One of the first places to stop at was Musgroves Shoe Store. It gets too cold here in the wintertime to go barefooted. Each year it was to town to buy a pair of good heavy duty leather shoes to make the winter with. The old Illinois Brokerage was just across main street from Musgroves but their shoes were not nearly as good. They were cheaper but far inferior.

As soon as you walked in the front door of Musgroves there stood a big "thing" that was about the size of a feed box in the barn. You stood on a little step-stuck your big old feet in a small hole and looked down inside the top of that dude. Egads! Skeltons! You could see the bones in your feet! The clerk said it was and X-Ray! WE didn't know what he was talk'n about--to us it was something to behold. I'd never seen anything like it. Ole Jeep and I would sometimes rassle just to get to look at our feet!

With new shoes on you could have a "look see" and know if they really fit or not. I don't remember when they took the thing out but noticed one time that it was gone. Something about the Gov't say'n it was dangerous to do too much look'n. Seems that most of the towns folks would come into these stores and almost wear the machine out. It was a good source of entertainment to the young and old alike!

Most of those old tyme shoe stores are now a thing of the past. Wallyworlds and other discount stores have taken their toll on what was a completely different way of life. Progress in some ways isn't always for the better and I think maybe this is just one of those ways.

How many times do you see a horses and buggy's sett'n if front of a Wallyworld store with the farm folks visit'n and mak'n a day out of the "trip to town to do the trad'n"?

Yeah, I know we can't go back and don't know if I would want to. I just miss some of those old times when life was a whole lot simple'r.

There's fix'n to be a big "get-together" shortly. We'll see old and new friends from all ages--in one place at one time. If you're wantin to attend -it won't cost a nickel-the price has alredy been paid. "Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus"! Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), April 19, 2001

Answers

This is a great story, Hoot.

I agree with you that simpler is better sometimes. Maybe we can't make everything the way you remember, but we can all simplify our lives somewhat and enjoy what we have, instead of searching for that "more" that society tells us we need in order to be fulfilled. I look forward to meeting you at that get-together.

-- Kristin, in La. (positivekharma@aol.com), April 19, 2001.

Dearest Hoot, Do you ever bring back memories. I can remember doing the same thing. Don't remember the name of the store, but do remember the x-ray machine. Also remember stopping by the creamery on the way home for a nickel ice cream cone. A dime for a double-dipper. What a hard choice to make! I usually ended up getting lime sherbet. Still my favorite. Thanks for the memories! Barb

-- Barbara Fischer (bfischer42@hotmail.com), April 20, 2001.

Neat story Hoot! I've surely missed reading them the past couple of months! See you at that BIG get-together, Because of Calvary, ~Tracy~ [Rom.5:8(Thank you,Lord Jesus!)]

-- Tracy Jo Neff (tntneff@ifriendly.com), April 24, 2001.