Looking Back While I Can

As another year has entered onto my calender of life, I always like to look back and remember some of the fun things of growing up in small town America. Sixty years ago Pagosa was my "Mayberry" and there were no strangers as I wondered from one establishment to another on main st.
  I never had to hike very far to try and catch a trout for grandma to cook for my supper, a little creek ran by her house and under a bridge of US 160. It was there I'd spend a lot time baiting a hook with those little red worms dug out of horse manure of Mr. Speelmans barn.
 I often wonder if anyone still living there who remembers such landmarks as Kinser's Diner that sat in a lot that now houses the Sun Office, Mullins Barber Shop where I got many trims and lessons on living, The Soda fountain of Jackish Drug Store, Moorehart Chevrolet Company, Lou Pomas gas station, Fowlers garage and gas station, Melvin Fowlers Jewelry, Ferris Breedloves Hardware Store. The Billiard room or better known as the Pool Hall run by Curly Nelson. Fussy Gussey's Restaurant in the building of the hotel next to the Liberty Theater.
 The swimming pool across the San Juan river where I learned to swim and even became a junior life guard but now the big attraction in the spa and resort built around the hot springs for Millionaire tourist. Pagosa is now one of the major tourist vacations spots in America but I am so glad I was part it growing up. Maybe in another sixty years some one will look back and remember how lucky they were to have Pagosa.

A New Year (going backward?)

2013 has faded away and now our sights are set on 2014, wall street tycoons are humming a new tune and the middle class are still singing the blues.
 California parents now have to worry about who is using the same bath room facilities with their children, seems to me a class in sexuality would be order so that one knows whether to stand or sit to pee.
  Colorado citizens or visitors over 21 can now get high on pot any where they choose except tobacco smokers still must snuff out!! I always thought smoke was smoke only some smells worse than others.Will DUI also mean being high on marijuana?
 So many new gadgets to take up every waking moment of the day, every one now has a phone on the ear or in the hand, conversations are no longer private with each device having its own speaker. Now drivers have to be extra cautious to watch for pedestrians looking at the gadget in their hand.
 Marriage has become a laughing topic and the courts have decided that it is not a holy sacrament between man and woman, watch out what may come next; legalizing prostitution or polygamy.
 Never mind if one does not agree with these new laws or social changes, just suck it up and be brainwashed with a daily dose of media blitz showing images that may disgust but the sound bites come so fast the remote control can't be found in time to switch.
 Its still not too late to right a sinking ship, so I hope others have the courage to sit down and write their concerns to congress and when the time comes visit the voting booth and exercise the best defense given to by our forefathers.