The Edina I Knew

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Yesterday

Some say that as you grow older your thoughts tend to drift back to your childhood. I’m beginning to believe that as the years drift by. Perhaps that has a bit of truth in it, as much of what you remember are the pleasant things.

Today I found myself thinking of the poem, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. But if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

Then another, “I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me. And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. He is very like me from his toe up to his head. And I see him jump before me when I jump into my bed.”

Then one remembers those 1st grade poems and stories: Jack and the Beanstalk, The Pig and the Johnny cake, Billy Goat Gruff, The Parable of the Little Red Hen. I’m tempted to send a desk copy of that one to each Congressman and Senator.

Then you get to thinking of the little grocery store down the block who had 20 varieties of penny candy; BB Bats, suckers, kit caramels, guess what’s, licorice sticks, paraffin teeth. Then you get to thinking about the games you played; tag, Andy over, hide and go seek, spin the bottle, button button, hide the thimble, mark corner, capture the flag, tree tag, sheep in my pen, tap on the ice box, kick the can, swings, croquet, marbles, tree swings.

Then thinking about the radio programs it made for kids. Like Jack Armstrong, Little Orphan Annie, Captain Midnight, and I Love A Mystery. But best of all, after you wore yourself out playing, Mom called you to a home cooked meal of fried tenderloin, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans.

Now when you were doing your homework, you listened to Fibber McGee and Molly, Doctor I.Q., and the Great Gildersleeve and then after you drifted off to sleep. The gentle hand of your mother shaking you softly and saying Sonny it’s time to go to bed.

But hey we have television, cell phones, computers, it’s much better today. Eh…  According to who?

Contributed by Bill Lewis