Very off topic

[HarrisburgDave]

I can’t get around easily so my son spent a couple days with me driving me to places I have not seen in years.

We visited the housing development where I grew up. Things were the same, only different.

That acorn I remember planting in the neighbor ladies back yard is now a shade tree 60 feet high. My old home has been modernized by a young couple that were kind enough to show me around. They gave me some tissues I needed to get something out of my eye.

The “woods” where we played are still the same. Little changed after 6 decades. Our HQ is grown over now.

Anyone else done this lately?

 

[Midnighter]

I can’t get around easily so my son spent a couple days with me driving me to places I have not seen in years.

We visited the housing development where I grew up. Things were the same, only different.

That acorn I remember planting in the neighbor ladies back yard is now a shade tree 60 feet high. My old home has been modernized by a young couple that were kind enough to show me around. They gave me some tissues I needed to get something out of my eye.

The “woods” where we played are still the same. Little changed after 6 decades. Our HQ is grown over now.

Anyone else done this lately?

First, this was wonderful to read - thanks for sharing. And yes - sort of. I spent six years in Hawaii as a kid (late 70’s - early 80’s; siblings born there) and got chance to return to Hawaii for vacation last summer (have not been since we left in ‘83) and visited the military base where I lived. It seemed so much smaller than I remember and driving to where my old house was I couldn’t believe the beauty - ours was the house at the top of a hill overlooking the ocean. I played my first baseball games on fields across from the beach. I got to visit my old elementary school (I never understood why I went to school off base) as well and was thrilled to see it again in person (despite it being the place I broke my leg playing soccer in the playground). It was a satisfying and nostalgic visit and happy I was able to do it.

 

[HarrisburgDave]

First, this was wonderful to read - thanks for sharing. And yes - sort of. I spent six years in Hawaii as a kid (late 70’s - early 80’s; siblings born there) and got chance to return to Hawaii for vacation last summer (have not been since we left in ‘83) and visited the military base where I lived. It seemed so much smaller than I remember and driving to where my old house was I couldn’t believe the beauty - ours was the house at the top of a hill overlooking the ocean. I played my first baseball games on fields across from the beach. I got to visit my old elementary school (I never understood why I went to school off base) as well and was thrilled to see it again in person (despite it being the place I broke my leg playing soccer in the playground). It was a satisfying and nostalgic visit and happy I was able to do it.

Thank you. I always thought I had the “Great American Novel” buried inside me somewhere. I missed my calling!

 

[kgilbert78]

I'll be going back for my 50s HS reunion in a few weeks. Sadly, I found out that they are having a tour of the old HS (what's left of it) and Homecoming the night before--after I bought my plane ticket. I'll be coming in too late and have a no change ticket. But I know from news and Google maps that my first grade school is gone, as is my second one. My first HS is gone and the academic wing of the new HS they built (I was the first class to graduate) is also gone--for good reason. It was very poorly built. Oddly enough, the soccer field where I scored my first goal is still there--at least for now. Most of the shopping center near my house is also gone. Part of the structure remains, but I think the only business that's still there is the barber. My old Junior High is still there, though. Not sure if I'll drive around a bit or not.... Probably, but it will be odd. Oddly enough, the grade school I would have gone to had my folks stayed in Rhode Island is still there, at least as a couple of years ago. I was 4 when we moved to SEPA.

 

[Connorpozlee]

It’s been about ten years since I’ve been back in Jersey. I think I’ve only been back to my hometown 2 or 3 times since I left 27 years ago.

 

[PSU Mike]

I only really go back to the two places I lived, from 4 -11 and 11 - early 20’s. My parents still live in the latter, so I have seen the slow evolution. I do get sad that one of two elementary school buildings is long gone. And the MS/HS campus on the hill above the homestead has been fully taken over by the HS.

As most things seem to get smaller it’s weird that my parents’ back yard, the site of many neighborhood baseball and football activities, actually feels much larger today. Maybe it’s just that I don’t cover ground as fast. The saddest thing, though, is the expanded development of the open forest and fields into home lots. It would suck to grow up now without access to those dream-promoting spaces so nearby

 

[PSU87]

I can’t get around easily so my son spent a couple days with me driving me to places I have not seen in years.

