I found myself wandering around the city one weekday. Thoughts of good days past rushed through my brain. I found myself wondering...where is Gusmus Bike Shop? For that matter, where is any bike shop? What happened to Stefano's Little Italy? Where is Court Street Cafe? Is the owl's eye green? Wait, where is the owl? Rogers Department Store is sitting empty! Where are the woods between Windcrest Heights and the Mall? There is a road in them now! But, alas, they are gone.
Where are Bradshaw and Coffee? I see the buildings, but they have a new name. Freshman Center? What is that? Do they institutionalize freshmen now? It is a curable condition, just let them age one year!
I went out one Friday night to pick up dinner for Mom, and I again found myself in Nostalgia land as I drove down Florence Boulevard. Nobody is crusing the Strip! Where is the Hickory Hills Cinema? K-Mart shopping center is sitting almost empty! What, no Dairy Queen or KFC? I NEED MY DIPPED CONE! China Dragon is gone!
Sunday afternoon, my Mom wanted to go to the river, so we drove to McFarland Park. No kids cruising, no groups of teens at the picnic shelters, all quiet. Wow! also, I noticed that there is a great big bridge over one of my favorite old fishing holes. I always used to anchor off Patton Island. Where is the railroad bridge and trestle?
Just a few thoughts from a guy who should have come home more! I almost feel like I missed out. I left home 21 years ago feeling like I had been liberated. Now I find myself with a serious case of homesickness for the Florence of the 1970s and 1980s. Anyone else feel the same?