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Editor's Notes
Such days take me back to my youth, growing up in Escambia County. My friends and I would ride the country roads on our bicycles. On Saturdays, we would start out early in the morning, often shortly after daylight broke, and spend nearly the entire day just riding, talking and exploring. Of course, those days were before we became so interested in driving. Often, our lunch would consist of a candy bar, chips and cola purchased at a small country store along our route. We'd usually park under a nice old oak tree somewhere and sit for awhile, discussing school, girls and what our plans were for the future. Life was wide open then and none of us had any idea where its path would lead us. Back then, we didn't realize how hard life can really be. We thought we had it all figured out. As we began to grow into young men and became interested in cars and girls, things got a lot different. Then we'd ride the back roads in our automobiles, quickly passing by the things we once stopped and took notice of. From there, life just seemed to speed up. It's sad to say, but I can count on one hand how many times I've ridden a bicycle since then. As we grow up and grow older our priorities change and life seems to get in the way of the simpler things we used to enjoy. Sometimes I think it's not that we don't have the time, we just don't make the time. As I grow older I begin to long for those days when my friends and I had so few worries. I think back to meandering along those country roads in the crisp fall air, seeing the leaves on the trees change color and fall to the ground. Once in awhile, when the fall is approaching, for a brief moment I will smell the air and it will transport me back to that time. I'll remember stopping at Bob Scrogin's old store and buying an Orange Crush or when we didn't have any money, riding down to the center of the old town to get a drink from the artesian well, which still flows today.
Those are good memories and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. Growing up is not easy, but sadly, it is something we all have to do. My friends and I all grew up, chose different career paths and began the rest of our lives. I hardly hear from them anymore. But, I do wonder if they ever walk outside in the fall, feel the cool breeze and remember those leisurely days we spent riding, talking, laughing and just enjoying life, the way I do.
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