Memory Lane (2025)

01/07/2025

Bea Arthur was born Bernice Frankel on May 13, 1922, in New York City to a Jewish family. She spent her formative years in Maryland, where her parents operated a dress shop. Notably, at 12 years old, she stood at 5'9

01/07/2025

Residing in a small town in South Carolina as a young teenager can be somewhat monotonous at times. It is the summer of 1973, and I am spending the entire summer at my grandparents' beach house in Garden City Beach, adopting a beach bum lifestyle. Every Saturday night, I accompany Uncle Roy to Myrtle Beach, where we visit the Pavilion and stroll along the boulevard. I discovered a charming venue called The Bowery, featuring a talented band from Fort Payne, Alabama, known as Wildcountry, although rumors suggest they may change their name in the near future. I have no doubts that they will achieve significant success in the future.

01/07/2025

I am Gary, and I have recently turned 10 years old. My family resides on a farm adjacent to a small town called Hillsdale. However, my family dynamics are somewhat unconventional. Unlike my peers, I do not have a traditional mother-father household. My mother commutes to work daily, leaving me in the care of my grandparents. I do not have a father figure in my life, and this topic is not openly discussed. As I look to the future, I aspire to create a traditional family of my own. I plan to work diligently, achieve financial stability, and have a loving wife and children. I aim to be a devoted father and provide my children with the stable and nurturing environment that I lack. I often observe my cousins and friends enjoying this type of family life, and I desire the same for myself. Although I am an only child, I have numerous aunts and uncles who treat me with kindness and generosity. They are older, with some in their teenage years, while others are serving in the military or married with children. In fact, a few of my uncles have children around my age. Larry and Barry, who are twins, are slightly older than me. We enjoy spending time together, playing, and exploring. They frequently visit my grandparents' farm, where we construct tunnels in the hayloft and engage in various activities in the barns. I also visit their home regularly, as they are dairy farmers like my family. They have a large pond where we swim during the summer and ice skate in the winter. As farm boys, we are accustomed to hard work. I have been operating a tractor for years and assist with our milking shorthorn cattle, which we showcase at local fairs. I have been observing Larry and Barry participate in 4H, and now that I am 10, I am eligible to join as well. I have been working with my cow, Gary's Mary, who is a prize-winning animal. Although it requires a significant amount of work, it is a valuable learning experience. In my free time, I enjoy visiting Hillsdale and socializing with the local children. The Dotsons have a basketball hoop, and we often play games together. This afternoon, I was playing basketball with my friends when the neighbor's daughter, Sharla, came over to watch. She expressed interest in playing, but we deemed it unsafe due to her age and height. Instead, we allowed her to attempt a few shots and then assigned her the role of cheerleader. Sharla is a charming 7-year-old redhead. Although she struggled to make a basket, she seemed to enjoy cheering for us. Her older sister is a cheerleader at the local junior high school. I must admit that I find Sharla intriguing, and she has been on my mind since our encounter. I wonder what she will be like as she grows older. Her hair has a beautiful golden copper hue. However, I must prioritize my responsibilities, particularly feeding the cows. For now, the only female that requires my attention is Gary's Mary, my prize cow.