This was in 1947. That's Grandpa Skinner from San Luis Obispo holding his bewildered, number one grandson. We had probably just moved from a two bedroom duplex into the three bedroom two-story when brother Marty arrived a month earlier.

Baby Shoes

Mom went and petrified my baby shoes
In bronze and bragged about her growing boy --
Her firstborn son -- all dressed in Grandma's blue
And backyard brown, out playing with his toys.

I never noticed it before, but when
She sent them off, she gently tucked away
A treasury of songs and smiles within
Each little shoe -- more than enough to say,
"I love you."

Sand, seaweed and gritty sandwiches were enjoyed from the start at Avila Beach and Cayucos when Grandpa and Grandma Skinner carted all of us to the edge of the earth. Some of us still have a measure of saltwater in our veins, that constant tug to revisit the blue horizon, feel ocean mist on our face, hear the booming rythym of October waves, and enjoy its 'many-twinkling smile.'

Larry and Bruce in their finest hour. 
Brothers weren't just meant to duke it out 
ALL the time. But cameras helped to capture
these rare moments.

Other family names that might ring some bells
are Conrad, Andrus, Blankenship, Barnhart,
Frazier, Stokey, Moon, Wilson, Herried,
Cooper, Morillo, Dameron, Armstrong,
Steele, Erlston, and so many others.

 

A short walk to our neighborhood 'Safeway' for the bravest of us (you had to cross Spring Street, breaking the 11th Commandment). Do you remember the smaller store to the north sitting in front of a big empty lot? Mostly stocked with penny candy and popsicles, this was the first time I found a quarter---on the path outside the store. Was it stealing if I didn't try to find the owner?

 

OAK PARK PASTIMES	1. Getting into trouble
	2. Getting into more trouble
	3. Harassing the guys who mowed     the lawns
	4. Fighting
	5. Learning every curse word in the      book
	6. Throwing rocks at the train
	7. Throwing rocks at each other
	8. Getting your first kiss
	9. Exploring the equipment yard
	10. Watching Flash Gordon on TV
	11. Throwing all your dad's money out       of a second story window while he       is still sleeping. (True story)
	12.      **** fill in the blank****

DENNIS, JACK, DAVE, MARTY, LEO, CARRIE AND PATTY

Oak Park Blues Were we ever fast enough? Most of us just weren't as tough As Billy Blankenship, and so We'd see how fast our bikes would go Whenever he would come around And want to knock us to the ground. There was the famous shoestring race Where we sat and tried to lace Our shaggy shoes with blinding speed, Tongues in teeth, about to bleed, Fingers tripping over thumbs: We were kings in Flunkeydom!