John Sheda

Ah, the joys of growing up in Chelsea in the 50’s & 60’s and going to school at South Tama. No cell phones, Facebook, GPS, Googling, TiK-Tok or anything else that we have today. Life was hard back in our era, wasn’t it but would any of us change our “growing up” years for the days of today?

I like all the technological stuff but growing up with pick-up baseball games, swimming in the river, making tree houses, camping out, detasseling, drag racing, soaping windows on Halloween night and all the other crazy things we did to enjoy life was the best, wasn’t it? I’ve found out from writing these columns that hardly anyone under forty reads the newspaper anymore so I know I’m talking to those who remember the fun times of yesteryear. Ok, maybe detasseling wasn’t all that fun and perhaps having GPS in my car or phone is kinda nice but other than that…

Anyone remember taking a typewriting class in high school? How about your very first car? Mine was a 1960 Corvair. Loved that cute lil’ car.

I remember Mom making grilled cheese sandwiches & tomato soup on those cold days. Also enjoyed a fried bologna sandwich too.

My school teachers included Mr. Hanna, Mrs. Rebik, Mrs. Van Tiger, Mrs. McGinty, Mr. Gibbs, Mrs. Carmichael, Mr. Zeian and others. Who do you remember?

Sunday dinners at the Shedas were something to behold. Mom’s roast beef, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, home-made salad dressing etc. etc. Didn’t appreciate it back then.

Riding the school bus from Chelsea with Dick and David Vandewalle and then usually the Activity bus on the way home.

Loved stopping in at the Royal Dairy, (remember?), and getting this huge creamy chocolate malt for, um…25 cents!

Dad’s ranch south of Chelsea. Dad had a little bit of everything there, some goats, sheep, calves, pigs, a horse now and then and some chickens.

Ah, don’t tell anyone but a time or two, Debbie and I “parked” out at the ranch and…you know, talked and talked!

In high school, I was just coming of age, (whatever that is), and cologne was a big thing. Was yours Jade East, Brut, British Sterling or reliable Old Spice?

Where were you and what were you doing during the Winter Blizzard of ’73?

Well, that’s about enough reminiscing for now. Please don’t tell Deb about the parking! At least, I thought it was Deb! Oh well, I’ll figure it out and so will you at jsheda@indytel.com. Call me at 319.327.4640. AND BY THE WAY, JUST WHERE DID YOU “PARK?”