We were stopped at the traffic light exiting my neighborhood the other day and a fellow pedaled his bicycle across the four-lane highway into our neighborhood. He was older and looked familiar. From the passenger side of the car, I asked, “Is that ____ ________?” I try not to say this fellow’s name and I don’t feel good about typing it, so I apologize for the blanks.
We agreed that it seemed to be him, but I don’t know for sure. I do know for sure that he lives in our neighborhood, a couple of blocks away and not too far if you wanted to walk right to the doorstep.
Not thinking much about it, I got back home and started wondering about where I was and what I was doing when this fellow had his couple of seconds of notoriety that would last him until the present and put him in my neighborhood.
He lives with his mother and he has to be around 60 years old now. I have no problem with that (the living with your mother part). She is in her 90’s now and most folks would say that it is nice to be able to take care of your mother when she needs you.
The where’s, why’s, how’s and who’s of it all really do not matter; I am not an attorney or a psychologist and I don’t even like to give my opinion on such things to anyone other than family and the closest of friends.
When the event happened, I was in high school… The last semester of my high school year, it was March. March, over 35 years ago, in 1981. If the fellow on the bicycle was who I think he was, he did his best to impress an actress and hurt the 40th President of the United States. Others were hurt badly in the incident and the pain of the event would stretch on for years. For years and now within the confines of my neighborhood, which is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.
What would have happened if he would have been “successful?”
I really don’t want to know and I am thankful that I never will know. In this time when politics have gotten so out of hand, I do not like to discuss politics at all. However, I will always discuss those who have made a difference in my life.
It is my sincere belief that the 40th President of the United States made my life better and my future brighter and safer. From a father of three children who are now out in the world, I feel that is a pretty significant thing to say.
In 1981, I was finishing high school, still cutting grass, mopping floors and unloading big rolls of paper for the local newspaper to load on the printing press and publish a daily newspaper. I was looking forward to college, life and all the surprises that it would bring.
Honestly, I’m still doing the same thing. My children continue to go to college, I’m still looking forward to life and I love surprises. Things like how nicely my candied oranges come out; not things like folks jumping out from places and surprising me. I’m still cutting grass and mopping floors, but I own the grass and the floors for the most part. The 40th President inspired me, gave me hope and along with my family and friends told me that I could do it and I would get a fair shake if I worked at it.
This isn’t about political parties at all, it’s about going back in time and realizing where you once were and where you are now… The fellow that I think I saw on the bicycle, that I know lives within walking distance, could have messed some of that up, I’ll never know for sure. I’m very thankful for that.
Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our time, that in our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race, we kept them free; we kept the faith. ~Ronald Reagan
He did that in my opinion.
________________________________
Cranks My Tractor
Share this story with friends - it helps me a lot.
"Like" the Cranks My Tractor Facebook Site, if you have not already.
Tell 27 people you love them today; something good will happen.
I'm BN Heard and I like semicolons, dogs and having the opportunity to tell my side of the story.
Comments