Eighth graders took PE, but we didn’t shower. Freshmen in high school showered. Fifty years later, that seems no big deal. But. The summer before my freshman year, I still didn’t have hair on my balls. Determination was my long suit, my key to success. I willed hair to grow on my balls. It didn’t… Read More

In 1953 I would have been five. Gas was something like, 19.9 cents a gallon. It smelled good wafting in the window while the attendant washed the windows. The attendant I remember was giving a lecture into our Plymouth. My mom, a recent war bride from England sat beside my father. My little sister and I… Read More

      First day       My mom looked down into the box camera. I smiled from the first step of the bus. I wore a green wool sweater. I tilted my head down a little. And I wonder what kind of boy I’d been if I’d have had my chin up and… Read More

Food   These days a food phenomenon might involve kale and chia seeds. In the mid 50’s our family loaded up the Plymouth and drove twenty-five miles to McDonalds. Hamburgers were 19 cents. We split an order of fries and I got my own bone-chilling chocolate shake. Eisenhower was President, America had the atomic bomb,… Read More