That was weekly in my HS! We had red, blue, purple and gold shorts. As a skinny kid, I only got red shorts, but proudly wore them (although they were 80s length shorts…).
Bill, you're a south Alabama boy. I wish you would do some stories on the history of that area. We drove through Thomaston, Oak Hill, Pine Apple on a different route down to Grayton Beach a few weeks ago and I was surprised at the abundant pre-Civil War history of that area. Large tracts of land through that area and beautiful scenery. Neat old buildings still standing from that era. Bought some really nice large pecans in Thomaston. Always find something interesting when you get off the interstate NASCAR roadways.
I had some fraternity brothers from the little towns in that area. I don't know that area very well except that it's full of a lot of pine trees. I love Grayton Beach!
Thanks, California Girl. I'll get back to serious journalism pretty soon here. I'm still kicking myself for not publishing or writing some really good stories - maybe even scoops - I've been sitting on.
Fun times! Thank you, Bill, for your last two Substack essays. What a breath of fresh air in the sometimes stale and stalemate politics talk that I usually read and to which I'm addicted. Your essays took me down memory lane and reminded me of my child and teen years in video arcades, attempting to hula hoop, spending hours ice-skating, and being subjected to mass propaganda, unknowingly.
So you grew up in Opelika, Alabama. As a long-time audio engineer, I am aware that Opelika played an important part in the audio industry back in the 1950's on up through the 1990's: Ampex, maker of the most popular professional analog audio tape recorders, and makers of tape to use on those recorders, had their tape factory in Opelika.
I'm not sure that the factory is still there or being used for anything: Ampex stopped making tape about 20 years ago. You can still get open reel audio tape for use on the remaining recorders, but the few remaining factories are in Germany and France.
The name of the maze rolling ball is LABYRINTH. I could roll the ball to the end of the course and back again. Thanks for awakening this memory from 6 decades ago!
I LOVED that football game! I’d challenge you any time… did you do that move where you go to the bottom and wait for everyone move down, then zip up to the top and fly across three screens before they started to catch on? Love the bugle call when you score the TD… I was ten years old and used to annoy everyone with it!
Well, I'll be. I just looked more closely at the poster I ran with this story. Evel Knievel spelled his name with an "e" instead of an "i." He was NOT "evil" after all.
You Go Bill!
Did they still have the Pres Physical Fitness awards when you were a kid?
Took me months of practice to get to the ceiling before competition. I burned my hands rope climbing in the gym just to get that certificate!
That was weekly in my HS! We had red, blue, purple and gold shorts. As a skinny kid, I only got red shorts, but proudly wore them (although they were 80s length shorts…).
Yes, we had it, but I wasn't one of the honorees. I'm biased but I do think my middle school had the best P.E. program in America.
I was really good at jumping rope, also, but at 66-years of age I’d better have an empty bladder before I try it now! 🤣🤣
The key is to not jump very high, which is still perfect for me today.
Double Dutch in NY... Some moves are best left in the past!
Bill, you're a south Alabama boy. I wish you would do some stories on the history of that area. We drove through Thomaston, Oak Hill, Pine Apple on a different route down to Grayton Beach a few weeks ago and I was surprised at the abundant pre-Civil War history of that area. Large tracts of land through that area and beautiful scenery. Neat old buildings still standing from that era. Bought some really nice large pecans in Thomaston. Always find something interesting when you get off the interstate NASCAR roadways.
I had some fraternity brothers from the little towns in that area. I don't know that area very well except that it's full of a lot of pine trees. I love Grayton Beach!
And ponds filled with water lilies, luscious foliage and as you say, stunning scenery.
The old roads are far more interesting.
I enjoyed your lists!!! Thank you!
Thanks, California Girl. I'll get back to serious journalism pretty soon here. I'm still kicking myself for not publishing or writing some really good stories - maybe even scoops - I've been sitting on.
Then your lists were successful! Congratulations.
Fun times! Thank you, Bill, for your last two Substack essays. What a breath of fresh air in the sometimes stale and stalemate politics talk that I usually read and to which I'm addicted. Your essays took me down memory lane and reminded me of my child and teen years in video arcades, attempting to hula hoop, spending hours ice-skating, and being subjected to mass propaganda, unknowingly.
You made my day. Thank you.
That was a fun read, thanks!
Those are fun for me to write. And they don't take as much brain power either!
🤣🤣🤣 I've really gotten a kick out of this post and your previous one, have you ever thought of doing stand-up 🤣🤣🤣
So you grew up in Opelika, Alabama. As a long-time audio engineer, I am aware that Opelika played an important part in the audio industry back in the 1950's on up through the 1990's: Ampex, maker of the most popular professional analog audio tape recorders, and makers of tape to use on those recorders, had their tape factory in Opelika.
I'm not sure that the factory is still there or being used for anything: Ampex stopped making tape about 20 years ago. You can still get open reel audio tape for use on the remaining recorders, but the few remaining factories are in Germany and France.
The name of the maze rolling ball is LABYRINTH. I could roll the ball to the end of the course and back again. Thanks for awakening this memory from 6 decades ago!
I LOVED that football game! I’d challenge you any time… did you do that move where you go to the bottom and wait for everyone move down, then zip up to the top and fly across three screens before they started to catch on? Love the bugle call when you score the TD… I was ten years old and used to annoy everyone with it!
Well, I'll be. I just looked more closely at the poster I ran with this story. Evel Knievel spelled his name with an "e" instead of an "i." He was NOT "evil" after all.