USE WHAT YOU HAVE.
DO WHAT YOU CAN.
Arthur Ashe
I recently mentioned something about buying a chest at an auction at the Legion Hall. As insignificant as that building is, in the whole scheme of my life, I started thinking about how much time I have actually spent there.
Is there some place that has been a constant in your life? I'll bet a lot of people would say that Rockwood's Store in Alburnett, was a major part of their lives. Hanging out after football practice, or school plays, or any other extra-curricular thing. And everyone always went to "Bucky's" to use his wall phone to call home and tell someone that you where done and needed a ride home. Carl "Bucky" Rockwood was one of the most gentle, kind, friendly people that anyone could have ever met. I remember one incident that occurred after a late softball practice (this happened before I got conked in the head and quit, and also during that period of time when we had no telephone out on the farm). The unimaginable thing happened! Mother forgot me! Since I wasn't able to call her to come get me, I was stuck. As it got later and later, and the town rolled up the street for the night (that's another old person's saying meaning everyone was at home), Carl closed the store and then proceeded to sit with me on the old, long wood bench he had out front. I'm sure he didn't know what in the world to do with me, so he just kept talking about general things, as though it was the most ordinary thing in the world. About 9:30 Mother came driving up Main Street in a panic. She had been getting ready for bed, and had suddenly remembered me. I'm sure it was very much a "KEVIN!!!" moment. I'll never forget Carl's patience and kindness, but, oh boy, he must have been relieved when I finally went home.
But back to the Legion Hall. My relationship with the hall began when I was in high school. When we found out that the hall had a Teen Hop once a month, with DAVE CARR, a DJ from Radio Station 1450, it was the place to be. I'm sure it was worth Dave's time to show up, charge each kid 50 cents, and play some records that he got for free from the station. A hundred kids made a nice $50 piece of change for him on the side. Yes, young ones, that was a decent amount of money back then. Remember that I started out clearing $60 PER WEEK at my first job. The dance was fun, but none of the boys really danced with me and my friends, so we danced with each other. The exception was my friend, Jodi, who had a big brother who had lots of friends, and since they all knew her from hanging with her brother, they would ask her to dance. I had no big brother, so my partners were usually girls - but only in fast dances!
The Legion Hall was the place where Lon and I had our wedding reception after the church reception. When I think back about it, it sure was a dreary, boring little get-together. Back then, we really didn't have wedding dances, so there was no music - just drinking. whoopee. I've had many occasions to be there for funeral receptions (Lon's grandfather, grandmother, sister, friend Kerry Schutzman, other friends and family), wedding receptions, birthday parties, auctions, and town get-togethers.
A few years back, Lon and I had the chance to purchase some land just across the fence from the Legion Hall. When I go for walks around that land (nice and flat and easy to maneuver), I can see the hall across the fence. Back in my Teen Hop days, I would have never imagined that some day, I would walk our land, and remember the fun times from all those years ago - in that very hall that is just across the fence.
Please remember that the things I write on this blog are considered FACT, FICTION, NEWS, and NONSENSE. I think today was just rambling.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL