Under the night sky, Hollywood’s best shine bright
Notable scenes from drive-ins come to the screen
Danny and Sandy from “Grease” making the scene
Winning combination fuels drive-ins’ success
Love of movies plus cars, who would ever guess?
Practicing social distancing, cars spread out
Another summer night, film-inspired blowout
Family piles into the station wagon
Good thing we traded that tiny Volkswagen
Mom and Dad, reservations in the front seat
Wearing pajamas, kids view from the back seat
Transporting all of us to a place of fun
Kids become quiet . . . fall asleep, one by one
Comfy family night under twilight’s stars
Slice of Americana, with movie stars
Courtesy of Pinterest.
Practicing social distance before anyone knew what it meant, America’s drive-ins have been a fixture since arriving in New Jersey in 1933. Following World War II, the American landscape exploded with new drive-ins. By 1952, outdoor movie attendance exceeded indoor theaters for the first time. During the 1950s, the number of drive-ins peaked at 5,000 or so.
Growing up with a band of brothers, there was a common refrain at my childhood home, “What’s for breakfast?”
However, in order to answer this question, one must return to dinner the night before.
Our mother, in her desire to provide our growing, young bodies with nutrition, decided to try a new vegetable for dinner. Do diced beets from a can catch your fancy?
Being used to green beans, peas, and corn, my brothers and I looked at the beets with their strange color and unappetizing smell, and we knew these little morsels would taste just awful.
All of us went on strike at dinnertime . . . refusing to eat any of the beets.
Our father wasn’t a happy camper with our decision. In fact, he became quite animated that we should all try a sample at dinner. Yet, we refused to budge.
Finally, our enlightened father drew a line in the sand (or on the table), “If you don’t try these beets tonight, you can have them for breakfast in the morning.”
Morning arrived, and instead of our usual Cream of Wheat or Quaker Oatmeal, our breakfast menu consisted of those horrible red beet squares. My brothers and I held fast—NO BEETS!
Our mother was paying close attention to her sons. Never again did she include beets with a meal.
To this day, I still won’t eat beets, no matter how they are prepared. I think my brothers probably feel the same way. Do you have a least favorite vegetable?
Grandpa snuck away from Grandma one morning. She was busy with her quilting, and he felt an urge to satisfy his sweet tooth.
Just down the street, a little doughnut shop waited with the hottest coffee and the most treasured, sweet creations ever made. Without Grandma nearby to fuss at him, he could enjoy coffee, doughnuts, and some conversation with whomever dropped by the shop.
He orders the usual: coffee with his two favorite doughnuts. Boston-cream and maple-covered long john, each looks mouth-watering and delicious.
Behind him, the shop’s door opens, and two little children bust in with giggles and way too much energy.
“Grandpa, Grandpa!” His grandchildren, Ben and Lydia, just happen to discover where Grandpa is hiding out.
A moment later, Grandpa is enjoying coffee, spending time with two very special children, and sharing his doughnuts.
There will be another time for enjoying doughnuts, but loving Lydia and Ben . . . Precious!
This short story was originally published in May, 2019. Two of my youngest grandchildren are really Ben and Lydia (now 3 and 2 years old, respectively). I look forward to spoiling them with a sweet treat.
This poem gives you a quick glimpse into my childhood family. Growing up under Montana’s Big Sky was a blessing for my brothers and sister. The memories will last a lifetime.
This is a very special guest post. I received a wonderful Father’s Day message from my wife earlier today. In her own right, Mrs. Big Sky Buckeye is a talented writer who has crafted her share of poetry and other writings. The photos used are from the WordPress library.
Big Sky Buckeye 