Category Archives: Childhood

Happy Days

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Ellen Ross

Does this sign make your mouth start to water? Does it make you want to rev up your Bel Air Chevy and head on over? If so, make room on the bench seat for me. The warm weather is finally … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Childhood, Drive Ins, food, Hamburgers | 8 Comments

Mean Girls

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Ellen Ross

First, let me start by giving a shout out to my sister-in-law, Mary Lu. Her latest venture- the Tina Fey musical Mean Girls- just opened on Broadway. The critics thought it was fun and raved about the ultra-talented cast. Next … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Friendship, Mary Lu Roffe, Mean Girls, New Trier High School | 16 Comments

Dance Party

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Ellen Ross

That’s American Bandstand, Dear Readers. It ran from 1952 all the way until 1989. In 1956, after the emcee, Bob Horn, was fired for a drunk-driving arrest, Dick Clark became the show’s perennially-young host. On August 5, 1957 ABC began … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Dances, Music | 6 Comments

Cookie Monster

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Ellen Ross

In the cookie beginning there was the Word. And the word was Salerno. Eating a Salerno Butter Cookie is probably my first lifetime cookie experience. How well I remember those butter-favored pinwheels nestled in their plastic sleeves. Their Art Deco … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking, Childhood, Cookies, Maurice Lenell Bakery, Salerno Bakery | 12 Comments

Kiddie Chic

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Ellen Ross

That’s Natasha and Nick chez nous circa 1985, I’m guessing. They’re gussied up for a Christmas party we threw that year. I dug out this old photograph because I remember Natasha’s party dress. It came from Cerutti in New York … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood | 4 Comments

Hailey’s Comet

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Ellen Ross

MRI UPDATE: Good News! The Leading Doc In His Field says that my MRI (two hours, btw) shows that I am healing on my own and that no further surgery will be required. Whew. Thank you to all of you … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Memoir, Travel | 16 Comments

Old School

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Ellen Ross

One look at this picture and it’s 1959 and I’m instantly transported back to the playground of the Avoca School on Chicago’s North Shore. The dresses on the girls and that awful-looking ring thing bring back vivid memories of recess. … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoca School, Childhood, Nostalgia, Playgrounds, pop culture | 7 Comments

East of Edens

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Ellen Ross

Before we go on on a trip down Retail Memory Lane, Dear Readers, let me beg your indulgence. This will be my last blog post until Sunday, September 25. I need some time off because yesterday was the first day … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Edens Plaza, Nostalgia, Wilmette | 15 Comments

Graceland

Posted on June 26, 2016 by Ellen Ross

Author’s Note: Dear Readers, this will be my last post until Sunday, July 10. Next week I’m having the first of two cataract surgeries and I don’t want the pressure of being Mr. Magoo and having to type on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, pop culture, Wilmette | 21 Comments

Mister Roffe

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Ellen Ross

Happy Father’s Day, Dear Readers. Hope it’s a glorious day for you and your families. Those misspelled (No two N’s in “Benjamin”) dog tags are souvenirs of my dad’s Navy career. He was a radarman on the U.S.S. Shangri-La. Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Ben Roffe, Childhood, Fathers | 8 Comments