Rolling into 2026

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

Some unforeseen circumstances kept me from telling this story earlier in the year, so I will tell it now. For New Year's Eve of 2025 and rolling into 2026, I dipped back into my past activities to celebrate. Last year my daughter and her family moved to Corbin, Kentucky, from the San Diego, California, area. One of the activities they began with the move is to frequent the local roller skating rink, and I was invited to visit them for the holiday and go to a skating party with them.

I still have my skates from my Carter's Skateland days, and dug them out of my attic and took them with me. I also have a pair of soft-wheeled street skates from my Air Force days which I used to take with me on overseas deployments. I spent a lot of time roller skating around the roof of the hotel in Glyfada, Greece, and on the sidewalks of Okinawa.

The skating rink in Corbin, named Jerry's, was established in 1954 and has been in continuous business since then. My son-in-law became friends with the second-generation owner and is helping him update the lighting system at the rink.

Well, Sue and I and joined Tiffany and Greg and our two 14-year-old grandkids, Callie and Carson. going to the party. Looking back, I was not much older than them when I started skating. I think my last New Year's Eve skating party at Carter's was 1962, so it has been over 60 years since I wore my skates to such a party. Over those years, I have gotten older, and so have my skates. It seems that over the years of storage, the leather of the pair of skates did not age much better than I did. Though I could still get the skates on, the leather had dried up enough to make killing creases in both insteps, and the pressure they put on my feet was unforgiving. I made it around the wooden rink three or four times before I had to stop and reconsider the saneness of continuing. 

My backup pair of skates was based on tennis shoe tops, which I had reconstructed only about 15 years ago, but had not been subjected to the heat and cold of the attic storage. I put them on and was able to skate for a short period. Even though my mind was still 16, my body is now 79 and my skills have suffered from all those years untried. I spent the rest of the night in the snack bar, enjoying watching the predominantly teenage crowd enjoy themselves in the same manner and I and many of you readers did in our youth. I tried to pick out the ones that are the age today, that I and my girlfirends were back then. They all looked so young. (And were!)

So, the New Year's Eve skating event is now in the books, and who knows if it might be repeated next year or not, with me living in the body of an 80-year-old. Should old acquaintance be forgot!

My observations of the evening reminded me of a story I wrote back in 2002, and I am not surprised it still holds true today. I would like to share it with you again.

The Tao of Roller Skating -

The First Ten Observations

During the Thanksgiving 2002 holiday season I made a trip back to Huntsville and while there ventured into an arena reminiscent of my youth.  In the Fifties, my home away from home was Carter’s Skateland on Traylor Island. I went there every Wednesday, and most Friday and Saturday nights, and crossed the puberty barrier while on wheels, I think.   During this latest experience I made a few astute observations which I shall now share with you in a somewhat random order. Most of these observations were of other skaters, but there was a time when most of them could have been you or me.

Observation #1 - No matter how good of a skater you are, your ability to keep from falling down is directly proportional to the skating ability of the little kid that is directly in front of you.

I still find it strange that five decades has not changed the fact that some small kids can continue to make it around a skating rink in a perpetual falling state.  From the moment they enter the floor, they seem to be falling forward with skates clanking and arms waving and their bodies in a forward list.  They continue to look the same all the way around the floor, without actually falling unless you pull up behind them and have no direction to go except in their harm's way. Also on this same note is the idea that some kids do not in fact skate, but actually only walk in shoes that have wheels attached to them.

Observation #2 - God meant for man to skate counterclockwise. 

Any attempt to skate in the opposite direction is counter to God's and nature's plans.  It seems so awkward when the P.A. system announces to reverse direction and you find yourself skating in a counterclockwise circle where you have to cross the left foot over the right, instead of the right foot over the left in the turn.

Observation #3 - Skating and chewing gum cannot co-exist in the universe.

It was so when we skated at Carter's and it remains so today.  It is not the physical skills needed to chew gum and skate at the same time that poses the problem; it is the physical law that states that wheels do not roll when coming in contact with chewing gum on the floor. 

Observation #4 - When spinning wheels come to an abrupt halt, Newton's First Law of Motion and gravity takes over.

As we learned at Lee High School, that law states:  "Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it."  See Observation #3 for one possible explanation or close your eyes and think of a concrete block wall or metal guard rail for other possibilities. 

Observation #5 - Whether it is called The Domino Principle, chain reaction, or an avalanche does not matter; it still holds true that one person can be responsible for taking out a whole line of other skaters.

