Looking back, Friends

 That Car:

For today:

Sherry lived in Belmont until we were married.  She still knows folks from her earliest memory. I am reminded when reading the obits she repeats the name and says, “I remember him/her from the Climax, Imperial or other Mill Villages in Belmont. (or) They moved into the house we left, when we moved to the ‘Imperial’ Mill Village.” … "I was in school with his brother.". That would have been when she was 3-7 yrs old. I could never do that. I do not have OLD school friends, we moved too often. She still meets with people from her school days most Monday Mornings, when we are in Belmont.

Sadly, many people we both knew in the 1950s, have been in the Obits.

My longtime friends have nothing to do with school. Friends are special. I have become friends with some of Sherry’s old friends and their mates.

Don & Evelyn. Evelyn was in Sherry's class of '56. She married an old man from class of '57.  LOL

The friend I have known the longest is Vondale. We became friends at 9 or 10. His dad was a General Contractor, Vondale did not follow in his dad’s footsteps. I admired his dad. He was a self-made man and became my mentor. Vondale was successful in business.

The next real friend was Buddy. He and I had something in common, his dad was also a great guy and a preacher. He also became friends with Vondale. We were a three-some for a few years. Vondale was a scrapper, he never shied from a fist fight, I never saw him lose. He would never say ‘Uncle.’.

Buddy on the other hand was the fighter, If some fool said, “hey dude, Imma knock your block off.” Buddy immediately hit him, HARD!

I was the lover out of the three, although Buddy did take a girl friend from me. LOL .. In life we also have something in common, After his hitch with the Texas HP, he retired from the military.

Keeping this within my ‘word count guidelines,’ I will tell you about Dallas (USMC), Dan(USN) and Sonny(family) tomorrow, in part 2

Back in the 50's boys (some girls) would fight. A bloody nose usually ended it. I can remember actually shaking hands and forgetting the cause, at times.

Nite Shipslog

PS: My Sherry actually got a bloody nose once, and still remembers it.