tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post3835702027621237118..comments2024-03-26T17:55:50.539-04:00Comments on Cranky old man: “THOSE KIDS DON’T HAVE ANYTHING!” - a cranky re-runjoehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08520161706680568508noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-83490714634313549912015-02-17T21:27:14.211-05:002015-02-17T21:27:14.211-05:00Ah, my first bicycle was a red Huffy. Like you, I ...Ah, my first bicycle was a red Huffy. Like you, I must have put a million miles on that bike. I actually don't recall what happened to the bike but it wasn't stolen.<br /><br />My folks were unlike yours. We were dirt poor. We didn't have indoor plumbing until the year I graduated from high school (1968). <br />But in the rural south, almost everyone was in the same boat.<br />Rick Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01005727239466916086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-57897786631630099842015-02-17T13:54:20.447-05:002015-02-17T13:54:20.447-05:00Your simple essay is a powerful statement on injus...Your simple essay is a powerful statement on injustice; injustice served to a vulnerable segment of society and injustice served to an innocent 9 year old boy. I've had this post on my mind since I read it for the first time yesterday. Again, powerful.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07359404486512786477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-86586065717574518412015-02-17T06:49:58.405-05:002015-02-17T06:49:58.405-05:00Great post. Like River, I loved and still miss the...Great post. Like River, I loved and still miss the old back pedal brakes, they were great. And like you I loved riding around on my bike. I like your comment at the end of this. Of COURSE theft is wrong, but yes, you can understand it happening in these circumstances. And it kind of sounds like the cops were somewhat sympathetic to those kids too. Or lazy :)<br />Valuable lessons learned alright.Jackie Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06322613989851869319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-4533394011945409352015-02-17T03:00:12.186-05:002015-02-17T03:00:12.186-05:00I remember back-pedal brakes and wish they were s...I remember back-pedal brakes and wish they were still an option. These days everything has gears and hand brakes, very hard to get used to, which is one reason I don't ride my bike as much as I'd like. The other reason being the sheer volume and speed of traffic these days. Like you, I went everywhere on my bike as a kid, I remember Saturday afternoons and Sundays the roads were almost completely empty of traffic.<br />I wonder if your bike was just 'borrowed' and went the rounds of the entire neighbourhood so every kid could have a turn, then after a while it just sort of 'belonged' to that neighbourhood.Riverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794655013673748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-35244573678954260052015-02-16T20:52:50.977-05:002015-02-16T20:52:50.977-05:00I miss those old-fashioned bikes with no gears and...I miss those old-fashioned bikes with no gears and hand brakes (I never trusted hand brakes...). Except mine had fat tires and a fat, cushy seat. Sorry yours got stolen.Pixel Peeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17553862902461169270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-14198204280667689252015-02-16T20:10:41.041-05:002015-02-16T20:10:41.041-05:00You learned a sobering lesson that day when your b...You learned a sobering lesson that day when your bike was stolen, definitely a loss of innocence on your part. When i was growing up we only had a few black kids in our school and the were all extremely popular, the school celebrities. stephen Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659054447637207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-48588400440485812472015-02-16T17:27:38.123-05:002015-02-16T17:27:38.123-05:00I also rode my bike everywhere. When I went back ...I also rode my bike everywhere. When I went back for a visit as an adult, I was shocked at the places I went. Miles and miles. I still ride my bike everywhere, if it weren't...15 degrees.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-39964319928698716122015-02-16T17:15:01.452-05:002015-02-16T17:15:01.452-05:00Sometimes a little education can be painful at an ...Sometimes a little education can be painful at an early age.Catalysthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-2060792057487834432015-02-16T16:41:58.490-05:002015-02-16T16:41:58.490-05:00Joe--There is a picture book that chronicles a tru...Joe--There is a picture book that chronicles a true story. A public pool was forced to become integrated. (There was no "colored pool.") Instead of integrating it, the powers-that-be bulldozed up the pool/filled it with cement.<br /><br />I'm sure your bike was enjoyed...even though stealing IS always wrong. <br /><br />You brought back wonderful memories about braking by pedaling backwards. Such power we had in our legs in those day---standing up or just pushing back with our feet, and we could come screeching to a halt.<br /><br />I think you'll really like "Freeman" by Leonard Pitts Jr. Get it from the library...but then you will want your own copy (I almost guarantee you).Sioux Roslawskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17924021828536277618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-53077048993568785982015-02-16T16:17:24.869-05:002015-02-16T16:17:24.869-05:00A consciences trumps all. A consciences trumps all. Lowandslowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08608734222483888884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-10900159691731110212015-02-16T15:58:45.138-05:002015-02-16T15:58:45.138-05:00Wasn't really stealing; just re-allocating to ...Wasn't really stealing; just re-allocating to someone who might have needed it more at that point in their life.<br /><br />bettybettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06323135450742337670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-51850904491871407772015-02-16T15:19:03.422-05:002015-02-16T15:19:03.422-05:00I really like this post Joeh and am impressed by t...I really like this post Joeh and am impressed by the understanding you had as a youngun. It is too easy to judge actions when we haven't felt the pain.Arkansas Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14156004753267665579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-3794689049481483482015-02-16T13:02:16.833-05:002015-02-16T13:02:16.833-05:00Sounds like you have read Victor Hugo's Les Mi...Sounds like you have read Victor Hugo's Les Miserables since that time. Substitute a bike for the loaf of bread, and there it is. Should Fish Morehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18400586203204886095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-13210567137665781132015-02-16T11:39:25.915-05:002015-02-16T11:39:25.915-05:00The first four paragraphs could easily describe my...The first four paragraphs could easily describe my life... except for moving east and the Schwinn.<br />I had a Schwinn knock-off the on which Old Man got a deal.<br />I couldn't find anyone to steal it. (not necessarily your) Uncle Skiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705753220273516841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-8911475328147621192015-02-16T11:11:17.644-05:002015-02-16T11:11:17.644-05:00all sorts of things to *sigh* about in this look b...all sorts of things to *sigh* about in this look back...TexWisGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641962051044162710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968059214758329257.post-62716355312668025972015-02-16T10:14:26.290-05:002015-02-16T10:14:26.290-05:00Sorry your bike got stolen. I think I'll end t...Sorry your bike got stolen. I think I'll end this comment right here.<br /><br />Have a fabulous day Cranky. ☺Sandeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06785788498697004273noreply@blogger.com