Hello to all of my Lucy Memoir Fans. Although this chapter of Lucy Memoirs has closed I am compelled to keep on blogging. I rather enjoy it between you and me. Therefore I have established a new Blog where one can read all of the old Lucy Memoirs as well new additions to my journey.
Please follow me at www.stevechildressmusic.blogspot.com
See ya There!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Signing Off
Well, folks, that time has finally come. I am sad to say that this will be the last "Lucy Memoirs" article. What merely began as a simple blog has somehow developed into a fun little weekly article that has allowed you, the reader, a glimpse into my world. I started "Lucy Memoirs" so that I could record my childhood memories and share about those who have made an impact on my life. I had, and still have, the ambition to share these stories to my children and maybe even to their children. It's strange to think about my three-year-old's children, but I have listened to many of you and your remarks of how "time flies", "it'll be here before you know it", and my favorite, "in a blink of an eye." I, too, will age, my daughter will marry and have children, and this thirty-one-year-old man looking to the future would like to see that his life had meaning and had a grand story to tell. Max Lucado has written a new book with the title, Outlive Your Life. I thought for awhile on that title. There is a lot to be said there. Am I living a life that will affect generations past mine? Am I touching people in a away that changes their lives which then affects others'? These are big questions to ponder, but I hope that these memoirs have at least laid a foundation of who I am and what God can do with me next. I can say this with confidence because He's not finished with me yet.
So in conclusion to my stories of my childhood, I think it's only fair to bring you up to present-day. What has happened in the last twenty years to the boys of Lucy? Well, Stevie now serves in emergency management services and lives in Millington. Of course, he now goes by Steve Sparks Jr., but he will always be Stevie to me. Mike Luhm married a secret service agent who was deployed to Presidential guard in Dallas. She and Mike still live there today where Mike proudly serves on the Dallas Fire Department. Mom and Dad still live in the same home in Lucy with a few changes. Where Will's and my rooms were, they are now rooms for the grandkids. Where the side yard is where we played many of baseball games and held bombfire events, is now a pond and a brand new playhouse. I couldn't be more proud of my little brother, Will. The same kid that I hit in the head with a shovel, wrecked countless motorized vehicles on our property, and made our house look like the Grizwalds at Christmas, finally tied the knot a couple of weeks ago. He married a young lady from the Gentry/Waits family. That is one scary combination when you combine these three families. Will has always had a passion for lighting and illumination. He now designs lighting plans for churches and businesses all over the United States. As for me, I met a gorgeous girl, Shannon, at the same church I have gone to my whole life and have been married for eight wonderful years now. We have a beautiful three-year-old daughter, Emmerson, and by the time most of you read this article, we will have welcomed our son, Cole Franklin Childress, into the world. One of Frank Capra's most famous movies, It's a Wonderful Life, pretty much sums up my own life. God has truly blessed me to no end and I give Him all of the glory for it.
Finally, I would like to thank you, the reader. It has been a great honor to speak to those whom I run into at church or around town who have read and commented on these articles. I especially love hearing your memories of Christmas Tree Larry's, USA Baseball, and many more written topics. I think Millington is one of the greatest towns in this country, enriched with a history of patriotism, family values, community pride, and Christian leadership. I have no doubt that my childhood would've looked a lot different if it were not lived out in Millington, Tennessee.
If you are ever out on a Sunday drive, I encourage you to pull off the highway onto Sykes Rd, take the second right onto Lucy Rd, and drive through the heart of Lucy. Stop off at Down the Road Motors (a.k.a. The Man Store), and pop a top on a cream soda. Drive through the tunnel of shady oak trees and look out over the rolling pasture land of green. Maybe you'll like it so much that you'll decide to start a family of your own there. Your kids can be raised in a town where they can let their imaginations run wild. And maybe, just maybe, they will one day write about their own journeys, childhood memories, and escapades. And just maybe, I will still be around to read their own "Lucy Memoirs."
