A 5 cent Coke, and a simple life……
I was born February the 9th, in 1946 in Harlan, Kentucky. My father was the manager of the Coca Cola Bottling plant in Harlan. It was a magical time for two young boys to live under. Life was an endless adventure, playing with toy soldiers on the rocks in our back yard on Ivy Hill, using playing cards to make our bicycles sound like motorcycles. Later we shot a sock full of flour with our BB guns, and then went swimming in the water hole, it was a great time. We both graduated from Harlan High School, yes, we were Green Dragons! My point? It was a different time.
I saw the first episode of Superman on a black and white TV, and waited by the radio every night to hear the Roy Rogers show. We watched Leave it to Beaver, and Father Knows Best. Our family had dinner every night together at the kitchen table. We prayed at bedtime, and we addressed our parents with yes sir, and yes mam. Dad taught Homer and I how to bait a hook and how to know when we had a bite on our line. Homer learned better than I did!
I know we can’t go back, Harlan is still there, and Homer lives in the house we grew up in, but Mom and Dad are gone, and our grand parents, and our aunts and uncles, and we had a bunch, all gone. But the memories aren’t, and even though we can’t go back to a simpler time, we can remember that time, and we can be molded by our past. When I hang out with my brother I can see my father’s kindness, concern, and care. No, we may not be able to go back, but I can still relive those days with Homer.
Thanks Homer, for letting me come back home again,
Blessings,
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Thursday, August 14th, 2014 at 9:04 pm
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Start your audio book!
Working on it now!!!!!! Thanks to you!
Great post Bill. Enjoyed it. Thanks.
Thanks Mike!
I always find it interesting how folks from different parts of the country have very similar childhood experiences. Playing army, cowboys and indians, chasing firflies and putting in a mason jar just to release them before going in for the night, yep watching Leave It To Beaver, Gilligans Island, Three Stooges, Speed Racer, Lone Ranger, My Three Sons, I love Lucy and the likes Going to church twice on Sunday, once on Wednesday, a week of VBS and every night of revival. Sometimes I think, kids of today never get to experience “A Kid’s Life” or is it just a different “Life”?
I agree Johnny, it is what it is, but I think “our” lives were certainly special!
That’s a marvelous memory, Pilgrim. Brings back those days in our small towns, when life was simpler and sweeter.
Blessigs…..
Amen Papadoc!
I may live here, and I know there have been many changes, but it will always be our “home” and you will always be welcome. Hopefully next time you can bring Sherelene and can stay longer. And yes I still find toy soldiers when I get up the energy to weed eat the back yard!! Love you brother!
Love you too!
Bill, your faith, values, ethics, morals and stories keep me coming back to your blog everyday. Oh! And your photography ain’t too shabby either! Thank you, sir, for reminding me of my own childhood. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Thank you Dennis, very nice of you to say that!
Love the post Bill. It brings back lots of memories. I live in the house I grew up in. My grandfather had it built in 1922. My grand-kids are the 6th generation of our family to be in that home.
I lived on 5 cent root beers and 15 cent root beer floats from the soda fountain at the drugstore across the street.
I am grateful for you and your post each day even though I don’t comment often.
Thanks
Thanks Craig, that is a rich heritage, I’m happy for you and your family!!!!
Bill, really enjoyed this post, and many others on your site. Thanks for sharing and for inspiring!
My pleasure!
great post
They certainly are playful and dextrous, tending to appropriate and
play with small objects for hours on end — not to mention titter
and squee at their owners and each other incessantly.
Not once did we take into consideration the cost of these dragons.
It comes in two forms: juvenile (usually found in ferrets under the age of 14
months) and classic, which is usually found in middle aged and older ferrets.