G.A.S.P.

The next day (3-23) we rode from Manchester to the home of Rusty, Sheryl and Bryan Wood in suburban Nashville. (Photo 115)  Rusty is one of my oldest friends.  I don’t mean to imply that he is old (he’s a few weeks younger than I am); rather he’s one of my longest term friends – probably my first friend from outside my own neighborhood.   We started first grade (Lockwood Grade School) together in 1953 and finished college together (Miami University) in 1969.  He and Sheryl both work for Bridgestone/Firestone in Nashville, and transferred here from Akron about 8 years ago.

Rusty and I spent a lot of nights at each other’s house during grade school and junior high.  I reminded him that I had ridden my bicycle to his house a few times before, but it had never taken as long as this.  I really liked going over to his house when I was a kid – he had bunk beds and Mad Magazine, and his Mother let us wrestle in the front room.  Back then, I felt that if I couldn’t have my own parents, I would have wanted to have his.  Woody and Betty – really terrific people. 

Rusty took us on a tour of a couple of the local attractions.  First, we went to the Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson.  It was already late afternoon, so we didn’t tour the home, but rather drove around the grounds.