Growing Up

Picardy Place, later Picardy Street, is shaped like the letter “T” but laying down. In the picture, it’s slightly down and right of center.

You cock it with the handle and then “fire” a single chuff of air. A hand at the end of the barrel would feel the air but 12" farther out you’d hardly notice. Regardless, it made a nice loud “Bang!”

Terri is the middle child in our family. That’s her in the light-colored coat and hat in the foreground.

Two years later, he would have a heart attack. I vividly remember him on the bathroom floor in his underwear and Mom shooing me out, “Get ready for school.” The ambulance took him away as I rode off to school not knowing.

Long hair, moustache but no beard yet, I was in transition.

The Rock began in a tool room in the back of Bebop’s garage. It was three backyards and two fences from mine.

… and should be.