Hometown Memories

I went to my hometown and took pictures of whatever was interesting. Here’s a cat in a (very high) second story window. I can’t imagine how he gets out there, let alone back in the house!
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This is the walkway that leads from the elementary school to the playground. Just looking at this brings back loads of memories - the rush of adrenaline as we ran south, the thump-thump-thump from letting my fingers bang against the fence, being winded from running, the shrill blare of the whistle telling us that recess was over, the smell of sweaty, dusty kids, and the dejected sorrow as we trudged back to the north.
Our playground had very little equipment. There were some swings, a “twirling bar,” two see-saws, and a set of “monkey bars.” We also had some left-over construction equipment. There were three or four huge concrete tubes about four feet in diameter and six feet high; laid on their side, they formed our “tunnels” and gave a semblance of privacy. Long, thick telephone poles were laid along the interior of the fence so we could play on “the logs.” Sometimes we played with marbles and winter, of course, had the additional offerings that come with snow. I don’t remember any organized games at all. Mostly, we just chased each other, for no reason whatsoever.
Where does that energy go?

I used to play on this railway bridge without a thought. Today, I’d be shaking like a newborn colt, but we used to run across it with ease. The tracks have been abandoned for years, so the trestle has fallen into disrepair; most of the ties are missing, but it still stands.

Here’s another victim of the downfall of railroad transport – the town elevator. Rumor has it that this hulking town icon is slated for demolition soon, like many others across North America. A few communities have turned their grain elevators into museums. They certainly symbolize a historical slice of time.