All it takes is for one person falling to reach out and grab another skater, who in turn does the same, and before you know it, bodies fill the floor with thumps and oofs.

Observation #6 - Skaters have a blind spot and are vulnerable to any unexpected attack from that side.

No matter how long we have skated, we still don't expect some fast moving body to cut across the middle of the floor at reckless speed and hit us from the left side. We watch in front, and we watch to the right, and sometimes even watch behind us, but we still can't seem to understand that the threat will come from the unwatched side.  We truly don't expect anyone to come across traffic and hit us from the no-man's land of the center of the rink.

Observation #7 - The "left-hip-in", the "right-hip-in", and the "backside-in" are still the favorite parts of watching the girls do the Hokey Pokey for the male gender, and one of the first places that girls learn to flirt with body motions.

Enough said!

Observation #8 - Some music seems to stay popular forever at a skating rink.

I was amazed at how many of "my" songs were played during the two hours we spent at the roller rink.  Of course the newer skaters don't do the same skate to them that we did.  A prime example of that idea is the song Wipe Out".  I was very surprised to hear it start up and watch all the young kids rush to the floor to skate to it.  Only when I heard the announcer yell "wipe out!" and saw all the kids fall to the ground did I understand what their fun was in this song.  The last one standing was the looser. I don't think we had a "skate" back in our early years where we tried to fall down, but that did not stop us from doing so.

Observation #9 - There is still a primal progression as to how a boy and girl skate together in a couple's skate.

Phase One still seems to be just the boy and girl holding hands while they skate together and trying not to pull each other down as they do so.  Phase Two is what I call the classic couple skate, where the relationship moves forward and the boy puts his right hand on the girl's right hip and they hold each other's left hand. Finally Phase Three is where one or the other of the sexes skates backwards and the boy puts both of his hands on the girl's waist and she puts her hand on his shoulders or around his neck.  This is the one I remember doing the most at Carter's with my favorite partner.  Of course, this maneuver comes with the danger of the one skating backwards falling down and the other partner falling on top of the other one.

And finally that brings us to:

Observation #10 - The skating rink is one of the first arenas in which many are exposed to and participate in mating rituals.

I observed a new one in today's time that I do not seem to remember from our days at Carter's.  If there is a "Boy's only" skate, the little girls sit on the side of the rink and hold out their hands trying to lure the males into touching them as they speed past.  It reminds me of Beatlemania when the girl's screamed and held out their hands to John, Paul, George, and Ringo, wanting them to acknowledge them and touch them as they performed.  Only in this case, the girl's did not scream, but it was still obvious that they had certain boys whose attention they requested.

I know there are many other observations that I can relate to you, but this short list should give you the idea of the things that I saw. This might be the basis of a new book for me. Skating is still fun whether you use in-line skates or classic four wheel skates. And there were still times that in the dimness of the colored lights and the sound of the old music that I could let my mind wander and have just as easily been 15 and skating at Carter's Skateland.

The Wayback Machine

"Brand New Key" 

Melanie

1971

"Brand New Key" is a pop song written and sung by the American folk music singer Melanie. Initially a track of Melanie's album Gather Me, produced by Melanie's husband Peter Schekeryk, it was known also as "The Rollerskate Song" due to its chorus. It was her greatest success, scoring No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart during December 1971 and January 1972. Billboard ranked it as the No. 9 song of 1972. It also scored No. 1 in Canada and Australia and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart.

Thoughts About Jim

Craig Bannecke

LHS '65

I was sitting here reading your January 10th Lee Traveler about Jim McBride and watching the various videos you posted. I happen to recall an experience that Jennifer and I had several years ago with Jim. It was around 2008 and we had gotten word that Jim would be in Athens, GA  as a guest and speaker at the University of Georgia Department of Music, as a song writer.  With Jim was another well known song writer, Jerry Salley.  Just off the main campus was a performing arts building and bar and Jim and Jerry would be performing and playing some of the songs that they had written over the years. They would explain the background of each song and what motivated them to be written. The session was very interesting and entertaining.  

We came in and met Jim and got a table down front and enjoyed the performance.  Afterwards, Jim came to our table and sat with us for a visit and to do some catching up. Shortly thereafter, Jim was told Bill Anderson (pictured with Jennifer above), also a very famous writer and singer who lived in Athens, was there to see him.  So Jim excused himself and was gone for a few minutes. Bill had heard Jim and Jerry were their performing at the University and came over to see them and invite them to go back with him to a club across town where Shenandoah was performing.  

