MICHAEL J. LACIVITA It was tough sledding during the Depression

Reflecting on my childhood Christmas Day experiences of the Great Depression, I felt the only being poorer than me was the church mouse.
My grandchildren find it difficult to comprehend our plight, when I relate some of my empty Christmas stocking stories.
I make an annual pilgrimage to one of my favorite garage sales, at Youngstown's First Covenant Church. The members make me feel at home, since I have attended this event for many years. One of the workers, Esther, anticipates my visits and is very helpful. Each year I tell her, "I hope I will be back next year" and add in Italian "Se Dio Vo," or loosely translated, "If God is willing."
My visit a couple of years ago brought back memories of those "wish for something" and "get nothing" Christmases. My wish list consisted of a bicycle, electric train set and sled. These were pricey presents that I knew were way beyond my family's reach, and, of course, none of those pipe dreams ever came true.
At the First Covenant garage sale, I spotted a beautiful Flexible Flyer sled with all the labels still in intact. It was an Airline Pursuit model with a big arrow running through a beautiful color photo of an eagle. I only recall the words Flexible Flyer from my youth and don't ever recall being on one -- or on a sled, period.
Here was my chance to fulfill my dream of more than seven decades. The price tag said $50 firm, which kind of stopped me dead in my tracks. I bought it, recalling a thought my good friend Rocky Chirchiglia once voiced, "Mike, money is only paper." Whenever I look at this Flexible Flyer, memories of long ago keep sledding back to me. In addition, the money went for a good cause -- a double dividend on my investment.
X Michael J. Lacivita is a Youngstown retiree. A collection of his columns, "Rag Man, Rag Man," has been published by Pig Iron Press in Youngstown.