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HWL's avatar

I was huddled around the living room in a villa in Guadalajara, Mexico (served as a boarding house for students) watching the landing on television. It was the summer after my junior year in college. I was attending a five week course in Spanish (my minor). I was proud of NASA too.

I traveled home via the Ferrocarrill del Pacífico (no AC!) to Nogales where my dad and brother met me. It was hotter than Hades. They wanted to walk back to the border (train station south side) because they had paid a hefty sum for a cab. No! Using my vastly improved accent I spoke to a line of taxi drivers and we rode back for $1.75. It was an interesting summer.

I was proud of NASA too. Back in the day my bike, a resurrected standard with 20" balloon tires and only a basket on the front, and just spindles remaining from cheap pedals. Things were simpler then. It took me everywhere except when the goat heads weren't flattening my tires. @#$% goat heads!

And like you Fitz back in the day I too was young and bullett proof. I could take the heat, but not anymore. I ride the Loop on my Catrike recumbent dressed in all white riding kit. I don't want my dermatologist to retire young. Now it's getting out there early, early to be home by 1030. My hydration pack has ice and I have a Plan B: a section of cooling towel, saturated with water and put up under the front of my jersey. I'm not afraid to use it!

Thanks for your always erudite and witty descriptions... Ah, those memories. 8-)

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Carol's avatar

It’s nice to be reminded of how good it was in the sixties—bikes and ice cream trucks, roller skates and astronauts. Thank you for some welcome time travel.

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