Cocoli, where the living is......easy. COCOLI BOYS A--- Armistead, Stevie Ashley, Charles (Charlie) B--- Balch, Barry Balch, Charles (Charlie) Balch, Malcom (Sonny) Bateman, Bruce Bateman, Lewis(Lew)* Bateman, John (Johnny) Barbier, Louis (Louie) Barbier, George Bush, Stewart Beardall, Willis (Bill) Beardall, Chuck Berg, Carl Berg, Stanley Berg, Franz (Shorty) Bergere, Douglas (Doug) Bergere, Phil Barnes, Robert (Bobby) Barnes, James (Jimmy) * Bell, Thomas (Tom) Bunch, Ralph (Jackie) Burke, Pat Brasswell, Danny * Brasswell, David Bridges, Carl (Skibo) Bridges, Roy (Little Skibo) Baldwin, Spike Baldwin, Bruce * Blackwell, Corky Bright, Dean Bright Pee Wee Bruce, Donald (Donnie) Burchette, Richard (Dickie) C--- Cabrerra, Ramon Clark, Trammel Conn, Edward (Eddie) Copenhaver-Jenkins, George (Larry) Copenhaver-Jenkins, James (Jamie) Corco, Miguel Coto, Manuel Coto, Eduardo Craig, Jonathan (Jon) Crane, Steven (Stevie) D--- Dare, Jerry Days, Timothy (Timmy) Dorsh, Barry Dorsh, Jack (Jackie) Dorsh, Philip E--- Eberenez, Alex Eberenez, John Eddleman, Edward (Eddie) Eddleman, William (Billy) F--- Fall, Bill Fields, Samuel (Sammy) Fischer, Michael Fulton, Johnny G--- Garr, Alvin H--- Hadley, Bonner Hadley, Chimp Hamilton, James (Jimmy) Hamma, John (Johnny) Hamma, James (Jimmy) Henry, Edward Hillard, Dave Hinkle, Sandy Hodges, Warren Hoffman, Ricardo Holt, Richard (Dick) Horton, Benjamin (Benny) Hummer, Charles (Charlie) Haussel, Jerry Hutchinson, Gary J--- Jenkins, Daniel Jenkins, David Jenkins, Jack (Jackie) Jenkins, Joe (Joey) Jenkins, Tom Tommy) Jenkins, William (Billy) Jones, Amos K--- Kerr, Mark Kirkland, Lem Kielhoffer, Robert Kotalik, John Krisco, Warren Krisco, Minor Keller, Donald (Don) L--- Lampas, Carlos Leisey, Ralph Lester, James (Jimmy) Lucas, Ruben Luhr, Jonathan Lawler, Joe (Joey) * M--- Manley, Dwayne Mann-Freedman (Jerry) Marshall, Felton * McConnaghay, Robert (Bob) Menges, Joseph (Joe) Menges, Paul McNabb, Charles (Butch) McNabb, Eugene (Jerry) McNabb, James (Billy) McNabb, Frank (Butch) McNabb, Richard (PeeWee) Moses, Charles (Chuck) Moses, John (Johnny) Marquad, Babe Marti, Theodore (Ted) Marti, Douglas (Doug) Maxwell, Timmy Maxwell, Jimmy Maxwell, Timothy (Timmy) Magallenes, Andres McGann, Theodore (Ted) McGowan, David (Buster) McGriff, Corbin McGriff, Eugene (Gene) McNamee, Vernon Miller, Carlos N--- Nash, Hector Nash, Rafael Newton, James (Jimmy) Nording, Eric Nording, Fred P--- Pace, Miles Peterson, Joseph (Willie) Pederson, Norman (Normie) Pederson, Robert (Robbie) Powell, James (Jimmy) Presley, Robert (Bobby) R--- Rainey, Thomas (Tommy) Reddick, Sparky Roach, Robert (Bob) S--- Salva, Rolando Serano, Joseph (Joe) Skarpacci, Donald (Don) Schmidt, Douglas (Dougie) Schmidt, John (Johnny) Shuey, Ralph Sorrell, Harold Southwell, Terry Smith, Charles A. Smith, Gilbert A. Smith, Marvin A. Smith, Russell Smith, William (Billy) Smith, Wesley A. (AL) Stacey, Everett Stalworth, Edmond Stalworth, James W--- Walker, Fred (Freddie)* Williams, George Williams, Sam (Bum-Bum) Weeks, Kenneth (Kenny) Weeks, Douglas (Dougie) Weeks, Edwin Wilmoth, Henry (Bobby) Wilmoth, Roy Wilmoth, William (Billy) Wilmoth, Lorne Wilmoth, J.J. Wills, Tito * Wodrazka, Frank Wodrazka, George (Georgie)* Wyman, Lee Wyman, Ronald (Ronnie) Willoughby, Ronald (Ron) Z--- Zornes, Richard (Dickie) Zornes, Thomas (Tommy) (* Note no longer with us... but not forgotten) First Graders at Cocoli Grade School for their annual class picture. (Circa 1945) GIRLS OF COCOLI A--- Ashley, Eleanor Acker, Margaret (Peggy) Acker, Sherry Ashton, Carol B--- Baldwin, Victoria (Vickie) Baker, Melody Berg, Inez Balch, Ira Bell, Sue Berg, Janice (Mimi) Berg, Elizabeth (Bibi) Bakker, Lauree Bakker, Renee Bonnetts, Marlene Budworth, Linda Bunch, Paula Bateman, Nancy (Nanse) Brasswell, Diane Brandstetter, Marian Bryan, Eula C--- Craig, Paula Craig, Kristin Copenhaver-Jenkins, Mary Cooper, Irene Conn, Frances D--- Days, Judy Days, Marlee Davis, Claudia Davis, Patricia (Patty) Davis, Betty Denny, Lois E--- Eddleman, Laura Estrada, Rosario Estrada, Edith Estrada, Gloria England, Madge F--- Fields, Myra Fields, Ann H--- Hughes, Jeannie Hughes, Velma Hughes, Linda Harned, Danielle