The Golding Women
Of my father’s three aunts, Hannah is the one I did not know well. Part of this is because she died at a quite young age. But what I do know is that she was a real Golding Woman. In her time it was very difficult for a woman to find satisfactory employment in a lot of professions; hers was communication and she had a job relating somehow to a radio station. My mother, as was usual, told me this. She was my father’s favorite aunt.
My great-aunt Gertrude was always interested in fashion and for many years was a buyer for a New York department store. At some point in her life–I’m not sure when–she returned to Pittsburgh and opened her own women’s clothing store. It was located on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill, approximately two thirds of the way down from the intersection of Forbes and Murray Avenues. This store had a grey front with just her name written in white script: Gertrude Golding. Very impressive for young eyes.
This great-aunt never married. I always thought this was strange. Perhaps she was gay, possibly she loved being a single professional woman without any ties to a relationship. Her store was, in my eyes, a treasure house. It always smelled good in there, the scent coming from ladies clothing made of rich fabrics. Of course when my sister and I were brought there we were strictly told to not touch anything. This was in the 1950s.
Being susceptible to minor obsessions, I became entranced by one article for sale there. It was a large bag that I think was either a large purse or a kind of tote bag. It had an umbrella that slid into a side pocket. This bag was made of leopard print material. At the time I thought it was real leopard skin but I doubt that now.
Oh my goodness, how I craved that ugly thing! It sat on a little shelf by itself, in a corner. As far as I can remember it just stayed there and wasn’t sold. I had this little hope within that if I stared at it long enough, my great-aunt would eventually give it to me. I find it so funny now to think of myself, age 8, walking around with that huge bag on my shoulder.
lgmwriting 