We visited the housing development where I grew up. Things were the same, only different.

That acorn I remember planting in the neighbor ladies back yard is now a shade tree 60 feet high. My old home has been modernized by a young couple that were kind enough to show me around. They gave me some tissues I needed to get something out of my eye.

The “woods” where we played are still the same. Little changed after 6 decades. Our HQ is grown over now.

Anyone else done this lately?

Great story. Kudos to those folks for allowing a stranger into their home.

My last visit to the house I grew up in, I knocked on the door and said "I grew up in this house, can I come in and take a look around?"

The woman replied sternly "We are too busy for that today" and slammed the door.

I yelled "Mom, seriously? "

I'm here all week. Be good to your servers. Try the veal.

 

[HarrisburgDave]

Great story. Kudos to those folks for allowing a stranger into their home.

My last visit to the house I grew up in, I knocked on the door and said "I grew up in this house, can I come in and take a look around?"

The woman replied sternly "We are too busy for that today" and slammed the door.

I yelled "Mom, seriously? "

I'm here all week. Be good to your servers. Try the veal.

Really? Can’t blame her.

 

[Pocono Lion]

Great story. Kudos to those folks for allowing a stranger into their home.

My last visit to the house I grew up in, I knocked on the door and said "I grew up in this house, can I come in and take a look around?"

The woman replied sternly "We are too busy for that today" and slammed the door.

I yelled "Mom, seriously? "

I'm here all week. Be good to your servers. Try the veal.

Ba Dum Bum

 

[PSJimbo]

First, this was wonderful to read - thanks for sharing. And yes - sort of. I spent six years in Hawaii as a kid (late 70’s - early 80’s; siblings born there) and got chance to return to Hawaii for vacation last summer (have not been since we left in ‘83) and visited the military base where I lived. It seemed so much smaller than I remember and driving to where my old house was I couldn’t believe the beauty - ours was the house at the top of a hill overlooking the ocean. I played my first baseball games on fields across from the beach. I got to visit my old elementary school (I never understood why I went to school off base) as well and was thrilled to see it again in person (despite it being the place I broke my leg playing soccer in the playground). It was a satisfying and nostalgic visit and happy I was able to do it.

Interesting to read about you going to school off base. My college girlfriend spent some time in her childhood on Oahu in the sixties. Her father was in the Army. She told me how her mom kept her and her siblings home on "Kill Haole Day". Fast forward to the aughts when my nephew was a doctor at Tripler and his kids had to be on their guard as well.

 

[bdgan]

I can’t get around easily so my son spent a couple days with me driving me to places I have not seen in years.

We visited the housing development where I grew up. Things were the same, only different.

That acorn I remember planting in the neighbor ladies back yard is now a shade tree 60 feet high. My old home has been modernized by a young couple that were kind enough to show me around. They gave me some tissues I needed to get something out of my eye.

The “woods” where we played are still the same. Little changed after 6 decades. Our HQ is grown over now.

Anyone else done this lately?

It's been a while but yes I've done this. I grew up in south central PA in a largely rural community with corn fields on our back property line. The farm and the fields have been replaced by houses. A lot of them are commuters from Maryland. The other big change is that the corner stores where we went to buy penny candy are long gone.

 

[HarrisburgDave]

I keep telling myself that things are not important, things can be replaced. I know that is only partly true. Things retain an echo of the people who once were there.

I am the last of the people still alive from that family of four who occupied that three bedroom ranch house on the hill. I know someday my son will be having these same thoughts. Every day I try to assure he will smile when he visits his old home on a hill.

 

[Ceasar]

Hey Dave, great thread. Like you, I am from Harrisburg. I grew up in Hall Manor and then we moved on up to Allison Hill when I was 11. Our fellow poster Apex also grew up in the city. I occasionally drive through the neighborhoods and unfortunately the years have not been kind to those areas of the city. It is sad to see the crime and violence that has permeated what were once working-class neighborhoods.
On the bright side, the baseball field at the Boys and Girls Club is beautiful, thanks to the Ripken brothers. I spent many days there and everyone was a good one.