Hargrove, Kathy Hert, Kathy Haskell, Ann Hinkle, Lacy Henderson, Anne Hutchinson, Dianne Hutchinson, Vicki J--- Jenkins, Marie Jenkins, Kathy Jenkins, Joella Jones, Dina K--- Keller, Ann Keegan, Laurie-Jo Kerr, Jackie Kerr, Mary Kidd, Ligia Kielhoffer, Lynn Krimminger, Renee (Ballou) "Cat" L--- Lacey, Robin Lester, Elvita Luher, Sue Lovier, Judy M--- Maxwell, Linda (Mouse) McGriff, Geraldine (Geri) McMillan, Kaye Moses, Manuelita (Manue) Moses, Dorothy (Dody) McNamee, Bernadette McNamee, Rosa McNabb, Barbara McNabb, Julie McNabb, Dorothy (Peaches) McGann, Theresa Magallanes, Rosa McGann, Carolyn (Snookie) McNabb, Mary (Bootsie) Myron, Bruna Moore, Sandy Moore, sister P--- Parks, Gloria Parks, Gricela Peterson, Helen Pyer, Pauline Pyer, Priscille Pyer, Claire Pyer, Louise Pyer, Denise R--- Rainey, Mary Reddick, Cookie Reddick, Sonya Reinhart, Ginger S--- Sailor, Marian Southwell, Carolyn Southwell, Donna Shouts, Patricia (Pat) Smith, Shirley Stacey, Mary-Ellen Sergeant, Renee V--- Vandepute, Sandy VanSiclen, Cynthia VanSiclen, Cheryl VanSiclen, Karen W--- Walker, Maybelle (Mickey) Walker, Jeannie Walker, Carole Willis, Mary Willis, Martha Willis, Betty Willis, Marian Williams, Mitzi Wise, Forrest Webster, Martha Webster, Nancy Weeks, Vicki Wilmoth, Mary Wilmoth, Mildred (Millie) Wilmoth, Elaine (Lainie) Woods, Bobby-Jean Watson, Esther Wills, Dora Another photo op for us Cocoli kids at the merry-go-round... In Cocoli the kids were always going for a spin. Cocoli VFW the number one watering hole on the west bank of the Panama Canal. Due to circumstances beyond your control, you are a master of your fate and the Captain of your soul." ---- Unknown Life is full of challenges... Living in Cocoli meant that the Miraflores Locks was the center of our lives. We crossed it going to Balboa High School in the morning and coming home in the evening. Later of course we all had "El Puente de las Americas." The Panama Canal, in my book of memories is the number one engineering feat in all the world. It is a marvel to behold! Everyday something new. We were so lucky and really blessed to have lived the Panama Experience.....Twice blessed when you consider we also lived in a little enchanting townsite called Cocoli. The Panama Canal A ship traveling from New York to San Francisco can save 7,872 miles using the Panama Canal instead of going around South America. In the fiscal year 1994 there where 14,029 transits, which carried 170.8 million long tons of cargo and paid US $ 419.2 million in tolls. The highest Canal toll was US $ 141,344.91 paid by the Crown Princess and the lowest toll ever paid was 36 cents by Richard Halliburton for swimming the Canal in 1928. The average time spent in transit from port to port is approx. 8 - 10 hours. If you have never experience a transit through the Panama Canal, I recommend that you do. You will never forget it! In my book of memories it is a once and a lifetime...... Night falls like a curtain. Light and shadows play hide and seek on the canal waters. Noises of a ships locking through filter up to your vantage point on the bridge. Men are at work! What a majestic picture for your album of memories! Siestas Siestas in the afternoon Power naps we call them Always welcome, don't you know In a hammock or in the bed, if too hot......then on the floor. Never say no to a siesta, Make it for hours, if you can, If not then 30 minutes will do just fine. Si! Very refreshing once it is done. Viva Siestas! One by one..... Have you had your siesta today? To believe.....to reach.....to strive Is to keep a dream alive. If you use each today as a chance to reach out, To learn something more of what life's all about....... If you follow your dreams,strive to make them come true..... Then life's sure to bring all the best things to you. ----Unknown Life is a bowl of cherries if you go with the flow. Cocoli You are about to enter the best little townsite in all of the Old Canal Zone. Ask any Cocolian? Yes, Amigo....Cocoli where the the living is easy..... Cocoli Grade School is where my journey began so many years ago. Every year that past was better than the last. It was lots of fun and that is what life is all