Thank you & God Bless,
-Steve Childress
So in conclusion to my stories of my childhood, I think it's only fair to bring you up to present-day. What has happened in the last twenty years to the boys of Lucy? Well, Stevie now serves in emergency management services and lives in Millington. Of course, he now goes by Steve Sparks Jr., but he will always be Stevie to me. Mike Luhm married a secret service agent who was deployed to Presidential guard in Dallas. She and Mike still live there today where Mike proudly serves on the Dallas Fire Department. Mom and Dad still live in the same home in Lucy with a few changes. Where Will's and my rooms were, they are now rooms for the grandkids. Where the side yard is where we played many of baseball games and held bombfire events, is now a pond and a brand new playhouse. I couldn't be more proud of my little brother, Will. The same kid that I hit in the head with a shovel, wrecked countless motorized vehicles on our property, and made our house look like the Grizwalds at Christmas, finally tied the knot a couple of weeks ago. He married a young lady from the Gentry/Waits family. That is one scary combination when you combine these three families. Will has always had a passion for lighting and illumination. He now designs lighting plans for churches and businesses all over the United States. As for me, I met a gorgeous girl, Shannon, at the same church I have gone to my whole life and have been married for eight wonderful years now. We have a beautiful three-year-old daughter, Emmerson, and by the time most of you read this article, we will have welcomed our son, Cole Franklin Childress, into the world. One of Frank Capra's most famous movies, It's a Wonderful Life, pretty much sums up my own life. God has truly blessed me to no end and I give Him all of the glory for it.
Finally, I would like to thank you, the reader. It has been a great honor to speak to those whom I run into at church or around town who have read and commented on these articles. I especially love hearing your memories of Christmas Tree Larry's, USA Baseball, and many more written topics. I think Millington is one of the greatest towns in this country, enriched with a history of patriotism, family values, community pride, and Christian leadership. I have no doubt that my childhood would've looked a lot different if it were not lived out in Millington, Tennessee.
If you are ever out on a Sunday drive, I encourage you to pull off the highway onto Sykes Rd, take the second right onto Lucy Rd, and drive through the heart of Lucy. Stop off at Down the Road Motors (a.k.a. The Man Store), and pop a top on a cream soda. Drive through the tunnel of shady oak trees and look out over the rolling pasture land of green. Maybe you'll like it so much that you'll decide to start a family of your own there. Your kids can be raised in a town where they can let their imaginations run wild. And maybe, just maybe, they will one day write about their own journeys, childhood memories, and escapades. And just maybe, I will still be around to read their own "Lucy Memoirs."
Thank you & God Bless,
-Steve Childress
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Lucy Elementary
I could not have asked for a better introduction to my first school experience than what Lucy Elementary provided me. When I started kindergarten in 1984 Lucy was this picturesque community, very family involved, school that proved to be inviting to a five year old like me who had never been away from my family for a consistent period of time. Some of my greatest early childhood memories were spawned out of this red bricked, green shingled roof school house.
Dr. Evelyn Jewel was the principle when I attended. I remember her always making sure we kindergarteners had everything we needed to make our time at Lucy a pleasant one. I remember we had "Old Fashion Day" and Dr. Jewel would dress up in an old dress and bonnet, and drive us around the school in a mule drawn buggy. Dr. Jewel also allowed several other events at the school like the annual Halloween carnival, community day and many other events that truly made the school Lucy's own. Many years later, as I was working at my first bank and Dr Jewel came in to conduct some business. I had the opportunity to help her. Before I could even introduce myself she called me by name and gave me the biggest hug. There is something to be said about an educator like Dr. Jewel who has taught so many children to remember a student like myself twenty years later.
I can easily name all of my teachers at Lucy because they all had an impact on my early education in some form or fashion. Ms. Becky was my kindergarten teacher who was so patient with me my first year. Ms. Brown was my first grade teacher who still brags even to this day, about how great a student I was. Ms. Brown has made such an impact on my life that I dedicated an entire article all about her. There is not a Sunday that goes by that she doesn't hug my neck still. Ms. Monroe was my second grade teacher and that was the first year I received principles honor role. Ms. Westmoreland was my third grade teacher and it was there that I honed my skills as the "teacher's pet". I learned quickly that if you make yourself available and offer your assistance to your teacher she will love you to death. At least that’s how it worked out for me. Mr. Lunsford was my P.E. coach and he is now the principle at Millington Elementary where my mom works. Ms. Hair was the Librarian, and Mr. Walker was our music teacher. Mr. Walker had an interesting way of motivating us to sing. During school programs he would sit behind the choir instead of directing from the front. He would scream at the top of his lungs "SING! SING! SING!!!!" You would've thought we were snow dogs in a race and he was the driver. Nevertheless if he didn't do that I most likely wouldn't have remembered him.
