Bill Sykes' Newsletter from America.
(February 2003)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
This lads going to America.
Time: Autumn of 1966.
Place: The Dusty Miler Pub, Longwood, Huddersfield, Yorkshire.
The Players: My Bother-in-law Norman, four local residents,
and myself, [Chairman of the Board, guest speaker, (when
ever I could get a word in edgewise), and of course purchaser
of many pints of the local brew].
To set the scene: brother-in-law Norman introduced me
to the ensemble as "This lads going to America".
The discussions are immediately centered around the whys
and wherefores of the imminent departure of myself and
family as immigrants to the United States.
One must remember that the following discussion lasted
for hours and well past closing time. Well it was a special
occasion.
Every member of the round table, (actually it was an oblong
table - poetic license), had their opinions and in between
pints commented intermittently and at length on the impending
departure of this relative young lad who was heading for
the Colonies to make all that brass.
As the pints flowed, one particular less vocal member
who had been ruminating about the whole situation, suddenly
spoke up from across the table through the blue smoky
haze and gave forth on the subject of immigration.
As far as I can remember the conversation went as follows:
You must excuse my pathetic attempts to relate this
story in Yorkshire dialect, as I’ve failed miserably.
It’s been along time!!!
Local #1: (Who I was later to find out was named Ron),
"Ah understand that yo’r emigrating lad?"
Me: "Yes. We will be flying out of London, Heathrow,
for Seattle on the 31st of December (1966) ".
Local #1: "You’re bloody brave".
Me: "Why---I don’t understand?"
Local #1: "Must be going to live close to Los Angeles.
They’ll have burned the bloody place down before
you get there."
Local #2, or 3, or was it four. (The number of pints and
the smoke filled room was taking its toll). "Don’t
be bloody silly Ron, they’re going to Seattle, not
Los Angeles".
Ron: "Ah no weer they’re going, somewhere near
Los Angeles and the bloody place will have burned down
by the time that they get there—ar've seen it on’t
telly".
Note: What was the point in explaining
to Ron that the distance between Seattle and Los Angeles
is about the same as the distance between Lands End and
John O’Groats.
Ron: (Not to be outdone). "Ah emigrated many years
ago. Came accrost' valley". (One must remember that
the gentleman had traveled from say Crosland Moor. (or
some other far flung part of Huddersfield, like Marsden),
to Longwood---a distance of say five or six miles. Ron
looked around and glared at the assembly and proclaimed
in a loud voice, "Never did bloody like it here".
Local # whatever: "Ron you bloody idiot---if you
don’t like it here why have you stayed so long and
why don’t you bloody go back to where you came from"!
Ron: (Overlooking the remark and with some disdain, Ron
then issued his coup de grace - words that I was to find
to be of infinite wisdom). "Nay lad, once you’ve
made the move, you’ve made the move, there’s
no bloody going back".
Explanation: The word “bloody” was considered
to be an expletive and was in common usage in working
class environments of my youth.
I’ve remembered and reflected over those words
so many, many times during the last thirty odd years and
must admit that Ron was perfectly correct in his statement.
"Once you’ve made the move, you’ve made
the move and there’s no going back".
On our legless (drunken) way home, brother-in-law Norman
and I called in the local fish and chip shop and had the
best cod and chips. (Liberally sprinkled with salt and
vinegar and wrapped in local newspaper), that I’ve
ever tasted. I must admit that I spent a restless night
dreaming of the great fire of Los Angeles that destroyed
the city of Seattle.
I can’t place Ron, (even if that was his name),
or the names and faces of the other participants in that
enlightening discussion, but I must admit that it was
a very enjoyable send off for this relatively young man
who was taking his family to far away places, or in the
words of the ensemble to seek fame and fortune. Unfortunately
we did not achieve either, but we have lived a reasonably
prosperous and comfortable life amongst the Colonials
in the ever present and very welcome sunshine of Southern
California. Forgot to tell you that after a couple of
years living amongst the beautiful scenery of Washington
State, (rain accepted), we traveled to Southern California
and have lived here ever since.
We welcome feedback about any of the contents of these
newsletters. Please send all correspondence to bill_sykes@huddersfield1.co.uk
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