about. Along the way I made some life long friends and learn a little bit about life. Now, as I look back I realize that the learning never stops. Life is a gran adventure! Panama and the Canal Zone was a great place to start. (I Credit the architectural sketches to another Cocolian, Carl N. Berg.) Cocoli .. Where the living was Easy by Louis J. Barbier (BHS 57?) Nestle on the west bank of the Panama Canal, just past U.S. Naval Station Rodman off Bruja Road lies the enchanting town site of Cocoli. Cocoli for many years was my home. In its hey day it boasted everything from a clubhouse to a clinic dispensary for common prescriptions. There were four family houses, duplexes, cottages, single apartments for the bachelors, and also 12 family units. It was a bustling town like those carved out of the jungle of the Panama Canal building days. Yes, living in Cocoli was fun! I can still see it in my mind?s eye as if it were only yesterday. The main part of the town was on a mesa surrounded by a series of low hills to the west that led toward K-9 Road and Miraflores Locks. A portion of the town dropped away rather sharply to the west past the Cocoli Elementary School. It was affectionately known as ?Sleepy Hollow?. Yes, just like the ?Halloween Tale? we all had to learn in grade school. And on an spooky night when the moon played hide-seek among the low dark gray mist clouds, you might even see the headless horseman ride up the hill out of ?Sleepy Hollow? on his shiny white horse and he would rear up........and we would all run home as fast as our small legs would carry us. It was really scary attending first and second grades at Cocoli. Our teachers were hand picked and were continually challenging us to grasp the understanding of the world around us. Like a hamster on a treadmill, I lived a very busy life in the Canal Zone. We had all kinds of activities from Little League Baseball, High School Football, Track, JR. ROTC, Boy Scouts (Cocoli Troop 13), YMCA, and after school clubs. A typical day started with my Mother yelling at me that it was time to get out of bed now or I would miss the bus. I usually didn?t get out of bed until the third yelling session of get a move on or you will miss the bus. The bus would go down our street of tropical quarters an up another. Sometimes I would have to chase it, but most times I could catch it right at our front door. But, no sweat I had a system. All my books were stacked on a small table by the door. My clothes were out from the night before. It was usually penny loafers or blue suede shoes with black pegged pants that hung low on our hips and were held up with a spaghetti thin silver belt and a flashy shirt for days we dressed up to go to school. All other days it was Levi?s with a white T-shirt, black thick buster brown belt with Engineer Boots or penny loafers. We would also wore sneakers, Keds, that usually could be bought for under $10.00 at the Panama Canal Commissary. Yes, those were the days when your Yankee Dollar did wonders. So, the drill was after hitting the floor was to fly through the shower with the quick 1 - 2- 3 of a Marine taking a shower in about a minute and a half. Then brushing ones teeth like Flash Gordon or Rocketman. I had it down to a science. The next step was a couple of spoonfuls of hot nourishing Quaker Oatmeal (we had it every day...we still do.) wash it all down with a cup of that black delicious Duran Coffee. Our BHS Pep Rallies were out of sight. The members of the team got to wear the game jerseys. I can still hear: ? Red & White may it fly as an emblem of our Team so brave.....and so on? There were further cheers. Also a pep talk by the coaches. The President of the Senior Class would also say a few words. Meanwhile the marvelous cheerleaders were leading the student body in subsequent cheers while the band played. Then we often closed with ? B - A - L - B - O - A .....who do we appreciate.......? or ?Fight......Fight.......Yea BULLDOGS !!!? or something like that with the crowd going bananas as the nights team roster was announced. At 3 PM, it was a regular stampede to find your bus. You wanted to be first to board so you get a window seat. The