Lucy holds so many memories for me outside of the classroom as well. At one time the playground had three big oak trees that made perfect bases for recess kickball games. There was one of those ten foot metal slides that burnt your legs during the summer and an old merry-go-round. The swing sets were those white painted "A" frame structures where I had carved multiple love notes to girls on. Before they removed those swing sets I went back to Lucy and sure enough those same carvings were still there.
I absolutely loved Lucy Elementary. It was an era when practically every mom was a room mother, the pledge of allegiance was said every morning, school pride actually meant something, and the community was just as active as the staff was in regards to the betterment of the establishment. Even today I am still proud to call myself a Lucy Eagle.
-Steve Childress
Dr. Evelyn Jewel was the principle when I attended. I remember her always making sure we kindergarteners had everything we needed to make our time at Lucy a pleasant one. I remember we had "Old Fashion Day" and Dr. Jewel would dress up in an old dress and bonnet, and drive us around the school in a mule drawn buggy. Dr. Jewel also allowed several other events at the school like the annual Halloween carnival, community day and many other events that truly made the school Lucy's own. Many years later, as I was working at my first bank and Dr Jewel came in to conduct some business. I had the opportunity to help her. Before I could even introduce myself she called me by name and gave me the biggest hug. There is something to be said about an educator like Dr. Jewel who has taught so many children to remember a student like myself twenty years later.
I can easily name all of my teachers at Lucy because they all had an impact on my early education in some form or fashion. Ms. Becky was my kindergarten teacher who was so patient with me my first year. Ms. Brown was my first grade teacher who still brags even to this day, about how great a student I was. Ms. Brown has made such an impact on my life that I dedicated an entire article all about her. There is not a Sunday that goes by that she doesn't hug my neck still. Ms. Monroe was my second grade teacher and that was the first year I received principles honor role. Ms. Westmoreland was my third grade teacher and it was there that I honed my skills as the "teacher's pet". I learned quickly that if you make yourself available and offer your assistance to your teacher she will love you to death. At least that’s how it worked out for me. Mr. Lunsford was my P.E. coach and he is now the principle at Millington Elementary where my mom works. Ms. Hair was the Librarian, and Mr. Walker was our music teacher. Mr. Walker had an interesting way of motivating us to sing. During school programs he would sit behind the choir instead of directing from the front. He would scream at the top of his lungs "SING! SING! SING!!!!" You would've thought we were snow dogs in a race and he was the driver. Nevertheless if he didn't do that I most likely wouldn't have remembered him.
Lucy holds so many memories for me outside of the classroom as well. At one time the playground had three big oak trees that made perfect bases for recess kickball games. There was one of those ten foot metal slides that burnt your legs during the summer and an old merry-go-round. The swing sets were those white painted "A" frame structures where I had carved multiple love notes to girls on. Before they removed those swing sets I went back to Lucy and sure enough those same carvings were still there.
I absolutely loved Lucy Elementary. It was an era when practically every mom was a room mother, the pledge of allegiance was said every morning, school pride actually meant something, and the community was just as active as the staff was in regards to the betterment of the establishment. Even today I am still proud to call myself a Lucy Eagle.
-Steve Childress
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Rocking Raleigh
Growing up in Millington had its fun, but there was always a place just south of us where we experienced most of our shopping and entertainment. Raleigh was pre-Wolfchase, so it was the closet area to go to for all of our shopping, eating, and theater needs. These are my personal memories of "Rocking Raleigh."
The Raleigh Springs Mall was pretty much the only mall we knew. Every now and then, we would venture out to the Mall of Memphis or the Hickory Ridge Mall, but Raleigh Springs had everything we needed. There we would go to all of the department stores like Dillards, JCPenny and Goldsmiths. I always enjoyed going to Sears because they had these little curtain drawn cartoon booths that you could sit in and watch a little cartoon for a dime. When I wasn’t watching cartoons, I was jumping from one riding lawnmower to the other pretending they were tanks. Outside of Sears, just as you would walk in the main mall fairway, were Shoney’s and Woolworths. Now Shoney’s was a common restaurant that we would often visit, but Woolworths had its own little restaurant as well. It was a small restaurant with a bar and stools for patrons to eat on and various tables scattered around the restaurant floor. What was memorable about the Woolworths restaurant was their Tuna Melt sandwich that I still make today for my family. Another famous eatery in the mall, aside from Hot Dog Sam’s, was Milano’s Pizza. Awhile back, I posted a comment on Facebook about the Raleigh Springs Milano’s. The feedback I got back was 99% female and they were all remembering the “cute” pizza guy there at Milano’s. I do not remember any of the pizza guys, but I guess he made an impression on them. Nevertheless, it was the best pizza in the mall. Another great memory of the Raleigh Springs Mall was the theater. The Childresses have a personal connection to this theater because my dad had a job there working nights during his high school years. He was fired because he got caught riding his motorcycle up and down the aisles of the theater. Every time we saw a movie there, I would picture him doing just that. We have a lot of memories at the Raleigh Springs Mall, especially around the holidays, when I would tell Santa and the Easter Bunny what all I wanted. It was a very family-friendly atmosphere with much to do.
