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A classmate from dear old Tally High, Claire Allen sent me an email that really made me think of a happy time in my life. I would have to say that growing up and riding my Western Auto Western Flyer bicycle on the streets of our town are among my favorite memories. Learning to skateboard on Ray Hitchcock's driveway and going to Punk Ward's skating rink on a Friday night are things I'll long remember. The jukebox at Junior and Frances Williams Smokehouse Restaurant in the 60s would play Loretta Lynn's "You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man" followed by "Hey Jude" by the Beatles followed by "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash and after that Mason Williams instrumental "Classical Gas". That jukebox had an eclectic mix that I can still visualize the lights and sounds of that machine that made your barbecue pork sandwich just a little more enjoyable. Claire's email brought up things that some of us will remember well. "A Little Dab Will Do You" was the slogan for Brylcreem. Vitalis was what Bud Dingler and Bill Coggins would slap on my head as a lad after a haircut. How many of you never had a pizza from anything but a box by Chef Boy ar dee until you were out of high school? Go to CVS sometimes and see how many varieties of Alka Seltzer there are. Many of us can remember Speedy's "Plop Plop Fizz Fizz Oh What A Relief It Is" jingle and only one kind of Alka Seltzer. Can you remember a Christmas gift that changed your life? Mine was in 1963 when my mother bought me a reel to reel tape recorder. I used to pretend I was a disc jockey with that recorder. When is the last time you saw a reel to reel tape recorder? Good chance I owe my 36 years career to that Western Auto tape recorder.  I can remember nickel Coca-Colas and Hershey Bars. How many of you wish television had more shows like "Sky King", "The Red Skelton Show" and "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color"? The first color television I ever saw was at Willie Cook's house and that show was on. Walt Disney is perhaps one of the greatest American entrepreneurs of all time. He was a man of vision who took his concept of Disneyland in Southern California and brought it about 450 miles southeast of our town in 1971 with the opening of Disney World, the happiest place on earth. The nostalgia I have for Disney World goes back when I first went there as a college student in 1973 and I went with my Aunt Leslie and Uncle Fletcher. It is impossible to go to any of the theme parks and not smile. The only tears  you might see is of hot and tired children sick of being pushed in a rented stroller. It really is place that I have enjoyed for going on four decades. Taking Presley and Callie to Disney World last week was a fun time. They love the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom parks the best. Getting up early with the kids to watch them feed the rhinos, giraffes, and hippos at the Animal Kingdom is something I have to do at least one morning while in Orlando. My favorite of the theme parks at Disney World has always been Epcot. You can visit Morocco, France, Italy, Japan, China, Germany, Norway, Mexico, and Canada and not have to board a plane. Epcot also has "Test Track" which is the favorite ride of the Jones girls and their dad. I always have to go into "Spaceship Earth" which is the most familiar sight at Epcot. The Magic Kingdom is where we spend a lot of time because it is filled with a princess every ten feet and Mickey Mouse, Tiger, and Goofy are walking around shaking hands and posing for pictures. A guy hollered out "Hey Goofy" and I looked around and the Disney character wasn't there. The fellow obviously was talking to me. I love the MGM-Disney Studios theme park with the tributes to movies and television shows we love. They also have the Aerosmith roller coaster where Steven Tyler scares the heck out of you and if that isn't enough, there is a thrill ride dedicated to the memory of the television show the "Twilight Zone". I have seen people leaving that ride wishing they had brought a change of trousers. The Disney World theme parks has something for everyone. I was lucky enough to have worked for a radio station that was owned by the Walt Disney Company for about 14 years. I loved working for that company because they had Mr. Disney's vision to remember that it was all about people. I keep hearing Jiminy Cricket singing "When You Wish Upon A Star" singing in my head when I see the smiles on my children's faces when they come to Disney World.  I also hear in my head Ray Charles singing "Busted" when I get the bill from American Express for the trip to Orlando.
 
Rhubarb Jones is a Tallapoosa native and a member of the administrative faculty at Kennesaw State University. Comments are welcome at P.O. Box 1001, Tallapoosa, GA 30176 or via email at Rhubarbjones@aol.com

 

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