Thinking About Melba

One of the first people we met when we moved into the Englewood Subdivision, in November, 1997, was a lady named Melba. She was the President of the Neighborhood Association and there was a meeting at her home to organize the display of Christmas decorations.

In Melba's home was a big central area where you could accommodate lots of people. I soon learned how much she enjoyed being President.

We quickly learned that Englewood was known for its Christmas light display. Most people turned their lights on the first Saturday in December and they went off the day after Christmas.

(In Toronto, I used to drive to neighborhoods known for their displays, now I was living in one! Most people installed lights down their paths and across the curbs. At night, it truly was a "sea of lights".)

Melba and her husband Don, had a large carousel on their corner lot, but the real feature was the giant picture window with dolls. There were dolls of every type and size and they were dressed in elegant Christmas finery.

Great numbers of cars filled with families would slowly drive through the neighborhood with more and more cars as it came real close to Christmas.

At Melba's house, there would be a logjam of cars as people stopped to really get a good look at the dolls.

One of the more interesting parts of the Christmas season - for which Hubby and I volunteered - was the Englewood Patrol. This was a patrol of the neighborhood from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. and two cars would cruise the neighborhood ensuring all was safe and no damage done. Melba staffed the base with her home CB and each of us had a CB to talk back and forth to let her know how things were going. We put magnetic signs on each side of the car, "ENGLEWOOD PATROL". Usually, Melba would suggest we pack it in about midnight.

I would take leftover Halloween candy and chips for us to munch on and it was a real fun experience for us, We pretty much memorized not only the displays but the streets.

During the year, Melba would organize events and I served on the executive for one year. Melba truly enjoyed her home and her neighborhood.

Melba's hubby made their corner lot spectacular all year round and it was always pretty to drive past. Melba used to walk through the neighborhood with her dogs and I believe that lady knew every inch of Englewood.

(Englewood was developed by the Bryan Family about 45 years ago and when we moved in, many owners were original. We live in a house built by Michael Bryan in 1995 in what is called the "New Addition". Mr. Bryan Senior, told us of the area before he delveloped it. There was a small lake and a little store and it sure sounded a lot like the Simcoe area in Ontario. I like the area because it is very accessible and inside the Loop. I can easily get everywhere I want to go.)

Melba has been missing from sight for some time now while she battled disease, including cancer.

On Independence Day, Melba died. Today at two we will celebrate the lady who truly loved her home, her dogs, her neighborhood.

Good-bye, gentle friend! Thank you so much for the fond memories!