I don't see kids playing outside any more, we used to live outside. I have left on a Saturday morning, and been warned, "Be home at five for dinner." And, my Mom was a worrier if there ever was one. I knew everyone in the neighborhood back then, where the husband worked, what grade all the kids were in, and, I have carried on many conversations in that alley next to our house, with wives, children, fathers, adults, and no one was concerned. I used to enjoy talking with Charley, who lived down the alley and worked at Delco, we talked, and no one was worried.
Soda, pop, cola, by any name, Coke, Pepsi. It was a treat. "Let's go down to Millet's Delicatessen and get a Pepsi, they have the new ....... tall bottle." I don't remember ever having one at home, always, "out" somewhere, it was a real treat. And, drinking water out of the hose, a definite different flavor, and it was unique and odd, "Out of the hose?"I walked to school, every day of my life, I have still never been on a school bus. I still do not know HOW, I got across busy, busy, Brown Street, which I had to do to get to Emerson Junior High School. I may have walked with Margie Guild, and we had "Crossing Guards," older kids that got to wear those white belts, that went over the shoulder, and, they had a badge pinned on it. In the sixth grade I was old enough, became a "Patrolman" got the badge and all. I can still see the corner II was assigned to. Had a small grocery store and a boulevard on one side, regular street on the other. Had to leave early to get to the post on time, still dark then, stole one of Dad's "Luckies" .... smoked it on the way to my corner. How sinful that was, I imagined that people were looking out at me from behind all those darkened windows.
I reflect, I delivered newspapers to Orville Wright at his Hawthorn Hill home on a few occasions. It meant nothing then, but, what a momentous event it was. I have often seen Charles Kettering, the inventor of the electric starter for cars, going in and out of his bank, and other times. I have seen FDR, Joe Louis in a golf exhibition, Robert Frost, walking through s casino, and then, thought nothing of it.
Computers, TV, Cell Phones have taken all of that away, and so much more .....................