best section of the bus was always in the back. Then we rode along the canal and sometimes it was a regular race to beat a north bound ship to the Miraflores Bridge. On game night we ate light. Say the Rosary. And it was back to Balboa. The trainers were there to tape our ankles and assist us with our protective gear. We tried to conserve our energies with very little movement. The locker room was usually as quiet as a tomb before the game. One could look around the walls and see such sayings like: ? Remember the banana that leaves the bunch gets skinned? or ?A Winner never quits and a quitter never wins?. And my favorite; ?It is not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog!? Being Bulldogs this was apropos. Meanwhile butterflies bounced in my stomach, doing flip-flops at will. Oh, the tension before the game, could be cut with a knife. Then the head coach would come in an gives us our final instructions and what we would do if we won the toss. Then we would all stand and head for the door with, ?Let?s get them....Go.....Team! ? ringing in our ears. Being a smaller middle-guard or linebacker wearing jersey number 59, I would be talking to myself as we all headed for the bright lights of Balboa Stadium, saying things like; ?When the going gets tough the tough get going or I can do this ! Act like a Winner....You?re a Winner!? Then as we streamed through the gate the crowd would roar and the band would go into a traditional fighting song. The play by play announcer would direct the crowds attention to the team and the expected starters for tonight?s game. We would all do a few warm-ups and body contacts before heading to the bench and our national anthem. Football taught us all a lot about the challenges of life. The discipline, teamwork, order, and regardless of the odds if you believed you could win.......you would! So, when we came off the field with a slight limp, some bruises, a bloody nose, and winners too! We all were walking tall. Cocoli.......where the living was easy. During the war years the whole nation mobilized. The United States was fighting to preserve the ideals of freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Or as in some circles it was referred to as Country, Motherhood and apple pie. Typing lessons would start with: Now is the time for all good men to come to their aid of their country. It was no different in the Old Canal Zone. Everybody was doing their part for the war effort from paper drives, glass bottle collections and doing without certain things that were needed at the front. One thing I really remember was the price of everything was very cheap in comparison to today's prices. An example is the magazine with the pretty girl with the Sailor hat....only 20 cents. Here a few other examples: * Gas high test 15 cents a gallon * Round steak - one pound - 36 cents * Eggs Large - one dozen - 32 cents * Bacon - one pound - 32 cents * Bread - one loaf - 5 cents * Pork Chops - one pound - 30 cents * Bananas - one pound - 5 cents * Average annual income - $1,264 Right after I was born the classic movie "Gone with the Wind," with Clark Cable and Vivien Leigh was released. The following year "Stage Coach" with John Wayne was up for an Oscar. We in the Canal Zone followed the war effort. Many of us remember the steady stream of mighty battle wagons going through the Panama Canal. All going in Harms Way to the war in the Pacific. GO FLY A KITE When I get up and the sun is shining and there's a stiff breeze blowing that almost raises me off my feet, I think Kites and I remember my kite flying days at the townsite of Cocoli. Flying kites is second only to fishing. And in the olde Canal Zone we used to do a lot of both. We were very creative in building our kites from old pillow cases, sheets of newspaper from the Panama-American, or some brown paper from those famous Panama Canal Commissary shopping bags. Any size would do the trick since we did a lot of cutting and gluing or taping. The frames were narrow strips of balsa or better yet some bamboo sticks. Everybody had their own favorite design, box, cube, diamond, and so on. Mine was always the diamond shape. Then we would corner the