In the late 90's and up until Kyle got married and Neil went off to college, there was something happening at my house all the time. Neil's best friend, Dustin Crawford, lived across the road from us so he was always with my boys. My nephews, Kevin and Adam Childress plus friends, John Renner, Michael King, David Coffey, Eric Benge, Dustin's little brother, Robert, just to name a few, could come up with the craziest things to pass their time. Looking back, I think they watched too much TV, no way they could have come up with this stuff on their own. I'm sure I only know a little bit about what went on. I wasn't born yesterday and am sure if I knew everything they did I would be horrified. Here's some things I did know.
An old mattress showed up from somewhere (I never asked) and the boys decided it would make a good thing to ride on behind one of their trucks. Somebody found a rope and some bungee cords and a new game was invented. Dustin's ole red truck must have had more power then the others because that's the one that did the pulling. It was fun to all pile on the mattress, but you could go faster if you rode solo. There was a pasture field next door that became the mattress playground. It was complete with ditches, rocks, ups and downs plus trees and weeds that were the makeup of the obstacle course. Kyle had a beautiful Husky dog named Jake. He went everywhere with the boys but drew the line on the mattress riding. He just ran along side, nipping at the mattress and boys upon it. I guess since we knew where the boys were that we must have thought this was a good thing because I can't remember none of us saying, " No, you can't ride a dirty mattress being pulled behind a moving vehicle." I'm glad to report no one was injured, that I knew of.
The same boys loved going to the Brodhead Fair. When I remind them of this, they give me a look like they think I'm lying, but, it was true. There's not a whole lot going on around here during the dog days of summer but the Little World's Fair. Plus, the guys were too young to travel very far so just driving 3 miles down the road to see friends, ride rinky dink rides, hoping your friends would puke was accepted as a decent way to have a good time. Just so happened that my husband, Mike, always loved going to the fair. We were married for 39 years before he passed away and during that time, he only missed the fair once and that was the fair that was held a month before he died. He would always volunteer to keep an eye on the boys, but I'm sure they kept an eye on him instead. One fair story was big talk about a verbal argument between two boys involving a female, which happens every year at the fair as we well know, but this year the boys were really interested because it was hilarious for some reason. Mike and I were listening to them re-tell the story by saying, "He was so made because so and so kissed his girlfriend on the zipper." Mike's reply, "Well, I'd be made too if someone kissed my girlfriend on the zipper." We all thought he was pretty upset and we finally told him the "zipper" in this story wasn't the zipper on her pants, but that "The Zipper" was the name of one of the amusement rides on the Fair's Midway. (Insert smiley face.)
One morning, we were all up preparing to go to work and school. When we went outside to get in our vehicles, one was missing. It seems someone had come in the night and stole Neil's truck. It wasn't a new truck or anything, just a descent one that got Neil to school and ball practice. Like all boys, he had a stereo in the truck and several CD's. Everything was gone, including his tent which he had in the truck bed. Later that day, we noticed the dog was carrying something in her mouth. I went to check it out and she dropped Neil's cap. Later she had a CD case. Upon investigation of the tobacco patch next door, Neil found most of his stuff. The next day the sheriff office called us, seems they had found his burned out truck on top of Copper Creek Hill. I felt sorry for Neil. He got another truck, but we all remember his first one. Kyle always says that Neil left his truck setting too close to the road on garbage pick up day and the squasher got it. Neil was not amused.
A tradition that lasted for years, was a flag football game held every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Dustin's family owned a airstrip which provided the best place for a football field. They worked hard to paint the field and everything. This tradition just stopped a few years ago when the players started to worry that they would break something and wouldn't be able to work. Also, the wives were around now and wives have a way of needing their hubbies.
One afternoon, all the gang was playing basketball when David Coffey came down and his finger scrapped Neil in the eye. Neil tried to play on, but was having a hard time recovering from the finger-in-the-eye thing. A day later, Neil's eye looked awful and he was seeing a "floater." I took him to Dr. Cain in Mt. Vernon who sent him to an eye surgeon in Lexington that same day. The surgeon determined he had a detached retina which would require surgery. The surgery took place that evening. It was a success, but the anesthesia made him terribly nauseous. Since this happened on a Friday night camp out night, all the guys came or called to check on Neil. To this day, David apologizes to Neil every time he sees him.
All in all, these boys were good boys that grew up to be great men. They went away to college and the adventures really began. Neil, Dustin, and Dackery Larkey rented an apartment in Richmond where they were all enrolled at EKU. Us parents checked on them every now and then, but we mostly let them assume this rite of passage on their own. They did need a lawyer once, but that's a different story.
Everything worked out in the end as all graduated from college on time. Kyle is an Industrial Engineer, Neil a Personal Trainer, Dustin a Crime Scene Investigator, Kevin a train Engineer for CSX, and Dackery, Michael and Adam are Ky. State Troopers. New friends were added and some old friends were remembered. I remember Dustin's bachelor party wasn't a party at all, but rather a hike and camping trip in the Red River Gorge. The guys became interested in rappelling, kayaking, fishing, camping, frog gigging, concert going where Kyle was the designated driver, and all the usual things, but the ladies won out in the end. Kyle married Melanie, Neil married Ashley, Kevin married Jess, Adam married Tracy, Dustin married Jenna, Robert married Allyson, John married April, Michael married Tracey, Dackery married Chelsen, David married Marcia, Eric married Starla, and Tanner married Sarah. Seemed like Kyle and Neil were in a wedding every so often. The other night at Kyle's annual Super Bowl gathering, I noticed David Coffey talking into his wristwatch like Dick Tracy. I thought back on the days and nights he spent at my house while back in high school. I sure didn't think I would ever live to see him or anyone for that matter talk into their watch. The times, they are a changing. I can't list all the good friends Kyle and Neil have. Some they made in kindergarten, some in high school and some in college. It makes me so happy to have known them all.
