Thank you Glenn for the great story and for reminding us of the more simple times in which many of us grew up. I am SO glad that I was born in 1945 and got to be a part of the 50's and the years that followed.

We weren't perfect, there were a lot of things that were unfair, such as the treatment of some races and females, but for the most part we were a kinder, gentler America. We knew our neighbors and we trusted them. Kids were able to play anywhere without the warnings to "not trust strangers" that we now have to tell them. It was a very rare thing to hear of a murder or shooting, and the worst that people did to each other was the occasional fist fight.

My Grandparents lived with us, my Grandpap from my Dad's side and my Grandmom from my Moms family. I often wish now I had been a smart enough kid to sit down with both of them and ask them a million questions about their lives. He came from "the old country" and spoke broken English, but had a heart of gold. My Grandmother was just the nicest woman in the world, next to my Mom, and always had a soft spot in her heart for me, even though I tried her patience on a daily basis.

As for the car thing, we all remember what a big event it was every year when the new models came out. If a Neighbor bought a new car everyone came to visit and see the new "member of the family." Sunday drives were a ritual, never really going anywhere in particular, but just getting in the car and driving around.

Drive in movies were also a big part of most of our lives. I was 20 before I realized THEY ACTUALLY SHOWED MOVIES THERE! (well, it was hard to see the screen from the backseat ) And who among us hasn't hidden a couple of friends in the trunk to save a dollar or two? We also hung out at the local burger joint, driving endlessly around in circles all night, just seeing and being seen. Sometimes we actually stopped and ordered a burger and fries. I think these things are the reason American Graffiti hit such a cord with most of us...........we felt it was something we had all lived and done ourselves, in our own little town.

Enjoy the 4th of July everyone. In spite of some of our current problems none of us could probably think of another place we would want to live.

Don