There's No Place Like Home

In "The Wizard of OZ" Dorothy had to click her heels together and chant "there's no place like home, there's no place like home" to return from the Land of Oz to Kansas. All I had to do was catch a Southwest Airline flight to make my way to Circleville, Ohio to visit the Circleville Pumpkin Show. This year we grew a record size pumpkin of 1,635 pounds.

I hadn't been to the king of all festivals for 7 years and it was great to get back home just in time to see the beautiful foilage and again arouse my sense of smell to the aroma of all the food being prepared at the Pumpkin Show. That was one of the main reasons to make the trip and try to once again rekindle my young at heart spirit and try to recall way back when I didn't have to wear glasses to read or wear hearing aids. As I wondered and looked around everything wasn't the same. Yes the young of heart was there, the little ones were enjoying the rides and the fun as I am sure I did when I was their age. Instead of standing and watching the parades I could sit thanks to my friend Ron bringing chairs to sit on along the parade route. His exact words were "I'm too old to stand." Wow! I am a few months older than he. So I must be too old to stand also.

Before arriving at the downtown festival Ron and I drove over to the old neighborhood where we were part of the hellraisers at that time. All was not the same. Our stomping grounds have deteriorated to the point we were ashamed of how it now looked. Houses that were once the best homes in the neighborhood were some of the worst. The trees that once lined the streets have all been removed now and looked bare. "There's no place like home" did not have much of an impact anymore. I continued to think about the looks of the street where I once lived as we wondered downdtown hoping to catch some old friends and acquaintances. What happend in the last 45 years? Like everything and everybody it just aged. The magic of being home never materialized.

Return to the 60s at The 60s Official Site

Dirt Roads

Throughout my youth, I had traveled many dirt roads and paths. Many were the most pleasant experiences of my life and some well, I would rather like to forget. The problem today with our society is that those dirt roads and paths have disappeared except perhaps in national parks and a few rural areas. I just rediscovered an old article written by the late great Paul Harvey. He describes the old dirt roads like nobody else. Enjoy.

Dirt Roads

By Paul Harvey

People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. That it can jar you right down to your teeth, but sometimes its worth it, if at the end is a home....a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.

We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, with whom they learn to get along. There was less crime before they were paved. Criminals did not walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they would by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun.

There were no drive by shootings. Our values were better when our roads were worse!

People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you with the dust and bust your windshield with rocks.

Dirt Roads taught patience.

Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk you just walked to the barn for your milk. For your mail you walked to your mailbox.

What if it rained and the Dirt Road washed out? That was the best part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows, and popped popcorn, and road on Daddy's shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody.

At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap.

Most paved roads lead to trouble, Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole.

At the end of the Dirt Road, the only time we even locked our car was in August, because if we didn't some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini.

At the end of the Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, and you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out. Usually you got a dollar...always a new friend at the end of The Dirt Road!

Go back to the dirt roads of your youth by visiting The 60s Official Site.