Great Idea...A Virtual Clubhouse!

Mike, great idea to get everyone together and keeping in touch. Now we can revisit the clubhouse above/behind the garage that Grandpa used to let us use. Indeed many memories worth keeping and remembering of those days. It truly was a slice of Americana. I got to experience it many Sundays throughout the year living reasonably close. It was always a treat whenever the out of town Speagle boys showed up. Salisbury wasn't so far away but it was long distance on the telephone, which made it a long ways off (who ever used long distance unless it was an emergency??). And Indiana....well that was WAY off. So much to talk about when our distant cousins arrived.

Mostly we just hung out and did stuff...fun things, like play war or explorer...build something, fashion sticks into some device. This is the part of the legacy of our childhood. TV was OK but we spent our time outdoors! Music was important but we didn't tote it along when we were together outside. The food, the family, they all made everything great (unless it interfered with our plans).

Since it is Christmas, I fondly remember getting together at my home for the Speagle Christmas Party. It was always at night so all the activity was indoors. We enjoyed the big front living room (I don't know how many times we played games on those long hardwood floors) within the wood paneling and painted beams. Or enjoyed the party in the basement, or hung out in my room. Then when the parties moved to the community center or to Grandma's church, we also had fun times. I'll never forget the miracle snowball throw I made at one particular party, just as it was ending. I lobbed that one from a LONG distance. Snow had fallen as we met, and I made a high, arching toss toward David. That snowball struck him right on top of his head! He answered me by opening the car door and nailing me with one before leaving. It's one of those moments that never leaves you. There were many of those in The Speagle Boys Club. Merry Christmas guys!