We reminisced. We talked about the way things look now and I went on to explain how the street used to look. Ram shackled houses and tar paper shacks lined the street. No apartment buildings back then. Well I guess there was one and I can remember when it was being built. Remember quite well actually. I wasn't too old then barely old enough to keep up with my brother and his friends. I remember running down the hill through the building construction and falling, tumbling and nearly breaking my neck. Guess I deserved that after all we had been throwing water balloons and eggs at passing cars.
There was several acres of open ground all around, a few hogs nearby and on occasion you could hear the rooster crow. Right behind Grandpa's they planted corn during the summer and I chased a few girls up and down the rows. Got lost a few times, man were a couple of them gals fast! Barefoot and all. Oh yeah we always went barefoot.
Also behind Grandpa's and many other neighborhood houses was the outhouse. Ever used and Outhouse? If you still use one your obviously a redneck. Beaten path straight from the backdoor. Wasn't too far away from the backdoor but I was young enough that when it was cold out I peed right out the door. Hurry they'd say your letting in the cold air. Damn hillbilly!
We didn't know any different. Neither did the neighbors who kept the honey pot right next to their stove. Well it was a few feet away but in the kitchen never the less. I'll never forget the smell of that house. The girls were pretty, they were the ones I was chasing.
Many a house had a peculiar smell back then. Of course we didn't have a hundred thousand different kinds of air freshener either. And no air conditioning in the summer. Fans if you were lucky. I guess we were lucky because Grandma had a fan. Got our behind beat a few times too. Yes we'd run by the fan and throw a cup of water into it and of course everyone on the couch would get soaked or sprayed anyway. Some thought it was funny, others not. Had to cut our own switches too. Boy get out there and cut me a switch and it better not be the wrong kind. You know which kind to get.
Winter time had it's own neighborhood smell too. Most burnt wood and coal, mostly coal....
Nice chat we had. Fond memories but oh how times have changed. Guess I ain't a redneck anymore but I am a hillbilly at heart!
