Are we here yet?

Like an impatient little child, tired of driving to Gandma’s house, I keep asking, “Are we here yet?”

No more riding, I remember thinking. I’m ready to have some of those great noodles Grandma Baker makes every holiday dinner. It really didn’t matter that the ride was all of 20 minutes to Grandma’s house. I couldn’t wait to get there.

Today, Grandma’s house is a parking lot for the University of Akron, and like the Reiter Dairy, where Grandpa Baker once worked as a farrier, it too is long gone from its Carroll Street location.

Those days, the 1950s, are past and won’t be coming back, no matter how much wishing I might do.

The fact is our world is here. And, it does not look at all like I remember the 1950s. It's like we are standing on a precipice, watching the approaching storm clouds, with no comforting noodles to eat in sight.

We’re here alright. Looking for signs and praying they say: The Great American Reformation Ahead, rather than, Disaster Waiting Ahead.

“Almost there, Ronnie… we’re almost to Grandma’s house… just over the hill and around the corner… and we’ll be there.”

“Are we here yet, Mom”?

The Clovers: "Devil Or Angel" — 1956