The Old Days

[SARGE]

Since my 1970 VW got wrecked this past October, I've been forced to use an old bicycle I had to restore to new, and the local bus for anything going too far for the bike - like 17 miles to the doctor weekly. I actually look forward to the daily trek of 6 miles in the morning for a bowl of oatmeal at the greasy spoon, then a return home with a stop at my post office box for the mail. Being retired at such a young and healthy age (54) and 32 years faithful service, I am now almost 58 and determined to regain the lost youth I threw away while working. I push myself daily in exercise upon the bike and am addicted to so-called health foods. At least I have a mission in my twilight years - to once again be as strong as ever both physically and mentally as I was when so young. As they say, the mind wants but the body puts up a fuss. I'll deal with it.

Many times while cycling I have a strong sense of returning to yester-year. Peddling up the old streets brings back strong memories. I often stop along familiar streets, recalling how I once ran the same barefoot as a child, playing with kids who, if lucky, are now the same age as I. I stop in front of the old home often, the place I grew up in, and let my memories return to a time much more secure than now, when our parents spent evenings on the front lawn visiting with others and sipping iced tea while we kids were playing hide-in-seek. Of course all the old folks are gone now but it's both refreshing and depressing (two conflicting emotions) to return to that old 'hood. The old hamburger joint is still at the corner; original owner has passed but remains in the family. On payday Dad sent me there on my bike for 5 hamburgers for $1.00. Those prices have changed but the burgers are still the best around and loyal customers from way back still visit. There is a saying that some of us will come full-circle in our lifetime if fortunate, to be able to trace our footsteps back to a younger time and be older and recall them physically. I don't know why my VW was destroyed in a wreck but am thankful that I was forced to rely on a simpler transportation like an old bicycle and rediscover those things that built me while much younger.

[bailey]

yep, I know just how you feel.
I have often went by the places I have lived as a child.

the one small town where I was born, on a shady dirt road, 3 other houses a church and a general store where I would walk to for a ice cream cone.
and the covered bridge at the other end of town that was over the small river that run through the country side.

the town is still there and I am going back to it this spring to take pictures.
it is only 40 mi;es from here.
and every time I go there I can remember everything I did when I lived there and that was when I was only 3-4 years old.
such fond memory's

[doubledragon5]

When out on the road, making my deliveries and listening to the 70's channel on my radio (Sirius) I often look back on my life as a child, and my life before I had to make a career change after loosing my job.. I sure do wish I could be a kid again with no worries other than getting up and going to school, and making good grades... If I could change back the hands of time and go back to the good ol days, of playing solider with my friends and riding my bike and going to the store I would.. But we must look to the future and leave it in Gods hands that he will take care of our needs...

[David M]

Sarge, you have a real talent for writing. You always paint a vivid picture.

[RevCLB]

You remind me of Will Rogers. You combine a "down home, just folks" flavor with a deep intellect. Write a book!

[Force Flow]

Thanks for sharing Sarge...I always like to read your take on things

[Brad the best]

the house i mainly grew up in burned down last year . so are you gonna fix the VW ? it would probably be useful to take to the doc's , i know i hate the bus it is usually a one sided system and you are usually on the wrong side of it .

[glc]

Been bugging him to get out there with his sledgehammer and pry bar.........

[HAL9000]

Hmmm... G... maybe I need to take a vacation and help him with that yet... I have a cousin that works for Microsoft in Dallas... visit him and beat out a bug... sounds like good times LOL.

[glc]

Do it the week after Easter or around the end of April and I could probably even meet you down there. Could tie a chain around the trailer hitch on my truck and yank that fender out REAL quick.

[juppy]

Originally Posted by Sarge On payday Dad sent me there on my bike for 5 hamburgers for $1.00.

Sounds like one of those places my mom sometimes talks about. In her family there were 4 other kids besides her and then her parents, so 7 of them total. She said they'd go up every now and then to this local burger joint called Pak-A-Sak and get 7 hamburgers for $1. So the whole family could get 14 burgers for only $2 and have a nice night out. Every time she tells me that story the only thing I'm thinking is how you can't even get ONE full sized burger for $2 nowadays.