Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Natural Gas

This is a scene outback of the Metro garage for our fleet of city buses. Not only have cars changed but the look of a city bus has too. There used to be an abandoned 50's style one in a field I passed on my way home. It was there for about 25 years. Each trip past it, brought back adventures. I took the bus everyday to school from kindergarten to third grade. Kindergarten? I'm still amazed at that. I had to buy a weekly bus ticket, have it punched twice a day and not lose it. Later when I lived on Deering Street, I took the bus to work in the summer. Along the way, it picked up my 70-something buddy, Fillinger, and he would commence to regale me with anecdotes of his adventures in WWII and growing up in the city. He was what you would call a 'character'. We worked all day together and the stories came non-stop. One particular thing about him was that he gave everyone nicknames based on one's looks or deeds. He even gave Elenka one: "Doris", because he thought she looked like Doris Day. I was 'christened' Rocker, because I reminded him of some rock star gone bad. I was never called by my real name, just Rocker. His stories were tinged with bawdy humor and language and revealed a much simpler day. I enjoyed them , because the city and its history was always the backdrop. I miss the old guy. He was a fine teller of tales. He had gas to go all day!

27 comments:

  1. Fillinger (even his name is a classic) sounds like he was a wonderful friend Birdman, methinks you might have picked up some 'teller of tales' talent from him along the way, such a compliment to his memory!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, so glad you added the "to go all day."

    ReplyDelete
  3. tres graphique, on dirait une machine infernale , cela fait un beau contraste avec les velos

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes, I was Doris for a while. I even ended up signing you birthday and other cards 'Doris' for a spell.
    But he was right. You'll always be my rock star.
    I remember you told me he lived in a little apartment in the flat iron building. Everytime time I see that building I think of him even though I do not believe I've ever met him!

    Doris is home! Back from the blast furnace aka Florida. I love palm trees.

    Que Sera, Sera.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Interesting pipe work. And quite an interesting story too. At least you got nice nicknames. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. welcome home, doris...i know rocker is delighted to have you back in his arms again. so rocker, was this the guy you worked with in the cemetery?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well spotted! Those pipes make for a great shot along with their shadows.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds like Fillinger knew how to enjoy life!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Brattcat, yes. I spent every summer day for 9 years with him. We were a team and spent most of our time cleaning grave stones and talking to the foreman Herbie.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You have taken over as a great story teller Rocker!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nice shot but and even nicer story. I can't believe you rode the bus at that young age. Couldn't imagine sending someone that young on the bus these days.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great character for a book ... love your caption today for your story!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Rocker huh, how did you come up with Birdman.

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a beautiful story, full of memories, the idea of nicknames is fun !!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hey Rocker! Nice story. Some of us old guys can tell lots of tall tales but not too many of us have enough gas to go all day!

    "Donut run" indeed! Sheesh!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Are you sure his name wasn't Jacob? Rocker and Doris. I can picture the two of you, but how did a Doris fall for a Rocker? (Glad she is back home.)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Being a natural gas engineer I love your photo, I enjoyed your story even more.

    ReplyDelete
  18. So, do you have stories about losing your bus ticket? That seems like an interesting way for a young child to ride to school! I hope you traveled with a few friends every day.

    ReplyDelete
  19. That gas pipe looks like a sculpture. Probably would sell for a small fortune. Story tellers I love em.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello Rocker!

    Nice story. I always love listening to the stories of old people even when I was young. I used to hang around with my grandfather just to listen to his adventures.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Rocker, Great story... I never ever rode a bus to school or anywhere. In our small town, we all walked to school.... So--I don't have any bus stories.
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  22. Were those days really simpler of does it just feel that way when seen in the rear view mirror?

    ReplyDelete
  23. it's sad that these great story tellers like your friend fillinger are dying off...this generation of children won't have any interesting stories to share when they are old, i don't even think they'll know how to communicate without a cellular device :/

    ReplyDelete