Fading Past

On a recent trip to Des Moines I had a little time to cruise by my past, you know, places that hold significant memories of your earlier life. It was then I discovered that a lot of it has disappeared. Three of my grade schools were gone, 2 torn down and one deserted. The place of my 1st employment, dishwasher at the age of 14 at Michaels Restaurant has long disappeared. The place where I learned english and worked, The Rack Pool Hall is a car wash. My Grandpa and Grandma Crippens house was torn down to enhance the estate next door. Ft. Des Moines, where I spent the first 5 years of my life, is all but gone. The Register and Tribune building, another place of employment, is being turned into condo's and all the big stores that filled the downtown streets have closed and been replaced. If you think this was depressing guess again, all I had to do was close my eyes and they lived again and every time I meet with old friends they come to life with tales you can't tell your grand kids. Memories are priceless!