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Watching Time Disappear
When I was a kid my Uncle Viv lived on Bailey Avenue. His name was Vivian Venne and he was my grandmother Gagnon's brother. We visited him often. He lived with his wife Elizabeth and his children, my cousins, Helen, Nyoka and Ronald.
I remember Uncle Viv well. He could tell stories, and he loved to tell stories about his baseball playing days and what a fast runner he was. He was a little skinny guy who smoked a big pipe. He would tell me that he could run so fast that he'd hit an infield grounder and he'd be at first base before the ball even got to the shortstop.
He would tell me that he could hit a ball over the fence at Bailey Avenue ballpark and he could be touching home plate before the ball would land on the other side. I was about eight years old and I'd laugh at his stories and so would my Dad, but I'd be half wondering if he might really be telling the truth.
The thing I remember most about Uncle Viv, though, is that he fixed watches and clocks. When you would go in his backdoor, just to the left, off the kitchen, was his shop -- full of watches and clocks. Sometimes he would show us some unique timepiece that he was working on. He could fix anything.
He would have hundreds of clocks hanging on the walls, never with any empty spaces. And his workbench would be covered with watches of all kinds, including the popular item of the day, the pocket watch. Back in those days every man had a watch. It was part of your everyday life.
I remember my first watch. I got it when I was about ten. It was silver with a silver flexible wristband. I was proud to have my own watch, that my parents figured I was old enough to have a man's watch, instead of some cheap plastic thing. I remember giving it to a guy on our bench during a Babe Ruth baseball game at OLVA when I was thirteen. I thought he was a friend of our coach and that he would hold it for me since I had forgotten to leave it at home that day.
As you might guess, after the game I didn't think about my watch, and that's the last time I ever saw it. That guy, whoever he was, walked away with my watch. Maybe he's reading this now and will feel guilty, and he'll bring back my watch.
But it occurs to me, as I work with young men and women as my videographers, that kids today don't wear watches. I think I might be part of the last generation to wear watches. I think those good ol' traditional names like Timex and Bulova might have to look into some other product to manufacture, if they haven't already.
Not one of my videographers wears a watch. How in the world do they know if they are getting to work on time? Easy! They all have cell phones. No need for a watch when you can just check the cell phone to find out the time, temperature, wind speed and relative humidity.
Used to be that a watch was a big traditional family item to pass on to the next generation. Grandma would say, "Your grandpa left you his watch, Bobby." Or, Mom would say, "Joey, here is your daddy's watch. He'd want you to have it."
What are future generations going to leave? Their cell phones? Their assortment of ringtones? Their CD collections of Eminem, Akon and Ludicrus? Boy, the world sure has changed a lot since the good ol' days of Uncle Viv on Bailey Avenue.
Comments
My Razr cell phone is: my home phone; my camera; my watch; my daily calendar; my typewriter/mail supply; and my alarm clock. If you would have seen my Razr back in the day, you would not have believed what it can do - the concept would have been unbelievable in spite of Dick Tracy and Buck Rogers or even Superman.
Posted by: Miney Rowlson | October 18, 2007 7:32 AM
I wear a watch now but don't have an alarm clock. I have a biological clock and I wake up almost every morning at the same time (0500-0515) whether or not I was partying the night before or just being good.
Because I'm notoriously slow, I leave to get somewhere in time to be there on time but usually early. I get irritated at people who arrive at a function "fashionably late". What the hell does that mean?
I remember Pickles well (VO and water). He could have been a contender if he could hit a curve ball.
Chas Plumadore died this week. He was a remarkable guy and endured a lot in his short life. I guess his biological clock didn't wake him up.
Posted by: skip zatonski | October 16, 2007 5:31 PM
Foxy,
I'm retired and single..........I need a watch like you need higher taxes !
Posted by: jim carr | October 16, 2007 4:59 PM
Foxy -
While it does seem that the era of the wrist watch is long gone, rest assured, there are legions of watch enthusiasts of all ages still lurking around. In fact, there's an entire online community that revolves around all things horological. For those interested, visit timezone.com...it's a place where you can have all your questions answered by expert watchmakers and collectors. It doesn't matter if it's about a $10 Timex that you wore as a boy or some of the luxury timepieces that cost as much as most peoples homes. There aren't many watches that at least one member there hasn't owned at one time or another.
And good luck finding that old watch!
Posted by: Dave | October 16, 2007 3:04 PM
Times have changed. When I was a lad of 6 or 7 my grandfather worked for the D&H. He had a huge pocket watch that was supposed to be noted for its accuracy. We were so happy when he would let us hold it or maybe put it in our pocket for awhile. I did not know your Uncle Viv, but I have seen a considerable amount of work done by your cousin, Ron. He was an absolute genius. I really hope that you have copies of the many videos that have been made depicting his many accomplishments. They should be seen by all local people interested in the North Country. Also I played ball with and for the legendary Pickles. All his stories were factual. He was an excellent hitter but the long ball was not his forte. I am glad that the Carver has taken over the signs for the Calnon camp.
Posted by: The Old Timer | October 15, 2007 3:56 PM
Yes Foxy, the TIMES have changed..old days are filled with special memories...but think about it, back then, your videographers would be the guys holding the flash poles with the powder on them ! so you have to admit, some things of the modern era have come in handy. Your uncle's stories remind me of a few I've heard in the past...like Pickles Proctor's claim that he had hit the longest ball of all time out of Bailey Ave Park...it was years later that the true story emerged ... he had hit a foul ball into a coal car on the train headed to Montreal!
Regarding your watch, JCARR seems to be sporting a watch that looks a lot like your watch that came up missing, check it out sometime..he's had it by the looks, about 40 years, which fits the time frame...or, perhaps, the same fella that took your watch has something to do with the missing "CALNON FOR COUNCILOR" signs ?? Both might be worth looking into!
(Foxy's note: Thanks for the excellent comments, Carver! I know where to find that Carr guy you mentioned.)
Posted by: The Carver | October 15, 2007 1:57 PM