JMD'sdad
5 Doors Down
I grew up in the small town of Port Credit, Ontario, Canada (population approximately 10,000 during the 1960’s). We lived on a dead end street…a block from Lake Ontario and two houses from a forest. Joe lived…5 doors down.
I didn’t know Joe very well. I was 4 years old when we moved there and he was MUCH older…12 at the time. We didn’t hang out but I do remember we played baseball, football, hide and seek, tag, and most important of all…road hockey. Joe was there during my FIRST road hockey game…my “Canadian baptism”. I’m sure it was uneventful for him, but not for me. So…I remember Joe. Joe lived 5 doors down.
Like most Canadian kids I loved playing road hockey until well into the night…long after the thermometer slid well below zero. Snow, ice and numbness of limbs only made it more fun. We’d go home only after our mothers called us for the 3rd and last time. I’d watch Joe go home. Joe lived 5 doors down.
I didn’t go to Joe’s home very often, but I do remember he called us into his basement once and showed us some films. To this day I remember the episode of “Popeye” that I watched in Joe’s home…5 doors down.
I remember Joe’s parents. His mother made the best caramel apples in the world. Each and every Halloween I would make a beeline to Joe’s home to get my share of those treats. I was lucky I lived nearby…5 doors down.
Before too long, we didn’t see much of Joe. He went to high school, started dating, and then…went off to college…and moved away. His parents remained…5 doors down.
I too grew up (well…physically anyways)…went to school…started dating…got married…and moved away. Joe’s parents passed away several years ago and others now live in Joe’s old home…5 doors down.
I never forgot Joe…but to be honest with you…I didn’t think of him often until a few years ago when I picked up a newspaper and read his name. Joe was working on the 102nd floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. He was one of 24 Canadians killed in the terrorist attacks. Like so many others…a piece of my childhood died that day…with the boy who once lived…5 doors down.
Dedicated to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks…especially my boyhood neighbour…Joseph Collison…who lived 5 doors down. This was his home.
5 Doors Down
I grew up in the small town of Port Credit, Ontario, Canada (population approximately 10,000 during the 1960’s). We lived on a dead end street…a block from Lake Ontario and two houses from a forest. Joe lived…5 doors down.
I didn’t know Joe very well. I was 4 years old when we moved there and he was MUCH older…12 at the time. We didn’t hang out but I do remember we played baseball, football, hide and seek, tag, and most important of all…road hockey. Joe was there during my FIRST road hockey game…my “Canadian baptism”. I’m sure it was uneventful for him, but not for me. So…I remember Joe. Joe lived 5 doors down.
Like most Canadian kids I loved playing road hockey until well into the night…long after the thermometer slid well below zero. Snow, ice and numbness of limbs only made it more fun. We’d go home only after our mothers called us for the 3rd and last time. I’d watch Joe go home. Joe lived 5 doors down.
I didn’t go to Joe’s home very often, but I do remember he called us into his basement once and showed us some films. To this day I remember the episode of “Popeye” that I watched in Joe’s home…5 doors down.
I remember Joe’s parents. His mother made the best caramel apples in the world. Each and every Halloween I would make a beeline to Joe’s home to get my share of those treats. I was lucky I lived nearby…5 doors down.
Before too long, we didn’t see much of Joe. He went to high school, started dating, and then…went off to college…and moved away. His parents remained…5 doors down.
I too grew up (well…physically anyways)…went to school…started dating…got married…and moved away. Joe’s parents passed away several years ago and others now live in Joe’s old home…5 doors down.
I never forgot Joe…but to be honest with you…I didn’t think of him often until a few years ago when I picked up a newspaper and read his name. Joe was working on the 102nd floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. He was one of 24 Canadians killed in the terrorist attacks. Like so many others…a piece of my childhood died that day…with the boy who once lived…5 doors down.
Dedicated to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks…especially my boyhood neighbour…Joseph Collison…who lived 5 doors down. This was his home.