As the old streetwalker was on his way to the low dollar grocery store this morning, he was walking past an elementary school near where he lives. Passes it every time he walks that way, never giving a thought about the chain linked fence that surrounds this school, or reading the signs that say, “no weapons aloud.” We all know the reasoning for this, “there are some very sick people in this world.” They are not the reason for this story, “the fence is.”

Now for the story that you and I know so well. Going back into our earlier years when we went to a little country school house, maybe a one roomer, the one that I went to wasn’t that little, however, it was in the country. Like most big cities now, they were small cities back then and just about, everyone lived in the country. This is just sixty plus years ago. “Oh how things have changed.”

We had no fence, no warning signs posted on all corners, we never heard of or about all the sick people in this world. We just went to school, learned are ABC’s and a little more. Our parents were not worried about us getting to school , they knew that we made it. They didn’t even drive us to school. “We walked,” unless you lived to far away then the school bus brought and took you to and from school. We walked regardless of the weather, and most likely when you walked it was on a dirt road, I know, “I did.” The funny part about walking to school in bad weather and on a dirt road is we lived just across the street from school. However, we had to walk to our grandparent’s house, which was a mile one way. I could say, “We walked up the hill both ways, you know that old saying.” Mom had to help her mother with some chores around the house. Washing and ironing of clothes that we wore and what they were to wear. We eat our breakfast there and supper there too. “That is dinner to some of you.” Homework was done when were back at our home.

How many of you, “remember the old hand crank wringers?” the little gasoline engines that spun the tubs. Water was heated on an open fire in the back yard, the clothes were hung on a clothesline, some using wire, and some were of rope with a clothesline pole to keep it propped up. “Again only sixty years ago.” “What a change.” “Obama can’t do that kinda change, or can he?” I must say yes to that question, “we had no money back then to buy the luxury items need to make life simple, “Heck,” we have the luxury items now, but we, have no money to replace them when they break down”

Anyway, as youngsters we played in that old country school yard year round. Supervised and un-supervised, from sun up until sun down. Not a problem in the world bothered us. No TV or TV games, no cell phones, we invented our games. Now you see our version of the walkie-talkie on a TV commercial, two cans with some string attached to them. Funny to watch that commercial, knowing that they really don’t work. Hide and seek, dodge ball, kick the can, cowboy and Indians stick horses to roam on, a pointed finger with the thumb up for you gun, were just some of the things that we did back then. The girls had their dolls, their ball and jacks, pick up sticks and they wore dress’s too. Some wore a short, “I think,” that’s been a long time ago. Too many changes have taken place since then

I could carry this on for pages and pages, but I won’t. The thing is how many of you younger bloggers will tell your story thirty, sixty years from now. The other question is, will there be thirty, sixty years from now. For those who haven’t told your story, what are you waiting on? Story telling is good for the soul. Brings back some good old memories, yes, some not so good too.

I have a ton of these stories to tell, but no one to tell them to, the grandkids are so busy they don’t have the time to set and listen. Therefore, I might just do this again. “If you want to listen meet me out on the old porch” I have an extra rocker there. Might even put an old bench there if needed.

Enjoy.