I met up with “Lou” today. I’ve written about him before, and I promised not to change his name to something “stupid.”
“You can use my name!” He said.
And, so I will.
There was a thirty-year gap when we didn’t see each other.
Life does that.
We met in Fultondale, Alabama—our old “Stompin’ Grounds.”
I lived in Fultondale until the Seventh Grade.
After the first six weeks in the Seventh Grade, I moved to Virginia to live with Mom and Papa.
I kept visiting Fultondale throughout my life, whenever possible, though.
I met up with him at a parking lot.
We hugged, and I hopped into his truck for our Adventure.
Our first stop? My old home place.
A family lives there, so we didn’t get out and walk around.
It’s still the same house. However, it now has a new roof and some new siding.
The yard is much smaller than I remember as a child. I was happy to see the stream still running through the yard. But, unfortunately, the old Club House that dad built us is gone.
The Bridge my dad built is still there. The handrails have fallen and
the woods have taken over that area.
The Bridge probably isn’t safe to walk on anymore. As I said, that whole area is nothing but woods now.
The tree the Swing was on has fallen. It still lays on the ground rotting away. I have many “Pets” buried by that tree. Everything from Turtles to Dogs. And maybe one cat. It’s all woods now. That’s one reason the yard looked smaller. The other reason is things look bigger when you’re younger. The yard was always small. We, kids, didn’t know it. Oh, to be young again.
We rode through the neighborhoods, pointing out houses where our friends used to live.
Many kids we grew up with have already passed.
We remembered them by talking about funny things they did—each one.
Our next stop was the Old High School.
We didn’t have a “Middle School” at that time.
Elementary School ended in the Sixth Grade, and “Middle School” was from Seventh Grade through the Ninth, but it was at the High School.
In fact, I thought I was in High School in the Seventh Grade. I mean, it was at the High School. Kinda confusing, ain’t it?
The High School wasn’t there anymore.
A tornado hit it, and instead of repairing it, they are building a new one in a different location nearby. So it’s still going to be on the same property.
While there, we visited the new Football Field. All turf. Very nice.
We even met with the new Head Football Coach.
He said, “We’re in the process of rebuilding the team right now.”
“Well, you have a beautiful field to play on,” I said.
He was extremely nice to Lou and me.
We believe his name was “Coach Hanley.” We’re guys, though, and we can’t recall names all that well.
We visited Lou’s old Home Place and remembered the good times had there. We visited his old neighborhood and, again, pointed out houses where our friends lived. We remembered others who had passed away.
We ate lunch at “Chik-fil-a.”
“This is where the playground was…” I said to Lou. “Right where I’m sitting.”
“Yeah. The Elementary School was right over there,” and Lou pointed out the restaurant’s window.
The Elementary School was knocked down, as was the Park, Swimming Pool, and Gym, and made into a Shopping Center. Or is it “Centre?” (I hate when it gets spelled that way)
There were also some Tennis Courts. All gone.
In fact, we decided that the only things still standing in our old town were our old home places.
That was extremely sad for me to swallow.
I mean, even the Gas Station that used to sell me Cigarettes is gone. That might be a good thing, now that I think about it as an adult.
We talked the whole time we were out—hardly any pauses.
We had started back up where we had left off, Lou and I.
Lou’s married now and has a Nine-month-old daughter, and works a full-time job, but we decided to make this a regular thing. We will work it around his schedule.
And our old “Stompin’ Grounds” is the perfect meeting place.
It’s halfway for both of us.
After eating, Lou drove me to my vehicle.
We both hugged, and he drove off in one direction, and I got in my vehicle and drove off in the opposite direction.
The day was sad at times and happy at times.
All in all, though, it was a great day—for both of us.
