Lillian at the North Star
Mom's 1950 2 door dark green Plymouth was her pride and joy. She cared for it. It was necessary going back and forth to work at Moss Lake Camp. She would get gas at the North Star, on old State Route 28. Before the new cut off was built, it was the only road. Everyone drove past, and past the North Star Motel.
That's where we met Lillian. She was a tall, friendly, talkative woman who pumped the gas. She had short, curly dark hair and wore a blue plaid shirt. In the time where you waited for the attendant to come to the car window, take the order, pump the gas, wash the windows, check the oil, Lillian was the perfect gas attendant.
Mom and Lillian became good friends, and I got to know her well, too. We would visit her at the gas station, and I believe she lived upstairs. The steps on the side of the garage bays led to an apartment over the business, but I think I only visited there once. We did go into the business often to admire her handiwork. In slow times Lillian did crocheting and knitting. I could look over hats, baby sweaters, blankets, mittens, all in clear plastic bags with prices pinned to them. She had lots of spare time, and used it well.
Her work was beautifully done, in monochromatic colors. Rarely did a piece have more than one color, but all colors were represented in her display. Lillian spoke as many in the North did, as if she were eating a steak, chewing the words with meaning before letting them go. She had a sparkle in her eye, and a lilt in her voice, that made her name just right for her. Every year we came up we would visit, even when the gas station finally closed down, because cars no longer passed by. She had moved to Inlet to a house on Limekiln Road. I did not know her husband very well. Mr. Payne was a tall man, in the silent background, and she spoke to him, but I did not hear him say much. I think he passed at some time, but I do not recall much about that.
I do recall Lillian, a glowing memory from my past, and I recall she showed me her knitting machine, sitting in her house, and how she was using it to make items in her stash of crafted goods. I later saw one in a yard sale, bought it, and learned to use it. I made several sweaters with it. Unfortunately, my Annalisa was a baby at the time, and learned how to take the tiny pieces apart, and I could never get it together again!
That's where we met Lillian. She was a tall, friendly, talkative woman who pumped the gas. She had short, curly dark hair and wore a blue plaid shirt. In the time where you waited for the attendant to come to the car window, take the order, pump the gas, wash the windows, check the oil, Lillian was the perfect gas attendant.
Mom and Lillian became good friends, and I got to know her well, too. We would visit her at the gas station, and I believe she lived upstairs. The steps on the side of the garage bays led to an apartment over the business, but I think I only visited there once. We did go into the business often to admire her handiwork. In slow times Lillian did crocheting and knitting. I could look over hats, baby sweaters, blankets, mittens, all in clear plastic bags with prices pinned to them. She had lots of spare time, and used it well.
Her work was beautifully done, in monochromatic colors. Rarely did a piece have more than one color, but all colors were represented in her display. Lillian spoke as many in the North did, as if she were eating a steak, chewing the words with meaning before letting them go. She had a sparkle in her eye, and a lilt in her voice, that made her name just right for her. Every year we came up we would visit, even when the gas station finally closed down, because cars no longer passed by. She had moved to Inlet to a house on Limekiln Road. I did not know her husband very well. Mr. Payne was a tall man, in the silent background, and she spoke to him, but I did not hear him say much. I think he passed at some time, but I do not recall much about that.
I do recall Lillian, a glowing memory from my past, and I recall she showed me her knitting machine, sitting in her house, and how she was using it to make items in her stash of crafted goods. I later saw one in a yard sale, bought it, and learned to use it. I made several sweaters with it. Unfortunately, my Annalisa was a baby at the time, and learned how to take the tiny pieces apart, and I could never get it together again!
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