The Road Most Traveled
When I arrived at the corner of Elmwood and Detroit this morning it felt like a homecoming. Alicia the crossing guard was there, and it was at a quiet moment about 30 minutes before the kids started crossing. She graciously agreed to take my pic in the crosswalk. For me it was a return to the crosswalk I have probably used more than 5000 times, more than any other in Lakewood.
My first house in Lakewood was on Mars Avenue one block to the west, and 20 years ago (Fall of 2004) I was in this crosswalk walking Rachel to Kindergarten at Grant Elementary School. Rachel’s 3-year-old younger brother Timmy was in a stroller and my wife Amy was at Lakewood Hospital having our third child Joey. Well Lakewood Hospital no longer stands, the old Grant Elementary School (that reminded me of a bomb shelter) has been replaced by a brand-new school, and all three of those kids have graduated from Lakewood High School and gone off to college and beyond. Despite these changes the memories were still vivid as I stood on that corner this morning. I wonder if my children can still remember those mornings waiting by the crosswalk to head off to school, or in the afternoon eager to get home for a before dinner snack.
I took a picture of the gorgeous new Grant Elementary School and the cute Little Free Library along the walkway leading up to the school. Even though the building had changed, it still felt familiar to me.
Elmwood continued to Madison where it did a jig-jog before continuing south to Atkins. I passed Ryko Sports and snapped a selfie in front of my T-Shirt provider to post on social media (thanks again Gary).
After finishing the street I rode my bike down Mars on the way home. I saw a Dad walking his daughter to school, probably on his way to that same crosswalk. Even though that was me 20 years ago, it doesn’t seem that long ago. The scariest thought is that might be one of my kids walking my grandchild to school in a few years. Or if they raise their family in Lakewood maybe it could be Grandpa Mike!
