. Ray, Butch, and Henry were assigned the task of setting up the picnic area while Mom returned home to finish meal preparations. James, George, Robert, and Ronald (who were adults and had families of their own ) brought coolers full of all kinds of juices, soda, and beer. The adult boys would join the younger boys at the park to help set up the music and game areas. Next up, the girls: Carolyn, Ranee, Denea, and Delores would help Mom prepare the food, get the tablecloths, drop cloths, and utensils ready for shipment to the Island. Loretta and Maxine (who were adults and had families of their own) would meet us at the park to help out Mom with additional food preparation. Many of the tasks were small jobs but each child took pride in making sure that they completed their task with excellence.
The Road Trip:
Once all the food was prepared and packed into boxes the next project was delivering it all down to George's Island without having a food catastrophy. Carolyn (little Cleo) and Ranee would ride with Mom to make sure nothing spilled out inside of the car as each load was transported to the park. Transporting sauces, cakes, pies, and hot pots in the car was no easy task. Mom and Cleo loaded all the hot pots and placed them on the car floor in front of the passenger seat. The salads, meat trays, and frozen items such as hot dogs and hamburgers were placed on the backseat and in the truck of the car. It took mom a total of four trips to bring all the picnic items, transport tables, chairs and any remaining children to the Island for the BIG event.
The Celebration:
Our family picnics were monumental events and many of my mother's family and friends were in attendance. My mom had 12 brothers and sisters; all of these extended family members had spouses and children. Cleopatra Jones also had a number of close friends who would come to enjoy the holiday, each one was treated with the same warmth and affection as any family member. As you can imagine, it didn't take much for a crowd of people to develop during any of our family gatherings. It was at the 4th of July picnic where our family came together to share the love, fellowship and most importantly continue relationships with sibling who no longer lived in our mother's household. The wonderful times and amazing stories of the day are other chapters to be told......... they are worth the anticipation.
As the 4th of July approaches, remember how important family is in your life. Please don't take your relationships with anyone for granted. If Michael Jackson's death taught us one thing it was to cherish our loved ones while we can for tomorrow is not promised.
The Preparation:
On this special morning, Cleopatra (Mom) got up first and began to prepare the delicious food she would take to the park for the upcoming festivities. She gave marching orders to all the children of the house to help in preparation of the affair. First up, the boys: Kevin, Johnny, Butch, Rayfield (Ray), Henry, and Gregory had to wash the barbeque grills, clean the coolers, buy four blocks of ice from the ice house, get the blankets, and some extra chairs ready to load in the car. Mom drove the older boys down to George's Island (the Island) to scout out the best location for the merriment. Ray, Butch, and Henry were assigned the task of setting up the picnic area while Mom returned home to finish meal preparations. James, George, Robert, and Ronald (who were adults and had families of their own ) brought coolers full of all kinds of juices, soda, and beer. The adult boys would join the younger boys at the park to help set up the music and game areas. Next up, the girls: Carolyn, Ranee, Denea, and Delores would help Mom prepare the food, get the tablecloths, drop cloths, and utensils ready for shipment to the Island. Loretta and Maxine (who were adults and had families of their own) would meet us at the park to help out Mom with additional food preparation. Many of the tasks were small jobs but each child took pride in making sure that they completed their task with excellence.
The Road Trip:
Once all the food was prepared and packed into boxes the next project was delivering it all down to George's Island without having a food catastrophy. Carolyn (little Cleo) and Ranee would ride with Mom to make sure nothing spilled out inside of the car as each load was transported to the park. Transporting sauces, cakes, pies, and hot pots in the car was no easy task. Mom and Cleo loaded all the hot pots and placed them on the car floor in front of the passenger seat. The salads, meat trays, and frozen items such as hot dogs and hamburgers were placed on the backseat and in the truck of the car. It took mom a total of four trips to bring all the picnic items, transport tables, chairs and any remaining children to the Island for the BIG event.
The Celebration:
Our family picnics were monumental events and many of my mother's family and friends were in attendance. My mom had 12 brothers and sisters; all of these extended family members had spouses and children. Cleopatra Jones also had a number of close friends who would come to enjoy the holiday, each one was treated with the same warmth and affection as any family member. As you can imagine, it didn't take much for a crowd of people to develop during any of our family gatherings. It was at the 4th of July picnic where our family came together to share the love, fellowship and most importantly continue relationships with sibling who no longer lived in our mother's household. The wonderful times and amazing stories of the day are other chapters to be told......... they are worth the anticipation.
As the 4th of July approaches, remember how important family is in your life. Please don't take your relationships with anyone for granted. If Michael Jackson's death taught us one thing it was to cherish our loved ones while we can for tomorrow is not promised.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Introduction
Hello to all my friends,
I am writing a small introduction to let you know I have been thinking about you. I want to be able to give you more insight about my mother, Cleopatra Jones. I want to share the type of person she really was, how she inspired others to achieve their dreams and introduce you to the human side of Mrs. Cleopatra Jones. My mom was an amazing leader, speaker, organizer, and mother who raised 23 children but provided emergency housing to many others.
I will update the memories blog once a week and I will inform you how things are going with "The Crusade" on the Cleopatra Jones blog. I hope you enjoy the writings and hopefully I can share some of the wisdom she shared with me.
Delores Bunch-Keemer
I am writing a small introduction to let you know I have been thinking about you. I want to be able to give you more insight about my mother, Cleopatra Jones. I want to share the type of person she really was, how she inspired others to achieve their dreams and introduce you to the human side of Mrs. Cleopatra Jones. My mom was an amazing leader, speaker, organizer, and mother who raised 23 children but provided emergency housing to many others.
I will update the memories blog once a week and I will inform you how things are going with "The Crusade" on the Cleopatra Jones blog. I hope you enjoy the writings and hopefully I can share some of the wisdom she shared with me.
Delores Bunch-Keemer
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