26th Jun 2003
An Echo
I thought of the 1960s today.
For lunch, my daughter and I plodded in the hot sun down to Quinley’s, a walk-up burger joint from 1946. Quinley’s takes you back. Stainless steel counters. Red spinning stools. Pull-up straw dispensers. Best milkshakes in town. Onion Rings done right (for that occasional craving, or is it “nostalgia food”?)
Of course, they add to the ambience with an oldies station blaring over the PA. “Leader Of The Pack”. Various Beach Boys, Beatles, and some groovy tunes from the 70s…
Across the street, a fireworks stand awaits its colorful inventory. They haven’t changed the design of fireworks stands as long as I can remember. They looked the exact same in the 60’s. It was my boyhood ambition that someday, somehow, I would get my hands on the “Block Party” package! Safe and Sane.
I could close my eyes for a moment, and be back in that time. Transistor radios had one speaker, and ran off of a 9 volt battery (careful how you change ‘em). Jacked up cars. Being a wet kid at the beach on a scorching day, sand climbing my legs, ordering a burger from a place just like Quinley’s. Salt air and Suntan Oil. All of the Mom & Pop places started right after WWII still in full swing…
It was like an echo from the past. Momentary. Faded too quickly.
