Memoirs of The Half Ball Generation

About the Book

Half Ball was a game that was best played in restricted city areas like driveways and lots. Any place where the local terrain could be marked off into a field. A telephone pole would be a single. A garage door would be a double, etc. The half balls were cut from pink high bounce balls with a sharp knife along the seam to divide the balls into equal halves. A broomstick was the bat. The marvelous thing about half balls is that the pitcher could throw a great variety of curves, floaters, and drops that really were a challenge to hit. When they were hit they didn’t travel far and never caused damage. Usually played by a two-man team, there was no base running involved. Scoring of singles, doubles, triples, and home runs was based simply on how far the ball was hit. In our West Philadelphia neighborhood the boys spent countless afternoons playing this wonderful simple outdoor game.

This book entitled, “Half Ball Generation”, is not about the game Half Ball, but rather about a remembrance of times and people when the game was being played. It’s about experiencing life for those being born in the 1930’s. It’s a collection of real life stories experienced primarily about the author. At the end there are sections on Poems, Memoirs, Cars, Favorite Recipes, and The “Lose” Family Heritage.

About the Author

Being born in the 1930’s many childhood experiences were gained by playing outdoor games like, Kick The Can, Mother May I, or Half Ball played in dirt driveways. Life was simpler then before the explosion of technological advancements and electronic games. There were no incentives to drive kids into being something other than just kids growing up and none of the boys ever received Ridellan for being rowdy in school. 

The tragic loss of my husband’s Grand Daughter and Great Grandson came as a stark reminder of the many near fatal circumstances that he had experienced growing up around the Philadelphia area. Being the keeper of many family related stories and at the request of his extended family to document my husband, John G. Lose, decided to put down in writing how one can live an interesting life without resorting to drugs or violence.

Rising above the early years and a childhood illness he became the first in his family to succeed through a college education having careers with both Gulf+Western and Boeing.

Married life and raising kids seems always a challenge and there are no exceptions here. After his first marriage was dissolved we met at a PWP social. Twelve years later and after our combined six children matured we were married and in quick succession all of our children married.                                                                                                                   

Strife originating from family situations has always been fertile ground for composing satire in poetic form. My husband has included his modest collection of about 17 poems.

Just to make this text more interesting and appealing to women I have chosen a few very special recipes from my large reference library to be included. My mother being born in Italy was a very fine cook of the old school where when you wanted chicken for dinner you visited the local poultry store and bought one live.                                                                                                    

For reference is presented what is known about the, “Lose Family Heritage”, having first landed on American soil during Revolutionary times.  

                       -Carmella Lose