All Around Pennsauken

By Judith Kristen, AAP Columnist

Do you think it’s a coincidence that National Chocolate Ice Cream Day, Jelly Doughnut Day, and Father’s Day all are all celebrated in the same month? Not much of a happenstance in my eyes, folks.

Actually, as a card-carrying chocoholic myself, I find it rather sad that only one day is dedicated to honoring chocolate ice cream. If I had it my way, we’d have a Häagen-Dazs flag flying directly under every stars and stripes in the country.

And Jelly Doughnut Day? Well, although cream-filled are my favorite, I have fond memories attached to both. When I was a kid in the 1950s, I lived over in Philadelphia; and just about a seven-block walk away from our house was a wonderful old German bakery named Schearer’s. Every Sunday, we would get a dozen doughnuts – six jelly and six cream – all topped with granulated sugar, not powdered. Mrs. Shearer always gave me a chocolate chip cookie for the walk back home, then she’d tell me to do well in school, be kind and helpful, and to keep smiling.

The doughnuts were big and yummy, and only 10 cents each. The cookie was free. The memories are priceless.

Not every day was perfect back in the 1950s, especially under our roof, but somehow Sundays came close to it. Of course, I have Mrs. Shearer to thank for much of it, but back home was pretty good too.

The smell of Mom’s fresh coffee was perking on the stove; Dad and I would bring in our bakery goodies; the Sunday Philadelphia Bulletin was on the table; and we’d talk about everything from Eisenhower to Elvis, all the way to those new fangled things called Polaroid cameras.

I didn’t realize we were making memories back then; I just thought we were having great doughnuts, lively conversation, and fun.

And while Monday through Saturday at our house was fueled by a lot of other things that Sunday managed to grace itself around, I have always been one to hold on to the good times, the happy things, and the good people in my life.

Many may think that living in memory is an empty gesture, or that someone with a clear conscience has a poor memory. But I see the beauty in things gone by. I don’t live there, but it’s a very nice place to visit. Then again, there are some memories I choose not to live with, but we still hang out at the same bakery.

May your memories and your today’s and tomorrow’s fill your heart with hope, love, compassion, optimism, joy, balance, goodness, and lessons well learned.

And may this Father’s Day find you blessed enough to be enjoying a jelly doughnut and a chocolate ice cream cone with a man who is proud, loving, kind, and worthy enough to be called your dad.

Peace and Love… and Mrs. Shearer.

~Judy

Judith Kristen is a Pennsauken-based author and animal rights activist who stalked George Harrison of the Beatles before it was illegal. For more information about her work, visit JudithKristen.com.