I am retired and enjoying life. I moved back to the Franklin Indiana area six years ago. I am surprised to find that most of the people in the class of "65" have moved away from Franklin. Or at least if they live here they don't shop where I shop in Franklin. The area across US 31 from our high school sure has changed. Even Scott Hall seems a lot smaller than I remembered. I use to go to a lot of dances there or before that at the City building on South Main Street. Do you remember when Bouncing Bill Baker from WIBC along with other Indianapolis DJ's came down to play 60's music for us. It was too bad I didn't have the nerve to ask more young ladies to dance or go out on dates! That is what happens when you are an only child, without brothers or sisters. Franklin surly had their fair share of attractive women. I served in the US Navy for six years as a ETN and before that, I went to ITT Technical Institute to study electronics and communications equipment repair. Franklin and Johnson County sure have changed. I can remember setting on my front porch and hearing the Courthouse clock strike on the hour along with the chimes at Franklin College, while a genital breeze blew in from the southwest to Banta Street. Now neither set of chimes seem to work. Do you remember the swimming pool dances that were held on Saturday nights during the summer? The Steer plus Dog and Suds drive-in restaurants are long gone, now days for a good place to eat check out Ant Judies next to the railroad on Jefferson Street, the Dog and Suds has been turned into a used car lot. The Greenwood Drive-in along with the Meridian and US31 Drive-in movies are all gone. Oh well life is still good in Johnson County and the pace of life sure beats the big cities, like Chicago IL and Houston TX.
East 80 South was a good makeout spot. It's too bad that Happy Days had to go away and Richey had to grow up. Norman Blankenship from our class was mayor of Franklin for awhile and was my friend. A classmate of ours is a doctor in town, and others have gone on to important jobs. I certainly enjoyed my job with the Medical School at the University of Texas on Galveston Island Texas on the Gulf. I had a large 42 foot sloop sailboat and enjoyed sailing on the Gulf to many ports of call. The Artcraft movie theater is still showing old time movies and has been restored and it is fun to see a movie there. It brings back memories. The city block across from the Artcraft is now just a parking lot. Do you remember the Franklin Star Newspaper, the A&P grocery store or the Barber Shop and Dry Cleaners owned by the Hendersons in that block? I do, they were all on my Franklin Star paper route when I was younger. I moved into Franklin during the winter of 1958 from the country down on the Mauxferry Road and lived near downtown on Banta Street. I wonder where all those class of 65 people have gone? Anyway it was fun while it lasted, living in Franklin was a hoot and the 60's without a doubt were the best years of the 20th Century. I wouldn't have wanted to live my youth anywhere else. I think of all the people in our class that I knew and hope that they have had a happy life, where things turned out well for them, like it has for me! Just finished watching the Beatles 50th year reunion!!! Can it really be that long since 1964? Just went to see the 4th of July fireworks at the Masonic Home 2014. They were really great. Can't believe how cool it was this year.
I have a grandson that will be an Eagle Scout soon, I always enjoyed being in the Boy Scouts and later DeMolay. DeMolay derives its name from the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. I always enjoyed taking young ladies to the Scottish Temple dances at Indianapolis. Where have you gone, the lady of my dreams? You know who you are, that last kiss was wonderful even if you didn't want to write to me while I was in the Navy. Hope all is well with you now.
So take care, live well and be happy. I surly am having a good time and living well in my new home out in the country where the shade is free and the Cardinals sing their beautiful songs while the breeze blows genitally from the South and I sip on a glass of sweet ice tea!!!! Eric