Like the mall, there were several other retail establishments around Raleigh that we visited frequently. One I have mentioned before is Children's Palace, the Mecca of toy stores. Oh the memories of walking in the doors of this place and having to follow the makeshift aisles that just filtered into a world of childhood enchantment. There were so many toys to be seen and play with while there. Children’s Palace would often have characters dressed up, such as Spiderman and the Hulk, walk around to greet you. It was always the biggest treat to make a visit to Children’s Palace. We also had Service Merchandise, which I really didn’t care all that much about, until I got a little older and I could relate more to their product line. Dad’s favorite store was always Central Hardware. I remember the 12-foot giant statue guy in his flannel shirt, blue jeans, and yellow suspenders there to greet you as you walked in. Aside from Children’s Palace, my second favorite spot was Showbiz Pizza, not Chuck-E-Cheese, but Showbiz. We went to Showbiz for birthday parties and also for rewards. You see, Showbiz had a program set up that, if you brought in your school report card, they would award you so many tokens per “A” and “B” you received. Showbiz was set up just like Chuck-E-Cheese, but in my opinion, it had much better animatronic characters. The Showbiz band consisted of the Showbiz bear, of course, the surfer polar bear, the cheerleader bird, and the massive ape that played the keyboard. You would be lying if you said you never peeked behind the curtains after a show to see if the band members were still there. One time I did and I swear to this day, the ape’s eyes moved directly toward me as I opened the curtain.
Raleigh created nothing but great childhood memories for my family and me. There was so much more to do than what I mentioned, but these were the top memories that made an impact on me. I often wish my children could watch a ten cent black and white cartoon, bite into a mouth-watering tuna melt sandwich while sitting on a barstool at Woolworths, see the expression on their faces when they first step into Children’s Palace, or even take a peek behind the curtain at Showbiz. Nevertheless, they are creating their own memories now in other places just as I did in Raleigh.
-Steve Childress
The Raleigh Springs Mall was pretty much the only mall we knew. Every now and then, we would venture out to the Mall of Memphis or the Hickory Ridge Mall, but Raleigh Springs had everything we needed. There we would go to all of the department stores like Dillards, JCPenny and Goldsmiths. I always enjoyed going to Sears because they had these little curtain drawn cartoon booths that you could sit in and watch a little cartoon for a dime. When I wasn’t watching cartoons, I was jumping from one riding lawnmower to the other pretending they were tanks. Outside of Sears, just as you would walk in the main mall fairway, were Shoney’s and Woolworths. Now Shoney’s was a common restaurant that we would often visit, but Woolworths had its own little restaurant as well. It was a small restaurant with a bar and stools for patrons to eat on and various tables scattered around the restaurant floor. What was memorable about the Woolworths restaurant was their Tuna Melt sandwich that I still make today for my family. Another famous eatery in the mall, aside from Hot Dog Sam’s, was Milano’s Pizza. Awhile back, I posted a comment on Facebook about the Raleigh Springs Milano’s. The feedback I got back was 99% female and they were all remembering the “cute” pizza guy there at Milano’s. I do not remember any of the pizza guys, but I guess he made an impression on them. Nevertheless, it was the best pizza in the mall. Another great memory of the Raleigh Springs Mall was the theater. The Childresses have a personal connection to this theater because my dad had a job there working nights during his high school years. He was fired because he got caught riding his motorcycle up and down the aisles of the theater. Every time we saw a movie there, I would picture him doing just that. We have a lot of memories at the Raleigh Springs Mall, especially around the holidays, when I would tell Santa and the Easter Bunny what all I wanted. It was a very family-friendly atmosphere with much to do.
