FIRST DAYS BACK IN 1952

I SLEPT WELL THAT FIRST NIGHT, PROBABLY BECAUSE I WAS BACK "HOME"  WHERE EVERY THING WAS SANE AND SLOW.  I WALKED UP TO MONTROSE WHICH WAS NOT ONLY A LITTLE TOWN IN THE MIDST OF A VAST METRO AREA, BUT  THREE BLOCKS OF SMALL BUSINESSES INCLUDING THE SHOPPING BAG FOOD STORE WHICH STILL HAD AN OPEN FRONT BACK THEN, AND WOODEN FLOORS.  THE PRODUCE DEPT STILL HAD THE LITTLE SPRINKLER HEADS SPRAYING A FINE MIST OVER THE PRODUCE.  THE MEAT DEPT HAD AN OLD FASHIONED SCALE THAT ROLLED OUT THE WEIGHT BEHIND A GLASS AND.  NO LEDS JUST NUMBERS BLACK ON A WHITE BACK GROUND.   THE CHECKERS USED OLD CASH REGISTERS....NO SCANNERS!  EVERY THING SEEMED TO MOVE IN SLOW MOTION...WELL DRESSED PEOPLE,  WELL BEHAVED CHILDREN WHO DID NOT WHINE AND PESTER FOR SOME PLASTIC TOY.  IT WAS THE SAME ON THE STREET....WELL DRESSED AND MANNERLY FOLKS JUST AMBLING ALONG...STOPPING TO LOOK IN WINDOWS.  I STROLLED INTO J.C. PENNEY AND WHAT A REMINDER.....I HAD FORGOTTEN  MY MOTHER WORKED THERE!  BACK THEN, THE CLERKS  PRICED THE PURCHASES, COLLECTED THE MONEY, AND PUT IT IN A CAN WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO A TWO ROPE RELAY THAT WENT UPSTAIRS OVER THE FRONT OF STORE. IT WAS ALL OPEN AND THERE SHE WAS..MY OWN MOTHER.  I JUST STARED AT THIS PETITE LITTLE LADY WITH A TINKLE FOR A LAUGH.  LIKE A WIND CHIME.  SHE LOOKED SO YOUNG...I THEN REMEMBERED LOOKING AT HER IN HER CASKET...SO PEACEFUL AND WORN FROM THE WINDS OF TIME.  SHE IS WITH GOD....WAIT,  I AM HERE AND SHE IS HERE,  OH MY GOD, I WAS BEGINNING TO LOSE IT. I LEFT IN A HURRY AND FOUND A PLACE WHERE NO ONE COULD SEE ME, AND COLLAPSED IN WEEPING FOR SORROW AND WEEPING FOR JOY. IT IS A CHALLENGE BEYOND BELIEF TO TIME TRAVEL.  YOU ARE WITNESSING THINGS AS THEY HAPPENED, WHEN THEY HAPPEND, AND YET HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF KNOWING ALL THAT WOULD HAPPEN...AND..NOT INTERFERE.  WALKING IS CONDUCIVE TO THOUGHT AND IS GOOD EXERCISE.  I REALIZED ONE THING; WITH THE RAPID CHANGE OF EVENTS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, I NEEDED TO STABILIZE BEFORE I DID ANY THING ELSE.I WALKED ALL DAY.  I RAN INTO A VERY STRANGE FELLOW THE KIDS CALLED LOCKWASHER.  HE WAS OF SLIGHT BUILD, ABOUT 50 YRS OLD, HAD GLASSES WITH LENSES THE SIZE OF COKE BOTTLE GLASS.  HE WALKED EVERY WHERE AND SAID TO HIM SELF, OVER AND OVER,,"YES, THAT'S RIGHT"  I WALKED THE LONG UPHILL WALK TO CLARK JR HIGH.  ABOUT THREE MILES.  THE ROAD WHERE BOBBY STILL WALKED, DID WALK SIXTY YEARS AGO,  AND WHERE I NOW WALK AT 80 YEARS OF AGE.  IT DOES GET CONFUSING, BUT ONLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.  (TO BE CONTINUED)