by Johnny Yuma

Created on: July 02, 2009

"The streets here are so wide, and what are all those vehicles that go roaring by?" That's what I heard the man in the next booth say to the waitress, as I sat sipping my coffee that early June morning in 2002. His statement caught my attention, so I began paying more attention to what he was saying to the waitress. I got the impression he was from another era-Maybe around The Civil War times. The man spoke of the last time he had been in Atlanta and how the narrow the streets had been. He said they were so narrow it was hard for two people to meet if they were driving their horses and wagon rather than walking. He spoke of how muck the city had grown since that time and how he couldn't even find his way around anymore.

I began talking to the man, and he told me about growing up on Peachtree Street; it was just a country lane back then, and it took me quite some time to figure out where he was talking about. The name has changed, and I really only guessed that he must be talking about Peachtree Street. The man was likeable, and we were getting along together very well. He told me some about his childhood and growing up in Atlanta. I told him that I had lived in Marietta in the 1970s, and that I had actually moved out there in the late 1960s. You should have seen the look on the man's face when I told him that. He seemed to be thinking, "How stupid do you think I am?"

He said, "I know that it has been a while since I left, but it can't possibly be 1960. Is it?" I said, "No Sir, it isn't; it's 2002 now. I have been living back in Arkansas for the last 24 years and am just out here visiting my sister and some friends that I made when I did live here." He looked at me incredulously as if he or I one or the other had lost our mind. While we were talking, I explained to him about cars. I also explained the best that I could about electricity and central heating and air conditioning. I told him that not many people raise their own vegetables and meat anymore. Mostly they go to a grocery store and stock up a couple of times a month. I explained that we have what is called refrigerators to keep them cold and fresh, and that they have a freezer compartment for keeping meat frozen until we are ready to use it. He looked at quizzically as I explained about electric cook stoves, and how a heating element warms enough to cook food.

I told him that I would like to take him to a local supermarket and show him through the store. He agreed, and off

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