Like the mall, there were several other retail establishments around Raleigh that we visited frequently. One I have mentioned before is Children's Palace, the Mecca of toy stores. Oh the memories of walking in the doors of this place and having to follow the makeshift aisles that just filtered into a world of childhood enchantment. There were so many toys to be seen and play with while there. Children’s Palace would often have characters dressed up, such as Spiderman and the Hulk, walk around to greet you. It was always the biggest treat to make a visit to Children’s Palace. We also had Service Merchandise, which I really didn’t care all that much about, until I got a little older and I could relate more to their product line. Dad’s favorite store was always Central Hardware. I remember the 12-foot giant statue guy in his flannel shirt, blue jeans, and yellow suspenders there to greet you as you walked in. Aside from Children’s Palace, my second favorite spot was Showbiz Pizza, not Chuck-E-Cheese, but Showbiz. We went to Showbiz for birthday parties and also for rewards. You see, Showbiz had a program set up that, if you brought in your school report card, they would award you so many tokens per “A” and “B” you received. Showbiz was set up just like Chuck-E-Cheese, but in my opinion, it had much better animatronic characters. The Showbiz band consisted of the Showbiz bear, of course, the surfer polar bear, the cheerleader bird, and the massive ape that played the keyboard. You would be lying if you said you never peeked behind the curtains after a show to see if the band members were still there. One time I did and I swear to this day, the ape’s eyes moved directly toward me as I opened the curtain.
Raleigh created nothing but great childhood memories for my family and me. There was so much more to do than what I mentioned, but these were the top memories that made an impact on me. I often wish my children could watch a ten cent black and white cartoon, bite into a mouth-watering tuna melt sandwich while sitting on a barstool at Woolworths, see the expression on their faces when they first step into Children’s Palace, or even take a peek behind the curtain at Showbiz. Nevertheless, they are creating their own memories now in other places just as I did in Raleigh.
-Steve Childress
Friday, July 16, 2010
USA Baseball
Aside from the Naval Base, one of Millington’s biggest landmarks was, and still is today, the USA Baseball Stadium. There is probably not a person in Millington who grew up here during the mid-80’s and forward who did not attend at least one game. If they didn't get to see any, then they have missed a piece of history that was literally right on their door step. One of Babe Howard's many visions for this town was baseball, and so the opportunity presented itself.
Millington was fortunate enough to be the training site for the USA Olympic baseball team from 1985-1996. This gave us baseball fanatics the opportunity to watch world renown amateur teams such as Cuba and Japan, as well as multiple countries from across the globe, settle in on our little town for short time. This was a treat that few can say they have seen. It was an ultimate dream for foreign players to play on American turf as well, not only because of our history with the game, but also the freedoms we cherish as Americans. I remember in 1991 one of Cuba’s players actually tried to defect because his dream of playing in the US was becoming a reality.
As a kid, attending these games was more than just a sporting event; it was a major gathering place for all other kids my age. Our little ears would be fixed on the sound of the crack of a bat and our personal gloves stretched high to catch fly balls. As I got older and my passion for the game increased, I spent less time chasing fly-balls and more time watching the future greats of this nation such as Alex Rodriguez and many others.
Today I am proud to say the USA Baseball Stadium is still hosting games and year- round events, thanks to the newly formed Millington Sports Authority. The Sports Authority has kept to Babe Howard’s original vision of not only keeping baseball alive in Millington, but to also make the complex as a whole a family-friendly atmosphere, hosting events like Goat Days and the most recent American Legion Fair.
Every time I hear the following Terrance Mann speech from Field of Dreams, I am reminded of Millington, Babe Howard’s vision, and the impact Millington baseball made on my life.
Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come….
-Steve Childress
Millington was fortunate enough to be the training site for the USA Olympic baseball team from 1985-1996. This gave us baseball fanatics the opportunity to watch world renown amateur teams such as Cuba and Japan, as well as multiple countries from across the globe, settle in on our little town for short time. This was a treat that few can say they have seen. It was an ultimate dream for foreign players to play on American turf as well, not only because of our history with the game, but also the freedoms we cherish as Americans. I remember in 1991 one of Cuba’s players actually tried to defect because his dream of playing in the US was becoming a reality.
As a kid, attending these games was more than just a sporting event; it was a major gathering place for all other kids my age. Our little ears would be fixed on the sound of the crack of a bat and our personal gloves stretched high to catch fly balls. As I got older and my passion for the game increased, I spent less time chasing fly-balls and more time watching the future greats of this nation such as Alex Rodriguez and many others.
