|
Now that I am as my daughter says "matured, and all growed up" I have been thinking a lot about life. I think about the people I have met or become associated with, those that I call Friend and those that have made impressions on me. I tell my daughter Laura that I have always said what I feel and that I am too old now to change. I am going to call this part of our site the ramblings of an old man or the great insight into life by a guy who has a lot of time alone now and spends the time thinking of all that life has given or thrown at him. Hope you enjoy reading it and if you don't .....that's fine, use your back button and get the heck out of here.
Growing up in Nebraska in the 50's and early 60's was one of the greatest times of my life. As a kid, I made friendships that have lasted my whole lifetime. One of the worst days of my life back then was when my Dad informed the family that we would be moving to California that summer. I was just completing my sophomore year at Fremont High School. All the kids that I grew up with from grade school to junior high and now starting high school I would be leaving. As I look at it now, with 6 kids and the future possibilities in California, Dad did the right thing for the family, but as a 16 year old kid I sure didn't think of that. I thought about leaving my best buddies and a couple of "girls".
We bought a flat bed truck and extended the back as far back as it would go and then built a box on it. Everything the family owned was in that truck. When the truck was completely loaded Dad moved it out, or was going to move it out in front of the house. The problem was that the back was extended and made it so heavy when he took off the front wheels lifted about 2 feet off the ground. We had to delay the departure for the land of palm trees until we had a box mounted on the front fender and filled it with lead weight to counter the weight of the back of the truck. It was the funniest thing you ever saw, but it worked. The big day finally came and as the family was doing the last minute things, I hopped in the car and told Dad that I would be back in a bit, there was something I had to do. It was summer and the municipal pool was open and I drove over to it. I needed to have one last look and say good bye to a friend. I knew she was working the concession stand that day. I sat in the car just watching her a very long time, knowing that it was probably the last time I would see her again. Finally I got out and went and said my good bye to her. When I finally got back to the house boy did I catch hell, the family was all ready and waiting. Well it was the true California or Bust as we headed out to our new life in the land of palm trees and sun. Dad drove the truck, which was still a bit unstable and I drove the car.
Nebraska or California
This page designed by KCG Web Creations
Copyrighted © 1948-2004 All Rights Reserved