I just got back from my 40th high school reunion. I had a great time, swapping lies and stories. My hometown is fairly special, Abilene, KS.
What other small town can boast Wild Bill Hickok and Dwight Eisenhower, nevermind Marlin Fitzwater or even Steve Doocy? Â Sprint was started in Abilene, too, btw.
Anyway, so I am checking into the motel the first night and the clerk was this old weathered Kansan, must have been nearly 80 years old.
In Kansas, when you sign in, they start asking you questions…it’s what they do.
Clerk: So, Hoffman. You related to any of the Hoffmans here in town.
Me: No, not any more. But I was from here. Name’s GL.
Clerk: Pleased to meet you, my name is Jim Doocy.
Me: Oh, you must be Steve’s dad.
Clerk: (Much, much more animated now). Yeah, that’s right.
Me: You must be really proud of him, I enjoy watching him.
Clerk: Yeah, and you know, he is just the same when he is off camera. Just a normal guy.
Me: Looks like it
, although a bit goofy.Clerk: Yeah, lives in a million dollar house and wears jeans all the time. Does his own home maintenance stuff too. Used to follow me around, I worked construction all my life.
Me: Ok, great, well, tell him I said hi. (How was that for an inane comment, I do not know Steve Doocy at all…and I say tell him I said hi??) Small towns.
All in all, a great visit…got to spend some time with great old friends and I can’t wait til the next one. Ok, check that, that will be 50!
Unreal.
8 users commented in " Wild Bill, Ike, Steve Doocy and Kenny/Conrad/Tom, et al. "
Yeah, Abilene is a small town but big people come from and to here…….some just visit and some stay (they are the really old ones, lol). Steve Doocy used to be our weather man on channel 13 and used to hop around like a flea on a hot skillet. His sister and brother-in-law lived in the house east of us for several years so we watched him arrive in his very large Lincoln (no doubt on a retreat from his million dollar house after doing all the fix up stuff).
I think what made this even more noteworthy to me was I could see my own dad in Steve’s dad. On my infrequent trips back home, he had almost a schedule for me of people to visit, mostly his loafing buddies. I bet Steve has to put up with the same stuff from his dad. I am trying my best not to put my kids through that.
One of the most fascinating thing to us big-town folks (Houston, TX) is the intimacy of small towns. Everyone literally knows everyone else’s business! My wife went to the post office the first time, and the postmaster (a sterotypical little old lady) commented, “Oh, you’re the folks that live in Rose’s old house!”
We’re so used to anonyminity (sp?), it took some gettin’ used to!
Hey, GL, thanks for joining us on the World Tour!
This is a very good way of putting it. It is the intimacy, affection almost. People are actually friendlier, not so much nosey, as just friendly. I miss that, although my town here in Minnesota is friendly too.
Thanks for this! Those small town folks have the luxury of knowing what’s most important. Talk about your hidden treasures!
GL, wonderful window into the world of Abilene! Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Hey GL,
My dad is 75 in two weeks, not 80.
I saw your post and wanted to set the record straight.
Steve Doocy
Thanks, Steve, and keep up the good work. I watch every morning…
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