Jim explained to Bill that he had some old high school friends there and would not be able to come but invited us up to meet Bill and we had  our pictures taken together. Afterwards, we went back to Jims hotel room and sat and talked and had a wonderful visit.  Jennifer and I always felt honored that Jim would pass up being invited by The Bill Anderson to go with him and would rather stay and visit with us.  But, as we all know family and old friends were very important to Jim.  As I have said many times, we the first three graduating classes of Lee High School, were very fortunate to have been raised together and have continued to be such wonderful friends of our youth. And now even after 60+ years these friendships have become even more cherished today.        

We had a lot of emails concerning Jim McBride this week, and I am happy to share them with you.

I hope all my old skating buddies enjoy my story this week. I think there is also going to be one of my stories about skating printed in an upcoming copy of Old Huntsville Magazine.

Email Address Problems

The following email addresses were not able to receive last week's notice:

cmcmahon331@charter.net

mateudam@aol.com 

These were returned because their email boxes were full:

jimjohnson98@gmail.com

mecdajmykiki2850@gmail.com

Last Week's Questions, Answers, And Comments

Delores McBride Kilgore, LHS '66 , "Thank you, Tommy for the tribute to our loved friend, Jimmy McBride! He was one of a kind and was loved by all ! Sending hugs and prayers to Jeanne and his sons ! Fly like an angel in heaven, Jimmy! We will all miss you terribly but you are in God’s hands now! Rest in Peace! "

Richard (Ricky) Simmons, LHS ‘64, "RIP Jim McBride.  You will be remembered."

Mary Ann Bond Wallace, LHS ‘64, "My heart hurts for Jeanne and the loss of Jim.  Such an inspiration to all of us.  And I agree with Tommy, one of the best and most known classmate at Lee High School. Just so sorry to hear of his death and my pain is for his loss but more for Jeanne.  Jim is with God and taken care of.  Thank you for the tribute Tommy."

Ann Wilson Redford, LHS ‘65, "A Bridge that Just Won’t Burn is a great crying song and was a favorite of mine before I knew our classmate, Jimmy McBride,  wrote it. We can all brag about knowing him, but I doubt he ever bragged on himself."

J.R. Brooks, LHS ‘64, "I share your comments regarding the life, musical success and tragic death of our classmate and friend, Jim McBride.  He is gone; his poetry and music, however, will live forever."

Mike Cortright, LHS ‘65, "Tommy...I was so sad to hear of the passing of Jimmy McBride. His significant accomplishments as a songwriter and musician were obviously recognized at the highest levels  but Jimmy was also a wonderful,  warm-hearted human being with  such a kind soul. I feel blessed that I had the chance to know him; play baseball with him for many years; and share life long stories and memories as adults. My thoughts and prayers are with Jeanne and the family as they go through this difficult time!"

Linda Isbell Creek, LHS '64, "Jim McBride was my cousin.  Our mothers were sisters.  We grew up together.  He and my brother, Jackie Isbell, were very close and managed to get into all kinds of mischief.  Jim made me promise not to share.  Jim was still that boy who grew up in Dallas village.  No matter how much he achieved in his song writing career, he never forgot his roots.  The words won't come to me that express what Jim meant to me.  I loved him and I will forever miss him.  Go rest high on that mountain, Jimbo!"

Susan Simms, LHS '65, "Well, Jim’s death does most definitely hits too close to home for many of us! Daddy was the principal at Rison at the time Jim went there . . . in fact I have the Bible the sixth grade class gave him his last year there (before he went to Chapman Elementary). A few years ago Jim told me a touching story about how Daddy had to take a switchblade knife Jim had at school; only to return it to him on the last day of school all the while admonishing him of the fact that violence seldom solves any issue. Jim’s father delivered mail on Ward Ave . . . and ifn’ I’m remembering correctly, so did Jim — summer work I believe.  Back in the late 90’s, my late husband, Tom Harper and I took a mutual friend — from Germany  —  to Nashville (he was a HUGE country music fan) . . . Jim got us backstage passes at the Opry and took us to a nightclub frequented by up-and-coming artists where we got to see Blake Shelton perform! Jim found his “calling” . . . and millions of people are better off because of it! OK, I’ll shut up . . . thanks for allowing my trip down memory lane."