I grew up in "the west end" of Decatur. That's what we all called it. And still do. "The west end" had a reputation of being where the rich people lived. Which really cracks me up, since I was ANYTHING but. However, there are lots of beautiful old brick houses and as a child I made up all sorts of fantasies about the people who lived in them.
"The west end" comes together on its westest end at Kiwanis Park, the gathering place of all gathering places. Come one, come all, for ball, triangle slides, bondoogle, the stand (candy), ping pong tables (I don't recall ever seeing ping pong being played there), and simply hanging out. The "woods" swallowed the teenagers, and spit them back out, stumbling and blurry-eyed.
The Wonder Years gang had nothin' on "The West End" kids, now nostalgic adults, basking in the memories of our very own wonder years. Places like Kiwanis Park, Fairview Park, the ice rink, the gravel pit, Shoes, Woodrow, The Dog House, The Front Porch, the Bikini tree, were bastions of peace from the real world and I guess I wasn't the only one who found respite there.
West End Decatur is hosting a reunion on August 7 at Kiwanis Park. Do I go? I would love to be there, to observe. But to interact? That scares me for some reason. And I don't know why.
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Hey Dana,
ReplyDeleteA West-End book should be in order as your next assignment. I'd assign it to your brother - but it would be a Strat-O-Matic Baseball and the lurid Cubbies.
Your post is great.
Hey Dana!!! I don't know if you can go home again. I would say home is ever changing. Where you or I live now is home. I choose to say Decatur is where I grew up;not my hometown,that is where I live now.
ReplyDeleteSo many childhood memories in that space!!! I treasure so much. I too remember the triangle slide. Burning my knees on the way up and my ass on the way down. Making enough bondoogle key chains for my entire extended family. Buying Red Licorice shoelaces. The skating rink,with it's outdoor fireplace. I too stumbled out of those woods...A right of passage.
We all have our memories...of the nostalgic "West End". We are lucky to have those fond memories of that place in time. Insulated. Isolated from the cold,stark stare of adulthood.
I can't be at the re-union. Too many obligations. Plus I feel as you do. If you can go,GO!!!! Interaction is the best part of being a writer!!!
You may remember me or not. My cousin's,The Drakos' lived maybe...2 doors up or down from you. Or maybe not...You may not be the Paulson I remember.
JUST GO!!!!!
Same west end I remember Dana. Beautifully described. Great place.
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