In 1966, when I was 6, it was a Spring/Summer day. About 75 degrees out, and it was about to
rain. I asked my mom if I could play in the rain out front. It costs less to
play in the rain than to get squirted !!
She said it was fine with her. Out front I ran around and danced and played by
myself. The telephone wires seemed so high up, back then.
The rain drops would fall onto the sidewalk below ...
From years and years of droplets falling on the front sidewalk, nature took
its course. The spot grew and grew. We had flat sidewalks out
front and there developed my spot, the feeling on the spot,under my feet was like a smooth shale.
I thought I could dance on the good foot like James Brown, or Jackie Wilson. I never seen anyone
else in my 37 years on Utica Street, ever claim that spot or notice it.
It was mine !!
I moved out 13 years ago, and since then, I've heard our Family home, had been burned
down !! It was kind of sad when I heard that. Last year, I drove by the old neighborhood and decided to drive by where my home once was.
They say, in the end you can take a mans home, but you can't take the earth below.
Thats forever !!
For now, my spot is still there,I don't have feeling in my feet anymore, due to Diabetes and if you seen this picture, it may not look like much more than an old sidewalk to you ... but to me, it is one of the greatest memories of my younger days !!
Now as I'm a month from turning 50, days and friends of yesteryear come to mind.
One friend I had as a 6 year old had was my spot !!
Thanks for being there for me.
