We fell in love, despite our differences, and once we did, something rare and beautiful was created.  ~ Nicholas Sparks

How many of you baby boomers remember wearing “pettipants?” I remember them well. They were popular in the 1960s.

In our house, the mention of “pettipants” got a little confusing. Because the stellar character in my memoir, Fanny, called Scott,  my little brother, “Petty.” So the mention of “pettipants” could have  meant my little brothers breeches! Fanny had a different kind of way of communicating but as she became enfolded deeper and deeper into our family, our lives were enriched many times over as we learned about each others cultures.

I liked wearing “pettipants” to school better than a slip underneath my pleated skirts. They were perfect when cuolottes came in vogue. We used to shop for our “pettipants” in the lingerie department at Hutzler’s, Hochschild Kohns, Stewarts or Hecht Company – Baltimore’s iconic 20^th century department stores – many of which are now defunct.

These historic retail establishments were the places people went to shop before the suburban malls began to blossom and spread in the 1970’s. Many of the historic department stores met their demise when that happened.

Michael J Lisicky, author of “Hutzler’s: Where Baltimore Shops” chronicles the rise and fall of some of Marylander’s favorite shopping meccas. For more information on this book, please follow this link. http://www.amazon.com/Hutzlers-MD-Where-Baltimore-Landmarks/dp/1596298286.

Baltimore’s historic department stores hold many memories from my days of growing up and going shopping with my sister and our girl friends.  If you are a baby boomer, no doubt  you have fond memories of the places you frequented when you went clothes shopping, and the fashions that were popular during different eras of your lifetime.

This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, a story of multi-cultural love, faith, healing and life lessons.Sue’s memoir