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The weather turned just about right for Thanksgiving Day. I mean it was right for a little tackle football in our neighborhood growing up. It was partially gray skies and mild, made for football in a lot off of 11th St. or in Tomp and the late Bill Litchfield’s backyard.

The lot ran perpendicular to Bonner and Eleventh Street. It ran in front of Donnie Waters’ house. We always played tackle football on Thanksgiving Day. Sometimes we started early and sometimes we played at Kugler Field about two p.m.

All I would do was to give Bill and Tomp a call and see what they had planned for the afternoon. Usually it was nothing but a football game. We started around two o’clock because that would give us time for our lunch to settle in our stomach. Woody, Bobby, Tomp and Bill Litchfield and Joe Stalls , me and Rose Ann would play.

I could make a phone call and the boys from Summit Ave. came to play. Sometimes I would call Bill Nolley and the gang from Market Street and they would come to play.

We’d play tackle football in the lot behind the Litchfield home. The row of hedges was the perfect barrier from the cars on Bonner Street. But most of us still have scars from those hedges. I know I can count mine.

Cambo Rodman was in charge of Summitt Ave. Ralph Hodges, Cambo, Johnny, Swanson, the late Tommy Stewart and Bill and Hunt Taylor would play. We would get even , with Tomp carrying the load they didn’t have a chance.

That was all I would think about the afternoon of Thanksgiving Day, eating turkey and having collard greens.

Guess I should be more thankful for the blessings I have received and this Thanksgiving day . All the time I was looking at the weather and thinking about what I would be doing that afternoon.

Earlier this week, I learned that my friend, Eddie Gurganus , did the exact same things growing up. He shared that in his era “ the boys” would all meet up for a game in a side yard or other. They all looked forward to a “ wherever” pickup game.

They were the best of times with the best of friends and in the best of places, Washington,NC! The Original Washington!

Harold Jr.