For todays post I would like you to think back to when you were a kid and try to remember something that stood out to you. Today, I was close by one of the towns that I grew up in and decided to take a ride down main street. As I rode down the street I remembered asking my dad to ride my bicycle “uptown” to go to the 5 and 10 store for some candy. At the risk of dating myself I can remember when you could get a bunch of candy for a quarter and imagine how much I was able to get with a dollar and our local 5 and 10 had penny candy. I now know that this was one of the few places left that was still selling penny candy. I can remember leaving my bike on the sidewalk, running into the store with my friends and picking our candy. (there once was a time when you could leave you bike on the sidewalk and it would still be there when you came out) Then my friends and I would ride back home with our brown bags filled with candy.
As I rode through the town today I was amazed at how things have changed and, at the same time, how things have stayed the same. The 5 and 10 store, although long ago closed, is still standing. Another place that I remember was the local barber shop. In this case we are talking about Mr. Ugliks. I can remember sitting there in the yellow chairs that lined the walls listening to all the older men talking about, well just about everything. I think Mr. Uglik spent more time talking than cutting, it was an experience that many will never have. To this day I can remember the sound that the razor made when he sharpened it on the leather strap hanging from the chair and the feeling of the shaving cream on my neck. And by-the-way the price for a hair cut was $6 and that included the shave. But the entertainment was free and priceless. I have to mention, just in case someone from the area reads this, the one man that was always there, “The Captain”. If you’ve ever spent any time in Masontown, Pa, I’m positive you ran into “The Captain” at some point.
So I leave you with this, remember the old times, tell the young people about them, for they are gone and if we don’t share our memories how will they live on?
Some things from the past are worth remembering….
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