You know how they say that when you experience a near death
situation, your life flashes before your eyes?
You know how they say that when you experience a near death situation, your life flashes before your eyes? Well strangely enough, my life always flashes before my eyes. I don’t know if this is a gift or a bad omen, but it’s how I function and I’m still here!
When I drive through town, I always think about the things that used to be and wonder about the things to come. Part of me wishes I could know every story in every house. I’ve always wanted to know who, how and why about everything. I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember. And for as long as I can remember, Gilroy has been my home. When I drive downtown on Monterey Street, I remember the Strand movie theater. My Dad took us to see Superman there even though he didn’t like that theater because if the train passed by you’d miss part of the movie. I remember going to JC Penny’s and climbing that enormous staircase to get to the kids clothes in the upstairs department. As I drive by the library, I remember sitting in those tiny chairs in the kid’s corner reading my favorite book about the 5 Chinese Brothers. When I pass the old Station 55, I can clearly see the open doors showing off the fire truck inside, and it is impossible for me to be at the intersection of 6th and Monterey without looking up to see if Casey the cowboy has a fresh hat on.
These thoughts are always with me and although the years have come and gone, I recall my childhood days like it was yesterday. I can still feel the cold air on my cheeks and smell the faint odor of a skunk on a fall morning as I wait for the school bus.
Every morning and afternoon I watched Gilroy grow from the view from my window seat. Back then our new, gorgeous Santa Teresa was Morey Avenue. It was two narrow lanes with drainage ditches dropping sharply off right at the white lines all the way from Masten Avenue to First Street. A lake of flood waters accumulated winter after winter where the Sunrise Drive homes now stand. Often times we had to take Monterey Highway to town instead.
I grew up on Day Road and during summer it was a very unfortunate circumstance to be riding your bike to town on Morey Avenue and find yourself at the exact same juncture as two passing cars. I aimed for the ditch more than once knowing there wasn’t enough room for the three of us.
There was a big blue Victorian house at the corner of First Street and Santa Teresa where the Oak Tree Corner Condo’s are. It was beautiful with all of those oak trees and a neatly groomed yard with lots of green lawn. I saw at it every day as we pulled up to the intersection and I wondered who lived in it and what it looked like on the inside as the bus crept forward waiting for our turn at the four way stop sign.
I saw neighborhoods and shopping centers appear in hay fields. I watched the progress each day as we rumbled by and wondered what new stores we would have or who would live in the fancy new houses. I saw the faces of children from every walk of life approach the empty seat next to me and came to understand how differently we all lived.
I can still hear the loud chattering of children as the bus routed me back home down country roads. As the bus slowly brakes to a squeaky stop and the doors swoosh open, I step off and walk towards my house still thinking about all that I had seen and heard that day. The yellow giant spits out a plume of exhaust and the sound of the diesel engine and grinding gears fades away.
It’s not that I’m longing to relive the past and I’m not offended by the growth. I’ve met so many great new people through our various community functions. I’m making mental notes and keeping vivid memories of each and every event and face, and it all flashes before my eyes on a regular basis.