 

[Nittany1865Farmer]

Had the same experience coming back to PSU about a year ago. Haven't been on campus since graduating in 1990. Looked like a different campus and downtown from those college days. Many of the old places like Suzi Wong, CC Peppers, Hi Way Pizza, the Deli, Spats, Surf Club and even all of the new construction and West Campus truly made it feel like the PSU that I adored is gone forever and that is what it made it magical. Now it has an urban feel to it and sterile with so many changes and a modern feel to the architecture.

 

[Ron1970]

I can’t get around easily so my son spent a couple days with me driving me to places I have not seen in years.

We visited the housing development where I grew up. Things were the same, only different.

That acorn I remember planting in the neighbor ladies back yard is now a shade tree 60 feet high. My old home has been modernized by a young couple that were kind enough to show me around. They gave me some tissues I needed to get something out of my eye.

The “woods” where we played are still the same. Little changed after 6 decades. Our HQ is grown over now.

Anyone else done this lately?

I can’t get around easily so my son spent a couple days with me driving me to places I have not seen in years.

We visited the housing development where I grew up. Things were the same, only different.

That acorn I remember planting in the neighbor ladies back yard is now a shade tree 60 feet high. My old home has been modernized by a young couple that were kind enough to show me around. They gave me some tissues I needed to get something out of my eye.

The “woods” where we played are still the same. Little changed after 6 decades. Our HQ is grown over now.

Anyone else done this lately?

I grew up in Reading. Have lived in California for almost 50 years. A few years ago we drove by my childhood house and my wife suggested that we stop in. I said no because I wasn’t packing a gun that day. But i do have fond memories of growing up there. Just don’t want to visit.

 

[HarrisburgDave]

Hey Dave, great thread. Like you, I am from Harrisburg. I grew up in Hall Manor and then we moved on up to Allison Hill when I was 11. Our fellow poster Apex also grew up in the city. I occasionally drive through the neighborhoods and unfortunately the years have not been kind to those areas of the city. It is sad to see the crime and violence that has permeated what were once working-class neighborhoods.
On the bright side, the baseball field at the Boys and Girls Club is beautiful, thanks to the Ripken brothers. I spent many days there and everyone was a good one.

My uncle coached little league ball in the 60s at the Boys Club field on Allison Hill. When my Dad died my uncle did his best to fill that void. He was a good man.

I think it was the South League? I had many snow cones and hot dogs at the concession stand. It is a small world.

 

[Ceasar]

My uncle coached little league ball in the 60s at the Boy Club field. I think it was the South League? I had many snow cones and hot dogs at the concession stand. It is a small world.

Yep, the South League. That league was loaded! . Your uncle was a little before my time but I am sure we crossed paths!

 

[HarrisburgDave]

Here is another observation- I’m sitting on the deck with my coffee listening to AM radio. Yes AM.

WPDC in Elizabethtown plays oldies interspersed with old fashioned commercials made by their staff. 7 days a week morning to night. Right now “Runaway” by Del Shannon. F the internet.

Tuning in a slightly scratchy AM signal and remembering is one of the pleasures of life.

Oh, and that chipmunk watching me while sitting at the end of the wall.

 

[retsio]

Here is another observation- I’m sitting on the deck with my coffee listening to AM radio. Yes AM.

WPDC in Elizabethtown plays oldies interspersed with old fashioned commercials made by their staff. 7 days a week morning to night. Right now “Runaway” by Del Shannon. F the internet.

Sweet 16 WPDC (WPDC) Elizabethtown, PA - Listen Live (radiostationusa.fm) -- that magical device at your fingertips will offer a better sound, with or without a headset. The station website blocks all users with ad blocking software - guess they do not know Microsoft and others are offering updates that will get around ads - and Microsoft and Google are suggesting all users use a VPN.

 

[PSUJam]

I was in State College moving my daughter into her apartment yesterday. I make sure to drive by the places that I resided at least once a year just to make sure they're still standing.