market on twine at the Panama Canal Commissary. After the kites were finished we test fly them with the tail. The length of the tail caused the kite to be really stable or go out of control when flying. So, the test flight to determine the length was extremely important in the overall design of the kite. Some party-poopers would attached razor blades for kite fights so these would cut the other guy?s kite and have it crash in a heap sometimes way out in the jungle. I loved Cocoli, not just because I lived there, but was a perfect place for flying kites and it was only a block from where I lived as a kid. The Cocoli grade school off Tamarind Avenue had a very sharp drop off by the gym. Well, one could take off running in the direction of the flag pole on the circle in front of the school with the kite streaming behind you. With a slight nudge the kite would soar up very nicely to where the buzzards and eagles frolicked hundreds of feet above the ground. The kite would stay up for hours. After we had played out enough line from Cocoli to Balboa, or it really seemed that way, we would tie the line down and it was time to celebrate. So, we would pull out our jelly & peanut butter sandwiches, have lunch, and wash it all down with an ice cold RC. Yes, those were the days! We would lay back on the green grass, swap stories, and watch the kites soar for hours -- so high that sometimes we would need binoculars. I had an old Army pair that my Dad had picked up at Surplus in Corozal. Of course, sometimes the breeze and the lunch was too much so we would knock off for a few Z?s. Then, we'd wake up with ground patterns imprinted on your cheeks. Plus, at times we'd be fighting off those awful Red Army Ants. Yes, memories can be so much fun. Each of us has them. They can be good or they can be bad. They?re better than dreams you've had since being there, and you did whatever it was ... images implanted in your mind?s eye to recall at will. Happy days or rainy days they all add up to who you are today. So, when the sun is out and we have a really good northeasterly blowing ... go fly a kite. You could do worse! Reading Comics.......was something little kids did in the Old Canal Zone. Yes, going to Balboa Clubhouse or Diablo Clubhouse or even Cocoli Clubhouse......all the little kids were in search of the latest batch of comic books from the states that had hit the Canal Zone. Back in my day they were only a nickel and pretty thick. Reading Comics and the funny papers was an institution in my day. Oh, sure we had the little warm-up books in Kindergarten like the story of ...."Jack and Jill went the hill to fetch a pail of water...." or "Look Jane, see Spot run...." Yea, pretty basic stuff. That and those little blue penmanship books filled with sticks and circles and all kinds of fancy letters. But Comic books was where it was at. We all know that it rains a lot in Panama.....so, lot of times our mother would keep us inside. If you lived in 12 family tropical housing, you could form your own comic book reading club. Of course we didn't call it that. We would gather at one of our houses and read comic books. We would also swap comic books. There were a lot of great comic books in my day. But my favorite was "CAPTAIN AMERICA!" You have to remember I grew up during the war years. (WWII) But nobody and I mean nobody messed with Captain America. Some years later some chapters were also produced. These we saw at the Saturday Afternoon Matinee. Now, picture a he-man in tights with muscles bulging all over. Hey he could take care of any trouble a little kid would run into. You got to see Captain America. He was probably 6 feet 5 inches tall....at least. He wore an outfit that was Red, White and Blue like our flag. He also had a shield that had a large white star on it. He could deflect almost any kind of bullet that was fired at him. Especially if some Nazi was firing it at him. He also had two 45's strapped on his waist and he knew how to use them. His comic books were really in demand by this little kid. Of course, we also had Superman, Batman & Robin, The BlackHawks (these guys flew the latest aircraft back in my day.....P-38's)Red Ryder & Lil Beaver, Plastic Man and loads of western comic books. But of all these I loved Captain America! Back then nobody was ashamed of being Patriotic. No and most in the Caanal Zone did their thing for the war effort. Paper drives, Bottle Collections, Can collections, less sugar and butter......and also gas rationing. But when the sun went down......we all got behind the black fallout curtains. The Canal Zone was pitch black during the war years and everybody carried a weapon. So, us little kids stayed indoors and read comic books. No TV! some radio but strictly low band stuff.....but comic books were everywhere. Wow, if I had only kept a few of those Captain America Comic Books......I would be a millionaire! Yes, reading comic books was something little kids did a lot of in the old Canal Zone. Some of today's comic books are not as nice as what we read.......they deal with adult themes. And they use to much brown, black and gray on the pages. But I guess some people read them. But too bad the Captain America comic books are not still around......we could really have a regular CZ Brats Swap Meet! Now that would really be fun......especially when it rains............ Do you remember the Animal Crackers in the Panama Canal Company Commissary? Now for a little crunch-crunch goodie from out of the past. Yes, when I was a kid living in the Canal Zone the little box of Barnum?s Animal Crackers were my favorite. I still look for them and they are still good! I guess the only cookie or cracker that comes close is Oreo Cookies or maybe Fig Newton?s. The box hasn?t change much. it still has that flat white cord that makes it easy to carry. The staples that held the cord on the ends has been removed and now glue is used to hold it on the ends. The box is still very colorful and the ones I remember way back when had the King of the Jungle in a Circus Cage Wagon. Circus shows were big in my day and for a few minutes, I thought about running away and joining the Circus. But that was a passing thing for me. But lets get back to the crackers. Have you bought a box of Barnum?s Animal Crackers lately? No, well that taste and the fun you had eating them is still there. Oh, how the kids would eat these crackers. Some would get all the legs off a few ferocious looking animals. Others would eat the heads first and then the body. And other kids would play with the animal crackers. Some would day dream that they were on Safari with Teddy Roosevelt in the darkest of Africa. Of course they were the Big Kahuna and they call the shots. That meant that they had first dubs on what animals they would eat first. Animal Crackers have always been great for all ages. Now if you had any crackers left when you got home, you could pour yourself a small glass of Estrella Azul leche and in your little fist crunch up some animal crackers. Wow, it was so good! About as good as home made Tiger?s Milk. Back in our day the toy selection was limited to a sling shot, Duncan Yo-Yo, BB-Red Ryder Winchester repeating rifle and possibly a spinning top. That was if you were a little kid. A baseball glove and Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat came later. But for eating the Barnum?s Animal crackers were out of sight! Today as yesterday, Mothers still buy the animal crackers for their little tots. And the way they smear their faces with them you can tell they don?t just like them.......but they love them too! So, if you are looking for a some great crackers.......try Barnum?s Animal Crackers. You will love them and just THINK.......the memories are FREE! My adventures of Oatmeal with Quaker Oats in the Canal Zone....By Louis Barbier I am going to tell you a little story of my adventures of Oatmeal with Quaker Oats in the Canal Zone. First, let me say that the period was in the mid 50's and hot cereals were KING! In fact, in our house they are still KING! Now the Panama Canal Commissary stocked lots of breakfast foods. Dry cereals were in their infancy. Some mother's bought them but the choice is not like today were two aisle in your friendly supermarket are taken up by cereal and cereal products. Wheat Germ was always around for putting a little dash