Today I am proud to say the USA Baseball Stadium is still hosting games and year- round events, thanks to the newly formed Millington Sports Authority. The Sports Authority has kept to Babe Howard’s original vision of not only keeping baseball alive in Millington, but to also make the complex as a whole a family-friendly atmosphere, hosting events like Goat Days and the most recent American Legion Fair.
Every time I hear the following Terrance Mann speech from Field of Dreams, I am reminded of Millington, Babe Howard’s vision, and the impact Millington baseball made on my life.
Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come….
-Steve Childress
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Lesson Learned
One school year I did not earn the grades I should've earned in school. Needless to say, my dad was not pleased and thought it would be a good idea to teach me a lesson about the value of a good education. You see, aside from being a City of Memphis firefighter, my dad owned his own plumbing business. Working for him during the summers was a cakewalk because, for the most part, I drove around with him and fetched tools whenever he needed them. Dad thought I needed a little more of a wake- up call than riding around in the air-conditioned truck all day, so he put me to work with one of his contractors.
I started on my first day of summer vacation with a local irrigation company. Although this company had a great relationship with my dad, he gave them specific orders to treat me like every other employee and show no favoritism. The owners did just that. Irrigation companies have trenchers that create the ditches to lay the pipe, but they only create the hole. It takes man power to get the dirt out and prepare for the pipe lines. I was placed on said lines digging and digging from 7:30 in the morning straight into the afternoon. I did not have much conversation with the crew I was put on because, well, we didn't speak the same language. By the end of the day, I was beat, burned, and smelled something fierce. Then knowing I had to get up the very next day and do it all over again was not a reassuring feeling.
The worst part about this job, as if it wasn't already horrible enough in the first place, was when my dad stopped by a job site. I'd come over and talk to him and ask how his day was. In my mind I was pleading that he take me with him, but he and I both knew that would defeat the purpose. After he was done, he'd hop in his truck (the same one I used to hop in with him) and drive off into the sunset leaving me in a ditch with my shovel.
I learned a great lesson that summer. It wasn't "Do well in school or dig ditches the rest of your life" because you can make a fine living in the irrigation business if you really wanted. It wasn't a wake-up call to pursue a white collar job. There are many days that I wish I could be outside enjoying nature rather than reviewing reports in an office. It was that simple rule that I had heard all my life in any and every circumstance--"As long as you are under my roof, you will abide by my rules."
Lesson learned.
-Steve Childress
I started on my first day of summer vacation with a local irrigation company. Although this company had a great relationship with my dad, he gave them specific orders to treat me like every other employee and show no favoritism. The owners did just that. Irrigation companies have trenchers that create the ditches to lay the pipe, but they only create the hole. It takes man power to get the dirt out and prepare for the pipe lines. I was placed on said lines digging and digging from 7:30 in the morning straight into the afternoon. I did not have much conversation with the crew I was put on because, well, we didn't speak the same language. By the end of the day, I was beat, burned, and smelled something fierce. Then knowing I had to get up the very next day and do it all over again was not a reassuring feeling.
The worst part about this job, as if it wasn't already horrible enough in the first place, was when my dad stopped by a job site. I'd come over and talk to him and ask how his day was. In my mind I was pleading that he take me with him, but he and I both knew that would defeat the purpose. After he was done, he'd hop in his truck (the same one I used to hop in with him) and drive off into the sunset leaving me in a ditch with my shovel.
I learned a great lesson that summer. It wasn't "Do well in school or dig ditches the rest of your life" because you can make a fine living in the irrigation business if you really wanted. It wasn't a wake-up call to pursue a white collar job. There are many days that I wish I could be outside enjoying nature rather than reviewing reports in an office. It was that simple rule that I had heard all my life in any and every circumstance--"As long as you are under my roof, you will abide by my rules."
Lesson learned.
-Steve Childress
Monday, July 5, 2010
Celebrating July 4th With a Bang
I purposely saved this article for after the Fourth of July holiday due to its nature in potential exciting ways to use a firecracker. Hopefully you have already shot off your firecrackers for this year and no longer have the opportunity to try what the boys of Lucy tried. We did have fun with the many explosive devices, and the short drive to firework stands on 51 made it so easily accessible to expand on our talent.
