I moved out here in 1982, one year before I married Kenny. We lived in sin. I thought if I could live with him for one year and not get my "knickers in a knot" and walk out that I could probably make him my 6th and final trip to the alter. As you see, I am still here, so that was a wise decision. Either that or it was meant to be. But that is not what this is about.
When driving out here on the 50 hwy bypass the fabric of the whole landscape has changed. Coming out Santa Fe Drive and turning east on the highway has stayed fairly unchanged, although the 2 bars on the Southside of the highway are shuttered and have been for years. The one known as "Bear Country" is the only one I was ever in. There used to be a functioning lumber yard (forgot the name) and it is now vacant. Right after crossing the bridge, there was a produce place on the north named "Cheatum' and Chiselum'". It was rumored that some guy killed his wife and cut her up in there. He then dispersed her parts into trash cans around town. I am just reporting the news as I recall it, so do not ask for details. The house across the street is now a car wash the produce stand is a strip mall.
The Headquarters restaurant was where anyone that was anyone went for coffee every morning. It turned into a Wendy's and is now vacant. There was another hamburger place that turned into a bank. We now have a total of 5 or 6 strip malls, 5 or 6 marijuana outlets. KFC is a pizza place. While most of the landscape has changed, some of it has remained the same. Candy's Tortilla is still here. Chet's is now Lagreese's, but is still a grocery store. Mesa Vet is still there. Frank's Meat Market. Taco House. Giadonne still has a restaurant, but has torn down the ice cream stand and put in a marijuana store and a Bands in the Backyard amphitheater. Johnson's auto parts changed hands. The milk barn is a liquor store. Mesa Hardware remains the same. Of course the Mesa Kitchen still sets in the corner of 25th Lane and the highway along with Jr's and the drug store.
I do not like to do the "remember when" thing because it just makes me feel old. I guess I have been in this same house for 37 years which seems like a very long time because some people do not even live that long, but to me it is only a "little while back". I was a wife, mother, grandmother. Now I am a widow, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and I am getting tired. I am an inch and a half shorter. My dreams of what my future will be have changed several times. When I was young I wanted to sing with a country western band and go all around the country singing in bars, now I just want to listen to my cd's and caterwaul away when I am driving. Haven't been dancing in 40 years, so probably not going now.
Mother always told me that every thing changes and that hind sight is 20/20 looking back. I think I have lived a pretty good life and I have definitely outlived most of my enemies. I think I am ready to maybe set back and let whatever happens, happen. Tired of chasing rainbows and butterflies. Maybe they can chase me a while.
We will see!
When driving out here on the 50 hwy bypass the fabric of the whole landscape has changed. Coming out Santa Fe Drive and turning east on the highway has stayed fairly unchanged, although the 2 bars on the Southside of the highway are shuttered and have been for years. The one known as "Bear Country" is the only one I was ever in. There used to be a functioning lumber yard (forgot the name) and it is now vacant. Right after crossing the bridge, there was a produce place on the north named "Cheatum' and Chiselum'". It was rumored that some guy killed his wife and cut her up in there. He then dispersed her parts into trash cans around town. I am just reporting the news as I recall it, so do not ask for details. The house across the street is now a car wash the produce stand is a strip mall.
The Headquarters restaurant was where anyone that was anyone went for coffee every morning. It turned into a Wendy's and is now vacant. There was another hamburger place that turned into a bank. We now have a total of 5 or 6 strip malls, 5 or 6 marijuana outlets. KFC is a pizza place. While most of the landscape has changed, some of it has remained the same. Candy's Tortilla is still here. Chet's is now Lagreese's, but is still a grocery store. Mesa Vet is still there. Frank's Meat Market. Taco House. Giadonne still has a restaurant, but has torn down the ice cream stand and put in a marijuana store and a Bands in the Backyard amphitheater. Johnson's auto parts changed hands. The milk barn is a liquor store. Mesa Hardware remains the same. Of course the Mesa Kitchen still sets in the corner of 25th Lane and the highway along with Jr's and the drug store.
I do not like to do the "remember when" thing because it just makes me feel old. I guess I have been in this same house for 37 years which seems like a very long time because some people do not even live that long, but to me it is only a "little while back". I was a wife, mother, grandmother. Now I am a widow, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and I am getting tired. I am an inch and a half shorter. My dreams of what my future will be have changed several times. When I was young I wanted to sing with a country western band and go all around the country singing in bars, now I just want to listen to my cd's and caterwaul away when I am driving. Haven't been dancing in 40 years, so probably not going now.
Mother always told me that every thing changes and that hind sight is 20/20 looking back. I think I have lived a pretty good life and I have definitely outlived most of my enemies. I think I am ready to maybe set back and let whatever happens, happen. Tired of chasing rainbows and butterflies. Maybe they can chase me a while.
We will see!