on the finish hot cereal. You could also get Farina. And little babies would be started on pabulum. Did you ever taste or eat pabulum? it is not bad but I wouldn't want to eat it every day. Now Oatmeal is another story. The topping of fruit was always natural. Bananas was the first choice. But some put on raisins, crunch of Mary Jane or Jane Parker's cookies, also a dash of cinnamon was also the piece of resistance to a hot bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. So, at our house we had a bowl every day of the week. Oatmeal sort of grows on you after away. Here in the South "Grits" is also King. But in Panama and in the Canal Zone Oatmeal is the breakfast food of choice......that and a cup of cafe Duran. I can remember on one of my Escapes to Panama, I would have Oatmeal from a glass......like Ice Coffee. Quite a pick-me-upper. Now, in the mid 50's when Cuba was free, there was a program that was broadcast directly from Havana every afternoon at about 4 in the afternoon. It was a western about 3 brothers who roam the west keeping order. The theme song went a little like this....."Avena Quaker cada dia para fuerza y energia....translated means Quaker Oats everyday for energy and well being..." the scene in your mind's eye from the sound coming out of the radio in the kitchen was horses riding up and stopping. In the background the brothers would break out into a song with...."We are three brothers (Villa-lobos)and none of is a fool!" Now in all spanish it went like this,"....Hemos los tres los tres Villa-lobos hemos los tres y ninguno era boobo!" It was a very popular program. My mother would listen to it every afternoon. I could hear the program as I came up the back steps of our Tropical duplex in Cocoli after school. Their Sponsor was Quaker Oats. Of couse the saturday afternoon matinees were 99.9% westerns. And the hero was always giving his horse a bag of oats as a reward. The Panama Canal Commissary had lots of oats. One could find the vanishing Oatmeal cookies there too. Today, the The American Heart Association says that the product oats provides a lot of water soluble fiber which is good for our little bodies. Back then the warmth that is provided to a little kid in the pit of his little stomach after eating a few spoonfuls was very comforting. You knew that after finishing your bowl of oatmeal it could only get better. Your favorite western horse Smoky ate oats so it had to be just greeeeeat! Besides the cup of cafe Duran was the finishing touches on the perfect breakfast. By then you could hear the school bus making its rounds to pickup the kids...the horn would sound and it would get louder as it approached your house. You scrambled to finish your oatmeal and coffee and gather your school books heading for the front door as you yelled to your mother that that was the best oatmeal you had had in your whole life. And so it went with Oatmeal for breakfast every morning in the old Canal Zone in a little townsite called Cocoli. That is all folks. Since I mentioned "Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies" you may want to make some for your tribe. Or even to crunch up in your hot oatmeal. So, here it goes: 1 Cup (2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened 1 Cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1/2 Cup granulated sugar 2 eggs or 4 egg whites 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon grounded cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional...not necessary) 3 Cups Quaker Oats quick or Old Fashion uncooked) 1 Cup raisins Now, for phase two: 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. beat together margarine and sugars until creamy. 2. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. 3. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt (optional); mix well. 4. Stir in oats and raisins. Drop by round tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. 5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes for a chewy or 11 to 12 minutes for crisp cookie. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack and cook completley. Yields - 4 dozen Nutition---1 cookie: Calories 100; Now if you were working in the Panama Canal Commissary Bakery you would use 3 times the amount and the yield would be 12 dozen. Well, I hope you enjoyed that. When it gets colder in the fall or early winter you may want to cook up a batch. Sprinkle on some rum (Ron Cortez) or whatever. Not to worry it will all bake off. But your closed up house or apartment will get a delicious aroma! Yea, Oatmeal cookies may get you dreaming of when you were a little kid in the Old Canal Zone and each morning meant a bowl of hot oatmeal......yes, life didn't get any better than this....Yes indeed! Remember when living in the Old Canal Zone, you would rush over to the clubhouse and woof down the Clubhouse Special. Yes, a juicy hamburger with all the trimmings, french fries and a cherry coke. Yes, those were the days when life was a bit simpler, rather plain and you thought that the happy days would last forever. The Old Canal Zone, great place to growup! Don't you miss it? Cracker Jack We all know the story,..or do we? Read along to find out! 21 million people attended the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 - including F.W. Rueckheim who mixed up a new confection of popcorn, peanuts and molasses. A salesman munching on the snack exclaimed "That's a cracker jack!" and a new brand name was coined from a slang expression. In 1912 Mr. Rueckheim had the idea of packing a prize in every box. Since then, over 17 billion toys have been given out, and enough boxes of Cracker Jack r have been sold to stack end-to-end more than 63 times around the world! Sailor Jack, modeled after Rueckheim's grandson, Robert, and his dog Bingo were brought on board during World War I, for "warmth and personality" and to support a new patriotic theme with a red, white and blue color scheme. Today, Sailor Jack and his dog Bingo have assumed American icon status, along with the Morton Salt (TM) girl, Betty Crocker (TM) and others. But even traditional icons are subject to periodic reviews. So Borden Foods sought the unmatched imaginative design leadership of SBG Enterprise to appraise and revitalize Cracker Jack r as a better-for-you snack alternative for today's kids, as well as for the "kid" in all adults. Of major significance is the updated presentation of Sailor Jack and Bingo. Carefully evolved, these American classics to appeal to a broader consumer base by building contemporary character appeal while maintaining the historic relevance of their underlying personalities. More than 100 years after its first introduction, Cracker Jack continues to be one of America's most loved, most fun snacks. Memories of the Old Canal Zone would not be complete if we didn't mention Cracker Jack. The different little prizes in each box. Yes, going to the Saturday afternoon matinee with a box of Cracker Jack so you could munch along when the action on the silver screen brought on those hunger pangs! Yes, one did not want to miss any of the action of the one reelers back in those days. Cracker Jack and westerns go together like vanilla ice cream on a hot lazy Sunday afternoon. Life is beautiful! The packaging has changed over the years, but that wonderful goodness that we expect from cracker Jack is still there. The crunchy taste which little kids love or big kids, keeps all kids of all ages coming back for more. Cracker Jack a great food from out of the past that just keeps getting better with age. Make mine a Cracker Jack the next time you settle in to see a movie. It could spark a magical moment or at least an enjoyable time with friends. Good Luck everybody and enjoy your Cracker Jack! The Panama Canal It has been a real pleasure sharing some of my love for a little town called Cocoli, where the living is easy......I spent almost all my growing up in the Old Canal Zone in Cocoli. I left to travel with my Uncle Sam in the US Navy. Now as they say ".....let the journey continue!" Check out another page.....you'll be glad you did! Take care and drop by Cocoli again. Hasta la Vista. See you on the flip side. More Little Stories Photo Credits: Author,Carl Berg, CZ and PCC Archives US Navy, not just a job but an adventure. Sing and rejoice, tra-la-la, for fortune is smiling upon you!