Three Little Words

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

I saw a post on Facebook that went something like, “If you could go back in time and tell yourself ‘three” words at age 17, what would you say?”

Historically, whenever people talk about those three little words, it is usually “I love you.” But that would not fit into this scenario. I think the asker is looking for something deeper that would make a larger impact on the life of a 17-year-old. It would take a lot of reflection to come up with a phrase which could affect a senior in high school. 

Being the historian that I sometimes feel about myself, I am at a dilemma about which three words I would use; I have two groups that both sound good to me. I am sure this only applies to me and not to the rest of the world.

One option would be I would say “Write things down.” Having a journal of my senior year, I can only wish I had kept a better one and started it sooner. I was 17 when I started the journal. It began on November 22, 1963, when I noted the assignation of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas. Over the years I have referred to the journal many times to inspire me to write about something that happened back then. I have written two books based upon that incomplete record of my senior year. I wish I had done it much earlier and captured more of my childhood to reflect upon, with the aid of my written words. I am sure the memories would center on Carter’s Skateland and the boy-girl parties I attended as I entered puberty. 

The second option would be more challenging, but would still be wonderful to recall. I would tell the 17-year-old me to “Take local pictures.” We never think about how the world changes right in front of our eyes until after it has changed. I say that option would be challenging, primary because of the financial burden of buying film and paying to have it developed. When I wrote “The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Growing Up in the Rocket City” I spend many hours at the Huntsville library trying to find photos of the places where we once hung out. I never found a photo of Jerry’s Drive-In or even Mullin’s Café. I have never seen a picture of The Rebel Inn where my grandmother was the short order cook. I don’t have any photos of the parties I attended or who else was there. I would love to see good ones of Bradley’s Cafeteria and the Madison County Coliseum, and all the kids that attended dances there and how they dressed. Most of the time we have to redraw in our mind the photos of those long lost establishments. Wouldn’t it be great to have a photo album of every store in downtown Huntsville? 

I know most of you will not comment on this subject, but I would love it if you did. Just a simple “three word” line you would tell yourself if you went back in time.

"Kodachrome" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the lead single from his third studio album.

In an interview conducted in November 2008, Simon said that what he had in mind when writing the song was to call it "Going Home". However, finding this would have been "too conventional", he came up with "Kodachrome", because of its similar sound and larger innovative potential. He also refers to its first line as the "most interesting" part of the song. That first line goes "When I think back on all the CRAP I learned in high school ... ."

Four weeks after its debut on the Hot 100, the song moved to No. 9, sandwiched ahead of "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando and "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" by George Harrison.

Two weeks later "Kodachrome" peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

The song was banned by the BBC and also by the Federation of (Australian) Radio Broadcasters.

I'll try one more time to reach out to the following classmates who are not receiving our weekly newsletter.

 bevstill@comcast.net

jlbeasey@swbell.net

tnladylm@yahoo.com 

echols80@mchsi.com

I was a little surprised that only two of you responded to my color TV question last week. I thought it was something we would all remember.

Last Week's Questions, Answers, 

And Comments

Dianne Hughey McClure, LHS ‘64, "The first color TV we had was when my kids were young. Ronnie had to talk me into getting it because I thought it was a waste of money. The Captain Kangaroo Show had the best color. It was, I thought, at the time, the best color on television."

Jim King, LHS ‘67, "Look forward to The Traveller each week. I had friends from 1964 on and is so great reading about events that were and are great memories."