1962. Woke up early. It was summer and I had things to do. Got dressed, got my pocketknife I carried everywhere (even to school), and threw two pieces of bologna into the frying pan and two pieces of bread in the toaster. Grabbed the breakfast sandwich I had just made and ate it while I peddled my bike (with no helmet on) to my best friend's house.

I told Johnny to get the guys together for a ball game and took off to get my lawn mower ready. I had six lawns to cut and one was 12 blocks away. It was worth it. I got $3 for that lawn.

Got my work finished and stopped by the liquor store to get my dad a pack of cigarettes and myself a Coke and a bag of salted peanuts, which I poured into the Coke, and drank on the way home. Mom had lunch ready, which I ate in a flash, and was playing fast-pitch rubber ball with all my friends at 12:30.

Played until the 9 p.m. whistle (my curfew) went off. I had to get home quick!

I was in bed later with my head in the window. I could hear the window fan in the other room and feel the slight breeze. It was like a blast furnace. I tried to sleep because I had more lawns to cut the next day.

Life was simple back then when I was 11. I didn't worry about anything. What happened to this world?

Michael Ray Dillier

Collinsville