Stroll Down Memory Lane

This past week, Alan's basketball team went to Brownwood to participate in the Holiday Classics Basketball Tournament.  Alan asked if we wanted to go and I said, "Absolutely".  I lived in the Brownwood/Early area for six years growing up.  That was the longest I lived in one place growing up.  My Dad was a preacher and in retail business as well, so, we moved around quite a bit.

I wrote a post about the area five and half years ago when I was going through chemotherapy and we went to a friend's lake house to take our minds off of everything.  We almost moved to Brownwood a year and a half ago.  I really enjoy going to Brownwood/Early just to reminisce.

Andrew, Anna and I headed to Brownwood Thursday after lunch.  As we were coming into Brownwood, I turned on 1380 AM KBWD radio.  That was the radio station we listened to.  Andrew and Anna rolled their eyes and continued to listen to their own music as I tried to annoy them more by turning it up louder and singing too!

We drove to the hotel and met Alan, the other coaches and the team in the lobby, waiting on our rooms.  Andrew and Anna wanted to go to Walmart which was right across the parking lot to check out the Christmas clearance. I found a perfume I had not seen in years called "Loves Baby Soft."  I did not wear it but my good friend wore it a lot.  Anna decided she really liked it, so for half off, I bought it for her.

After that, we drove to Humphrey Pete's Steakhouse and ate dinner with the team.  While the team went back to watch another game at the coliseum, Andrew and Anna wanted to go shopping.  Alan and I got them a teen debit card so they would have money when they travel on their own sports teams.  They were wanting to try it out.  They felt grown up after that experience. HA!

The next morning, the team left and we had a little bit of time to go do some things before the game.  We went to the Brownwood Store by the train depot.  We looked through books about Brownwood and all the gifts they had.  I found a DVD on Coach Gordon Wood and thought Alan would enjoy watching it.  We left and went to the Genealogy office to see if I could find pictures or information on the two businesses my Dad owned in Brownwood.  Anna was ready to go, while Andrew was looking through year books and other picture books.  We then headed to watch Millsap play Brownwood at the Coliseum.  It has been a long time since I had been to the coliseum.  Still looks the same inside and out.

After the game, I took the kids to a favorite place as a teenager for lunch.  When it was first built, it was called the Snack Shack.  My best friend and I would ride our bikes over there to get a coke in the summer time.  They had the really good crushed ice where the coke would get into and would turn into a snow cone like treat after you drank the coke.  The place is now called Jerry's Burgers and Shakes and the burgers were really good.  Sadly, the crushed ice was more like sonic, not the thin flakes.  This place was just around the corner from our house in Early and right across from the old football stadium.

I sent this photo to my best friend that use to go with me here for a coke.  She commented that they are still using the same cups! LOL!

After lunch, we went to where the football stadium use to be.  It is now a city park.  I talked about coming to the games and the first time I had nachos at a football game.  I thought they would be just like my mom made and I was disgusted to find round chips and really runny cheese sauce with jalapenos on them.  That was not Nachos!!!  I never ordered those again.  I found where the bleachers were and Anna and I took a picture in the spot where I cheered as a Junior High Pep Squad member.  I thought it was appropriate since Anna is a Cheerleader now.  Then I stood where the 50 yard line was with Andrew and told them about how I was my 4th grade homeroom class Sweetheart.  We ran down the field and let out some energy.

 Concession stand

 Cheer spot

Class Sweetheart Spot

 To the right of Andrew's shoulder, was my best friend's Grandparents house.  Just behind that house was our house.  My brother and I use to climb up on our shed so we could watch the football game from our house when we didn't get to go to the game.

We drove over to my old house which just happens to be for sale.  While we were there looking at the property, a neighbor and his daughter came over.  We talked for a good 20 minutes about the history of the neighborhood.  I realized that 35 years ago was the last Christmas we had in that house.  A lot has changed.  There was a neighbor to the left of our back yard named Jerry.  The neighbor that I met told me Jerry actually still lives there.  I was beyond shocked that he was still around. He opened up the wishing well for my kids to look down.  It was dry and I explained to the Andrew and Anna that my Mom use to water the grass from that well and there were snakes at the bottom.  No snakes or water right now.  I also told the kids about the time that I had a "brilliant" idea of riding my bother's bike down the hill at the end of the street to try to go as fast as I could.  Half way down the street, his chains came loose and I had no way to stop the bike. I had no option but to run right into the chimney in the driveway.  I laughed so hard and my left elbow was bleeding pretty bad.  Later, we discovered that the impact made a dent in the chimney.  I showed the kids and of course took a picture and sent it to my brother.  Some things are the same and some have changed, but my many memories have not.

The famous dent

I then took them over to my school.  Again showed them where a portable of my 6th grade classroom use to be, where I went to Junior High and many other memories.  I actually parked in the same area where my Dad parked the day I got in the car and told him that my science fair project in 7th grade got third place and I was going to the Regional Science fair in Abilene.  I remember the shocked look on his face when I told him.  He told me the night before that I would not place and to not get my hopes up.  He also said I will not win at the Regional Science fair either, but I agreed with him and was just as shocked as he was when I did win something from the Air Force.  The following year, I noticed that my parents were in the audience for the science fair awards which I thought was very strange.  I received not only first place in my division, but first place in the whole 8th grade and first place in the entire school.  That was a really great day!

 Early Junior High 

 6th Grade portable sat between the building on the left and the monkey bars.  The play ground was not there.  It was a paved lot.

 This was the cafeteria, stage and choir room.  Yes! My first experience in choir was in that building.  In fact, just to the right of the door was the choir room.

After that, we went to Heartland Mall so the kids could shop and then we went to see my church and noticed the for sale sign.  It is a sad reality that is happening more and more.  I remember many songs we sang in that building and I can still hear Verna Maye Blackwell singing Alto on every song.  She was so encouraging to me and my musical abilities.  My Dad delivered sermons when the preacher needed a break or was out of town and was an Elder at this church. He also baptized me there.

We then headed over to Alan's 5 PM game and after that, we all went to Underwood's for dinner. I love that when I walk in, it smells exactly like it did when I was a kid.  The food still taste the same and everything about it is step back into my past.  I love that my husband makes it a point to eat there every time we are there.

We headed home Saturday morning.  Anna selected a random Praise and Harmony CD for me to listen to as I drove home.  As I listen to the words of the songs, I could not help but think about how those short six years in Early, had a huge impact on my life.  Some of the good and bad was part of shaping who I am today.  Even if Andrew and Anna did not appreciate everything I showed them, someday they will read this and know that my history truly is part of their legacy.  Just like generations before me played a part in who I have become today.