Ernie

Ernie

by Bud Lemire on Feb 9, 2005

There's one place that's still around, part of Escanaba's history

Which holds a very special spot, in my memory

It's a place I use to visit, and still do like before

It's the place I know so well, it's Ernie's Party Store

Here's some historic news, in case you didn't know

It was Ernest Bernard, who started it long ago

The store has gone through changes, and Ernie did so too

He became a bus driver, driving kids to and from school

Ernie took pride in his ancestry, and researching his family tree

He has some strong French roots, he might even be related to me

Now he's in his second marriage, to a Norwegian woman named Mina

But she comes from Pontiac Michigan, not from Carolina

Their life together, took them everywhere

All across the country, all that they could share

But sometimes in your life, something comes along

That brings on a sadness, to someone's life song

Ernie had a stroke, leaving him paralyzed on his right side

Now he has his wife, to help him as his guide

A Cockatiel named Louie, keeps pecking on his head

While Ernie waits patiently, to be placed back in bed

I shall not forget the wonderful man, who started that wonderful store

That lives within my memory, and I couldn't ask for more

And I shall always be thankful, that I had a chance to know

The man behind the store, who has such a wonderful soul

The wonderful man who started this store has passed, and

Ernie's Party Store has since become a Irish Pub, but the memories

of the store and the many times stopping there will always be remembered.