You just can't go back. - Montana Owners Club

Ozz · 09-23-2006, 03:36 AM

I lived here in Colorado when I was around 12 or so for 5 or 6 years, your childhood memories are clouded by time, and the experiences you had while young, remembering the great times, not so much the everyday life. I remember the wind in the pines, the beautiful mountains, the fresh air, this hasn't changed. Unfortunately, everything else has. There are people everywhere, homes crowded together, one facing one way, one another, junk cars between them, trash piles everywhere, no evidence of any building codes, the small mountain towns show evidence of business failures, boarded up buildings, it's just not even close to the beautiful place I remember. I wish I hadn't come back to see it the way it is.
Woodland park is a Hodge podge of businesses and slummy homes.
Cripple Creek really wasn't so bad if you can look past the many casinos, the city fathers insured the building of new structures on the main streets blended fairly well with the old. Many Casino's just moved in the machines to old existing buildings.
progress? I don't think so.

Hemlockusa · 09-23-2006, 05:04 AM

Sorry to hear the disappointment in your e mail. I know this first trip with the New Monty was important to you and Sue, sorry for the disappointment in the old home town. When you left that area you should have been more selective in who you left in charge I guess. DSon't forget to blink you lights when you see a fellow MOC going down the road old buddy. How long are you planning on spending in Colorado?
safe travels John H

txkrumm · 09-23-2006, 05:08 AM

Ozz,
It's not just Colorado. I too have experienced the same feelings when I go back home to the east. The WV of my childhood is not the same as it is today. But you still have those great memories of the "good old days".
And guess what? Good News! You have a rockin, pimped out, state of the art beautiful Montana 3400RL to tour the country and experience so many amazing things, people, and places. Enjoy!

Ozz · 09-23-2006, 05:18 AM

Hi John,
Sue and I are intent on having a good time, we enjoy each other, and Colorado is a beautiful state. Looking out of the window as I type this, I can see the snow on Pikes Peak, the beautiful trees and rugged mountains. it is clear now, and the warm Sun is starting to show itself. We are paid up until Monday, we do have an eye on Albuquerque, we may forgo the Grand Canyon for another time and warm weather...just haven't decided anything yet. Day at a time buddy.
As for the flashing lights, I wave at all 5ers, travel trailers as well, by the time I see it's a Montana, sometimes it's too late to flash the lights. Usually we are both waving like crazy when we pass, Montana to Montana.
See you in Texas!
Ozz

Ozz · 09-23-2006, 05:23 AM

Steve and Tara,
You are right, I guess it seldom is the same, anywhere you go. Good attitude about the present, and enjoying all we encounter. I guess that is the reason we embarked on this adventure to begin with! You are good people.
Take care, Ozz

Wrenchtraveller · 09-23-2006, 07:07 AM

Going back to your old home town is always an emotional roller coaster and I have felt the same way when I go back to my home town in Manitoba. Take care and keep on enjoying that beautiful Montana.

Parrothead · 09-23-2006, 11:40 AM

Ozz
Sorry you are disappointed in your childhood area. We see things differently as a child than we do as adults. Even if things had not changed much, you would have noticed different things now as an adult. The little town I was born in in Kansas is almost non-existent (there were only 87 people there to begin with) except for our farm which, thank goodness, has been well maintained. I still enjoy going back there, however. This past summer my daughter took my two grandsons there and they loved it! Hope the rest of your trip is enjoyable. If you get as far as Palm Springs, don't forget to holler so we can get together.
Happy trails...........................

gkbutler · 09-23-2006, 05:51 PM

The town I grew up in really looks tired now. The town is a county seat in east central Illinois, and has been around for a long time. There have been many changes since I left for good in 1989; the entire North side of the square is gone and is now a bank. At one time there were twelve businesses on the north side. We sported a Sears, Penny's, Montgomery Ward and Woolworths. Now all of them are gone along with most of the buildings they occupied. There were three drug stores now there is one.

I grew up walking on the old courthouse fence with my parents on many a Friday and Saturday night. The fence is still there, but seems so small now. We would always stop at the War memorial and read the names; no one I knew, I always swelled with patriotism because these men helped keep the freedoms I enjoyed. Now when I stop at the War memorial, I see my name along with two of my sons, and still feel that same swell of patriotism.

All of the old business are gone and very few new ones have replaced those that left. However, we still love to go back and visit; we have a lot of family still there. While many things have changed, I still have thousands of wonderful memories of growing up in a beautiful small town where no one locked their doors at night. We didn't need neighborhood watch we had neighbors who watched when someone was gone.

Enjoy your Montana and hopefully we will cross paths some day.

Ozz · 09-24-2006, 03:21 AM

Gary and Karen,
Great story. I'm glad you have friends and family back at the homestead, I think that helps. I have no friends or family left in Colorado. We are enjoying the mountains and have met some great people here.
Take care, Ozz

padredw · 09-24-2006, 04:54 AM

After 40 years in ministry across the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, we retired in the same little town where I grew up. Even before the town was established, all eight of my great grandparents lived within 5 miles of where we are living now. All four of my grandparents were born here as, of course, were my parents and me. We are living in a house that was built for my Williamson grandparents in 1910. I expect my experience is an extreme example of "trying to come back home again."

A good many of the friends with whom I grew up in the 40s are either still here or have come back as I have. It was a wonderful place to grow up, in a tiny community where we were part of one big family.

We are experiencing some of the pain and struggles associated with being a part of the same community and church of my childhood and where my parents and grandparents lived and worshipped with me.

Frankly, the story is ongoing and I have no profound philosophical comments to make. I am moved to write by the valuable comments that have been expressed on this thread.

And, by the way, we have many of the same feelings others have expressed here about the changes in Colorado since we first began to enjoy our visits there in the 1950s.

Wrenchtraveller · 09-25-2006, 03:34 AM

Sue, you are fortunate that your old family farm is still there for you to see. When I take my wife back to Saskatchewan, her old family farm was sold, the house moved away, we never did find out where, and just a few broken down buildings returning to nature.We always park and walk around but it pulls on your heart strings that is for sure.

This is one of the things that moves me when I drive through the Canadian Prairies. The old abandoned farm houses out in the middle of nowhere, all with a story to tell. Some happy... some not so happy. You have to admire the courage of the early pioneers that faced the struggle of raising a family in very harsh conditions and seeing these old ghost farms is a facinating experience.

Parrothead · 09-25-2006, 06:35 AM

I loved David's story of his family history. Ours is much the same. All of my greats homesteaded in Kansas several hundred years ago. We have a family cemetery where they are all buried in Hallowell, Kansas. While my Dad's family farm still stands, a lot of the farms, schools, houses from my Mom's side of the family are gone as is a lot of the land due to strip coal mining. It is still fun to go back and find the places that are standing.
Happy trails....................

rickety · 09-25-2006, 02:03 PM

Phyllis and I took a trip back to Ely, Nevada where I lived for a few years and went to White PINE hIGHSCHOOL. I actually found the place I used to live, I even went onto the old football field whre I played, and thye still play there, My old school is stil there, but is now and elementary school, the town pool is still there. The old drugstore whre we used to go for sodas is still there, and I sat and Had a Lime Rickey and talked over old times with one of the girls I used to know, she is now running the soda fountain and the old jukebox is down in the basement. Went to the old bowling alley, The Grocdery store that used to be the only one in town.
Just had a ball. Guess I was fortunate, I was able to go back to that very important part of my life, which I loved and the town hasn'tchanged.

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