A time for rememberence ...

    It's been some time now since I had time to reflex on the Past. I now think of all those years now that have paved the way to this point in my life where it get's harder and harder to not think about all that has pasted by, and all the friends that went with it.
    
   When just starting out as a Bartender, all I could see was was a mist of new friends and the wealth of having a good time, in a job where, not only the good times seemed forever, but you got paid for it. That almost seems secondary. All I new was we, meaning all the friends at the time, that most of which I had just met, but there are many still out there sharing in this close friendship.
   Nothing could stop us. We took to the beaches when we should have been opening the Bar for lunch. We then closed the Bar, and tried to get to the next one before it closed! Time had nothing to do with it, since we ran the clock, being our own Bosses. No one ever thought that the clock had started to pick up pace. First in Minutes, then Hours, then Days.......
   
   We never thought that time would run out on us, we controlled  everything that might have been put in front of us. Before you knew it one would leave us, just by being too tired from helping out at a new Place, that all would have the chance to enjoy.
   Another, had his place, but could not beat the odds of what was dealt him in the early times. I had the chance to go all night with these two, & end up having breakfast at Mcdonalds in New Milford, rolling around on the ground while the 'normal' people watched in disbelief. Why was that..? was it because it was still Breakfast in their world..? It didn't matter, our world was for the here and now, to live as we wanted. 

   There was a time when I actually worked two jobs a day. One being the Bartender to the Masses at night. The other, I started doing move re-modeling jobs. I would do anything it took, to have not just the money, but that freedom to do what I thought at the time, was the right to Party. In both aspects, I had the chance to work with a friend that helped me when it got time to paint, he taught me how to handle a Sprayer, for the big out side jobs. He was also was with me  when, it was time for check- in at the Door. He was the first to get there & as it turned out, it helped when the Bar was to open around 8:00 p.m. One night he WAS on time and I was there also, except for the fact that I was passed out on the Stage from the last night. No problem, after hearing him bang on the door for probable ten or fifteen minutes, I got up and proceeded to get the bar set up in record time, without my usual help.

  At the time all bars had music, in one form or another. In that last place I mentioned, that's all we had. A very diverse group of fine musicians, mostly top of the line local groups, and then some popular National headliners. Our biggest and finest group was actually a local band played there, and our other place up the road.
  They were the top of everyone's list. We all came out to see and listen to this fine group of dedicated Musicians.
   Now that time has taken it's toll, the one stand out in the group who kept the spirit alive, with his energy and thoughtfulness, to continue, with no thought of his own greatness, but just there so that everyone enjoying it would shine. He now Shines bright in all our Hearts....

   There are others who are gone that desires mentioning, but for now I will pass that on to a  party that was started three years ago, for a reunion for all that are here to remember, but now one of a memorial and tribute to those that have left us, so we may rejoice in the fact of knowing them, and making our lives that much fuller...
   

LIGHTS ON...ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS.....

    Now most of you know that I am a car lover, enthusiast, & well sometimes just an over bearing nut about my Cars. I've been this way since I could sit behind the wheel on my fathers lap at nine, taking to the road like I owned it. It wasn't long after that I had out grown my Go-cart-wagons, when I was about Twelve, that I got my first car. Yes it was a full grown, grown-up car. Which was a Fifty Three Chrysler, with an automatic fluid drive transmission. Which meant you could use it like an Automatic, Or use the clutch to shift.
    Well don't that beat all, I had it good going both ways. Acting like a real Hot Rodder or just cruising around the Camp Ground where I grew up. The car was a beast, big & bold. When I had to detour off the road & over a ditch, I decided to name it 'Tank'. 
   Tank & I enjoyed may summer's raising the dust to many camper's dislike. But it didn't happen that often, & since I'd hear about it from my Dad, not too soon after I was pretty good at just doing it off season or during the week when it was the most quiet. I did take it out on a late October day when we had a light snow on the ground. Hey why not see where & what I could do in the snow. I found out quick enough when I came around a corner, & decided to go off the road. That was a turning point not just in my car, but also in my life. I made the turn but not able to take the corner I hit a tree with my right head light!
   Needless to say I had the hardest time trying to get up the nerve to tell my father, not to mention my Mom. But just being thirteen with a 'Lot' car, things pretty much took care of themselves. It only took another three to four years for the real truth to sink in!

   Yes, beleive it or not I did get into some bad situations growing up behind the wheel. At this time I'd rather not get into that particular part of my life. I would just like to comment on the present time, when now I'm living in the part of a State that I only visited once & awhile, also said at those times that 'I would never live here full time'. Ahhh, but here I am & actually enjoying it. It wasn't that easy when I first got here. The first thing you had to do was adjust to was the traffic. First of all there's a LOT of it, on four, five & sometimes six lanes to contend with. Most of the people that drive them aren't what I'm used to from up in Connecticut. It's like Russian roulette.
Which brings me to ONE of my pet topics of who is driving here and why they don't make driving safer. 
   Who is driving is one thing with all the 'elderly', we used to call them 'Bluehairs' or like one of my friends here like to use 'Q-tips',but of course now having to be careful, since  they may think of me as one.
Now on the opposite side are these kids that just got there license. Yes I know you just heard me describe early driving history, and yes there is more to it.But I'm talking fifty years later, & in Quite another world. Kids are killing themselves, because the parents are out there buying them new cars before they even know whats in store for them. They need more time to make the connection of what is the most responsible in driving these roads & just taking a 'Joy-ride'.
   
    The other point I'd like to make & has been bugging me for some time now is the fact that GMC came out with 'running lights' in the early Eighties, where a low beam stays on the whole time you are driving. I remember back in the early Seventies when VW & a few others came out with that side light on the front fender & I also remember this because I was helping a friend to buy a VW that had this light. He asked me what I thought of that & told him that any thing to help the other driver to see you, was  a good idea. Now all cars still have them on the front & back fenders. So why doesn't all the car makers have the much needed safety feature of all time running lights! General Motors still have it as does VW, Audi, & a few other German & foreign cars. I know it would be a big help down here with the early morning fog, & the late rush hours.
   I recently wrote a letter to the local paper on this same subject, since I noticed that someone else had written something similar a week or so ago. No it wasn't or hasn't been published, but it just so happened that this week someone else did write in on the very subject.
   Now all I can do is wait & hope that either my letter or many other letters will find it's way to ...'Whom it may concern'....