We would always spend our July 4th holidays with friends. We boys would divide up into sides and have bottle rocket wars in the cove of Oakhurst. This was not guerrilla warfare; this was more English-style Revolutionary War warfare. Each team would face each other in battle about thirty yards apart, fire off our arsenal of bottle rockets, reload, and repeat the process. It always helped if your dad was a plumber like mine. My team had access to all the PVC pipe we could cut, which gave us incredible accuracy when firing bottle rockets. Although it was singed clothing that was typically the main casualty in these fights, it was still great fun.
Later in life, my friend Joe Henderson introduced me to the bottlerocket bomb. We definitely took advantage of the "buy one, get four free bottle rockets" special. We would wrap about 100 plus bottle rockets in duct tape, combine the fuses, light them, and then run like crazy. The explosion from this contained bomb set off car alarms all around us. Lots of laughter and high fives immediately followed--typical guy humor.
Another favorite firecracker of ours was the infamous M-80. It has been said that an M-80 can destroy a mailbox. We found that was not the case when we tested it out on Stevie's parents' box. Devastated, we turned our attention on a less structural victim. We took model plastic airplanes and shoved the explosives in its center, lit the fuse, and threw the planes in the air. When the planes hit the ground, they exploded on impact, which always put smiles on our faces. Once I even built a Lego car, mounted an M-80 in its center, lit the fuse, and rolled it down the driveway. The many pieces of that car were never seen again.
Probably my favorite July 4th memory was after Shannon and I were married and we celebrated our first Fourth of July at our new church property. My dad, brother, Stevie, and his dad were responsible for shooting the fireworks for the church's firework extravaganza. During the event, somebody (everyone denies who did it) accidentally kicked over one of the big rockets, which then zipped into the church's agriculture building. Everyone hit the deck, knowing about the propane tank and chemicals inside the building. Although none of us saw the commotion from across the field, the look on their faces later told the story. We still laugh about it to this day.
The Fourth of July is the celebration of our country's independence and the birth of the greatest nation in the world. Although we acknowledged this, we saw it as a chance to improve our firecracker warfare. Looking back, most of these holiday activities, in today's standards, would probably land the boys of Lucy on some FBI watch list or something. I'm just glad we were able to experience this fun while we could.
-Steve Childress
We would always spend our July 4th holidays with friends. We boys would divide up into sides and have bottle rocket wars in the cove of Oakhurst. This was not guerrilla warfare; this was more English-style Revolutionary War warfare. Each team would face each other in battle about thirty yards apart, fire off our arsenal of bottle rockets, reload, and repeat the process. It always helped if your dad was a plumber like mine. My team had access to all the PVC pipe we could cut, which gave us incredible accuracy when firing bottle rockets. Although it was singed clothing that was typically the main casualty in these fights, it was still great fun.
Later in life, my friend Joe Henderson introduced me to the bottlerocket bomb. We definitely took advantage of the "buy one, get four free bottle rockets" special. We would wrap about 100 plus bottle rockets in duct tape, combine the fuses, light them, and then run like crazy. The explosion from this contained bomb set off car alarms all around us. Lots of laughter and high fives immediately followed--typical guy humor.
Another favorite firecracker of ours was the infamous M-80. It has been said that an M-80 can destroy a mailbox. We found that was not the case when we tested it out on Stevie's parents' box. Devastated, we turned our attention on a less structural victim. We took model plastic airplanes and shoved the explosives in its center, lit the fuse, and threw the planes in the air. When the planes hit the ground, they exploded on impact, which always put smiles on our faces. Once I even built a Lego car, mounted an M-80 in its center, lit the fuse, and rolled it down the driveway. The many pieces of that car were never seen again.
Probably my favorite July 4th memory was after Shannon and I were married and we celebrated our first Fourth of July at our new church property. My dad, brother, Stevie, and his dad were responsible for shooting the fireworks for the church's firework extravaganza. During the event, somebody (everyone denies who did it) accidentally kicked over one of the big rockets, which then zipped into the church's agriculture building. Everyone hit the deck, knowing about the propane tank and chemicals inside the building. Although none of us saw the commotion from across the field, the look on their faces later told the story. We still laugh about it to this day.
The Fourth of July is the celebration of our country's independence and the birth of the greatest nation in the world. Although we acknowledged this, we saw it as a chance to improve our firecracker warfare. Looking back, most of these holiday activities, in today's standards, would probably land the boys of Lucy on some FBI watch list or something. I'm just glad we were able to experience this fun while we could.
-Steve Childress
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