When I was a boy the towns in the Northern Neck were like most small southern towns. Local people owned small stores and all those stores were on Main St. Everybody knew everybody and the people that were driving didn't use turn signals because everyone knew where they were going. Things have really changed except the locals still don’t use turn signals and always wave to the passing car. I really have grown up in 2 different eras. I think most people my age have. All of our phone calls were operated assisted. No matter where I was I could pick up the phone and Ruth Brown would say, “Operator”. I’d say that I wanted to talk to Mama or Daddy and she would Say “Hi Ken” and connect me. Today I have to read a book before I can use my cell phone. I can remember being 8 years old and telling mama good-bye in the morning, getting on my bicycle, and not being home until suppertime. Can you imagine that happening today? A bunch of us boys would get together and play ball or go fishing. If I did anything wrong someone scolded me and when I got home Mama let me know about it. If I really did something wrong Daddy broke out the belt. There were no theaters but there was the Movie Hall or the Picture Show and on Friday and Saturday nights people stood outside and talked while waiting for the doors to open. I don’t think I ever saw a movie that the projectionist didn’t have to realign the film because you were seeing about 10 frames at a time. Either that or the film broke and he had to repair it. We did have a television but it only got 3 snowy channels. We really didn’t need that because the entertainment was sitting around one of the old country stores in the evening. The men all told stories, the truth got stretched, and even when you were the one getting ribbed you never got mad. And if you did you got over it.