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Remember When

  • Winter beach trip is worth it

    I know beach sand doesn’t mix with frosty window panes and cold mornings, but bless Pete, I was ready for a change.

    So when Uncle Harry mentioned riding to the coast, I was all for it. Uncle Harry’s friend, Dr. Brown and his smoking buddy, Mr. Plyler, hatched the plan.

    “Harry, you ought to take a few days off from lawyering and so something different,” Dr. Brown said.

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  • It's time to tell the truth on Tiger

    Holy smoke, at times, we do the stupidest things.

    I just finished reading more bad news about those of us who are Lancaster.

    Dangling a rambunctious child over a chained-up pit bull?

    Nothing good ever comes from adults behaving like children. To hear of such things makes the real grown-ups really mad.

    Seems like some folks need to grow up. 

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  • Morpheus makes me sleep walk down Main Street

    I was worrying myself sick over the CNN report about Lancaster being so downtrodden and hopeless. 

    Then I got wind that local folks are putting up banners to let the world know that something was going on around town. 

    Good for them.

    Sorta reminds me of the Victory Garden signs from World War II. 

    Visible reminders are a good way to let us know there is work for all of us to do.  

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  • Bicycle wheel turns full circle

    I’ve often heard the expression that folks should be careful when pointing fingers of blame at someone else. When we do, three fingers are pointing back at us.

    I ain’t taking the heat for the financial trouble of Sears and Kmart.

    In late December, they announced plans to padlock 80 stores in the United States.

    The blame for this should be firmly placed on the shoulders of greedy executives who were looking into a fishbowl instead of a crystal ball down at the carnival.

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  • Winter weather can get finicky

    In 1972, Arlo Guthrie recorded a song about a nightly passenger train that travels the 934-mile stretch from Chicago to the Big Easy.

    I can’t recall all the lyrics of “The City of New Orleans,” but the chorus  makes reference to the train going “500 miles when the day is done.”

    You know, I can identify with that these days. I have to travel 500 miles to get to my granddaughter’s Maryland home.

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  • Daddy was a man of his word

    I reckon time does heal old Sears & Roebuck wounds. Me and my secondhand bicycle became almost inseparable. 

    It sure made running to the store for Mama a whole lot faster. 

    Through the years that old bike had several paint jobs. Shucks, right after the war, it sported shiny chrome fenders and chain guard.

    Maybe I was getting carried away by those Saturday morning cowboy movies.

    Mama was no longer makin’ Bill Whitesell go to the picture show with me. 

    I was getting older. 

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  • My used bicycle pedals lessons

    Christmas 2011 has passed, but in reflecting on the past year, it’s an appropriate time to recall Mama’s words from 1941. She made it a point to remind her only son that I should always be grateful, regardless of circumstances.

    “Be thankful of any and all gifts under the tree,” she said.

    That’s as true now as it was then, especially after I showed my selfish streak on that Christmas Day 70 years ago. 

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  • I always know when I am at

    Although Daddy would’ve argued this point some 60 years ago (at times), I’ve always prided myself in having my head on pretty straight.

    I don’t get all crossed up about situations. 

    Most of my miscues and snafus can be attributed to situations out of my control. This includes accidents to family members and stuff like people stealing my newspaper out of the box.

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  • Christmas officially on the way

    Inspiration can come from the strangest of places. Take these two boxes, uh...box and a half of chocolate-covered cherries I’m staring at. 

    For me, this early gift, from my daughter, Kathryn, is a sure sign that Christmas is on its way.

    Before I could get one of the boxes open, my great-granddaughter, Madison, 3, came tearing through the house screaming at the top of her lungs.

    “Nana (Kathryn) fell off the ladder,” she said.

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  • Let's keep enjoying the memories

    I’m feelin’ pretty good these days, with the gutter-cleaning mishap behind me. But that’s not why I’m feeling rather spry. 

    I’ve had numerous folks contact me this week, telling me how enjoyable “Remember When” has become for them. In my case, numerous means more than three.

    I share a special bond with any reader who gets a chuckle over some of my childhood escapades or better yet, can close his eyes and snicker about  doing the same sort of thing.

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