Days of Innocence

I have been over at Pete Townshend's blog the past week or so reading his autobiography. (Which is excellent by the way). He got me thinking about my childhood and thinking about it, I realize that it was the most extraordinary time of my life. It was the decade of the 60's. We grew up in the city, so we were never short on entertainment. The world was changing all around us but life on Yale Avenue continued to be complacent.

I loved the fact that we were able to play outside until after dark. We didn't have to worry about some sex crazed lunatic coming and kidnapping us. We could walk down the alley alone without a worry.

A trip to the local "little store" was a treat in itself. For a 25cents we could get a bag full of penny candy along with a bottle of pop. Now it costs a dollar just for a Coke and the penny candy has gone by way of the horse and buggy.

Everyone knew everyone on our street. Everyone looked out for everyone too. Nowadays you are lucky to even know your nextdoor neighbor's name.

I occasionally like to reminisce about the days of childhood. They were good. For me anyway. I was lucky in that I had great parents, the best Gram ever, and an older brother I could rely on if I needed. And as far as friends, I had the best. I know some are gone now but I will never forget any of them.

On a message board of the old neighborhood, someone asked the question if you could go back, what would you do? I just said that I wanted to spend one more week with everyone that I knew in those days, and just tell them how much they meant to me and that I will always carry them in my heart no matter where life takes me.

The picture above is me(on the bike) and my next door neighbor Davey in 1961. We were about 3.