Every December we have a family tradition of cutting down my Dad’s Christmas Tree.  Our whole family; sisters, brother, everyones children and grandchildren all get together, climb up into the back of 2 or 3 trucks and head down to the pasture looking for that perfect Christmas tree to trim and decorate.  This yearly tradition always brings, early morning senior coffee with Dad at McDonald’s, chili dogs, broken Christmas balls, Taco Pizza at Pizza Hut, a quick run into town for more tree lights, lots of laughter and memories of many Christmas’s past.  I love going home in December.  I love to see all the Christmas lights hanging on the Store fronts and Street Posts clear down Main Street.  When snow happens to fall it can be magical.  This small town reminds me a little of Bedford Falls.  I am sure there is a George Bailey somewhere around Wamego.  I am also sure there is an ol’ Man Potter there too.  I personally know a couple people who remind me of Clarence, my dad being one of them.  Always a smile, always seeing life as a glass that is half full of water instead of half empty.  My dad taught me how to turn lemons into lemon-aid.   I have needed that all through-out life.  I’ve got a good Dad.

I think about that when I drive down Main Street.

I grew up in the small town of Wamego Kansas. Wamego Kansas is located about 10 miles North of I-70.   There is the Wamego Bridge leading right into town.  You might hit the bridge going 55 miles an hour but by the time you reach Main Street on the other side, its time to hit the brakes.  Right after you cross the river, you are now in Wamego and the speed limit is 25mph.  I learned that the hard way one visit.   Growing up, Main Street was the place to be.  If you were going to see anyone, it would be on Main Street.  It’s the place you waved hello to people you didn’t even know.  You could find out who was dating who, who broke up with who, who was mad at who and who was friends with who,  just by driving down Main Street.

 

As a child, a drive down Main Street would let you catch a glimpse of The Smoke Signal Newspaper, The Wamego Times, and Kaw Valley State Bank where I had my very first bank account.  There is Berner’s Jewelry Store where Mom and Dad bought me my first ruby birthstone ring.  I always felt a bit like royalty walking into their store and seeing all of the bling.  I still have that first Ruby ring and I still like Bling.  A drive down Main Street brings memories of The First National Bank coming to town, dropping off mail at the Post Office, Duckwall’s Five and Dime Store, Yeager’s Western Auto and Wamego High School where my mom and dad both attended and years later our whole family.  You will also see the Wamego Drug Store and it was the place for Marshmallow Sundae’s.  I loved to order chocolate ice cream, marshmallow topping and mixed nuts and sit in a booth while I ate the whole Sundae.

Growing up, one of my favorite places to eat was Kreem Kup. It had the best foot long chili dogs around.   It had amazing Ice Cream, chocolate malts and Cherry Pie Al-la-modes.  My Dad owned Wamego Plumbing and Heating right across the street.   In Jr High I took a daily walk to Kreem Kup to purchase a bag of sour cream and onion potato chips and a small coke for the low price of a quarter and a penny; 26 cents.   Dad gave me my first job one summer cleaning and answering the phone.  He did let me paint the bathroom once but after showing everyone my creativity as a painter, I was told to stick to answering the phone and cleaning.   I was allowed to acid-wash something in the back room of Dad’s shop – I can’t remember what.  Well, after spilling the acid on my pants which quickly decimated and after a run up to the ER, I was again told to stick to answering the phone and cleaning.  When it was really slow and I had the cleaning done and all the flies killed, I would go in the back room and make up cheers for the football games.

Sometimes in the afternoon the office employees who worked for my dad would send me across the street for treats and someone always ordered a Cherry Pie Al-la-mode from Kreem Kup.  It seemed most of the time I was never given enough money to pay for everyones treats.  I would  run back across the street to my dads shop and collect more cash; then run back to Kreem Kup and collect everyones treats.  By the time I got back – most of the ice cream had melted on those Cherry Pie Al-la-modes but I still remember smiles and somehow hearing “Mmmm  Mmmm Mmmm”.