Niles mayor had local radio show

Published 6:16 pm Tuesday, July 29, 2008

By Staff
Not so long ago I, like many other folks in the area, was saddened by the death of Larry Clymer.
Quite some time ago, Larry phoned, asking me if I would spend an hour with him on his local radio show here in Dowagiac, "Clymer's Corner."
After him calling a few times, I gave in and was so glad I did.
It was not too long after I was on that he had to give up his hour-long program.
Peg and I spent some time talking with Larry before we went on the air and found out we had something in common.
His wife had a stroke such as mine and he was her caregiver, such as Peg has been mine for 20 years.
He seemed quite interested in my life and how I ended up all these years in writing my column and my book of memories.
He had lots of questions about my Dowagiac pioneer family members.
He was a man who a person would like when you first met him.
I was amazed at all the accolades given him in the papers and on the radio.
He was even mentioned in Washington, D.C., by U.S. Rep. Fred Upton.
As we ended the program that day, Larry said, "Charlie, we're going to have to do this again."
Well, it wasn't to be, as we all know. He passed away.
But I was glad I got to meet him even if it was for a brief interval.
Remember how you used to "plug" a watermelon?
I think you should be able to do this at the grocery store before you buy it, don't you?
Something that came to my memory was those little gas light figures Larkin's and Frances Brechenser had on display cases of the cigarettes they used to sell. It was for one's convenience in lighting their cigars and cigarettes.
Many years ago people in my class of living used to charge their groceries, but you know what, I'm still doing it at the grocery 'cause I always pay by plastic, which actually means old Charlie is charging those groceries for a month or so until I pay my credit card bill. (How about that?)
On a recent visit to one of our elderly friend's apartments, as we were leaving, taped on the door was a square note (wallet), pretty good size by the way.
I asked our friend what's with the note and he said last week they had driven to South Bend and discovered he left his wallet at home.
He told me that now when he goes out the door he won't have that problem anymore.
Well, I'm not as old as our friends are, but I found I'm making more and more notes to myself at age 78, and so be it.
I bet there aren't any kids of these last few generations like my growing-up years that had the misfortune of tangling with a bunch of sand burrs going barefoot in the old vacant lots Dowagiac used to have and are no longer available in the city.
Kids don't even know what it feels like to stub your toe while running barefoot or how hot 100-degree concrete used to feel. And don't forget those stinging nettles.