I was remembering my different birthdays. We are not big on presents, so when I did get a present, it was special. On my 10th birthday, I got a used bike. It had ballon tires and it cost $10. It was war time and no one got a new bike. I was lucky to
have it.I rode it until I left home to get married. I wonder what happened to it. I rode that bike everywhere. Never to school,though. Girls didn't do that in N.O. I wonder why. I had a long walk. I didn't mind, but a bike sure would have been quicker. I don't
remember the boys riding bikes either, come to think of it. And our parents didn't drive us, either. Walking was part of the social scene . You met a friend and you walked together. Usually in groups. It was a fun way to start and end a school day. I do remember
riding my bike from my house in "uptown", to Pontchartrain Beach. That is a long way across town.The chore was getting home again. If there were such things as cell phones, I know that I would have called for a ride. It was a dumb thing to do. Maybe that is
why I remember it so well. On my 60th birthday, my son gave me a great present. He cut his dreadlocks. Any Mother can relate to this one. They were nasty . He let me ceremoniously cut them. That was a special birthday. I almost got a Grandson on my birthday.
Missed it by 3 days. That was close enough for me. That was the best present, come to think of it.