I recently took my wife and daughter to visit my childhood home and town of Porterville, California. Just as people say, upon revisiting, most things do seem smaller now.... the Murray Park Lake, once imposing, now looks quaintly small. The town pool seems to have been abandoned, yet still holds memories; of seeing my little brother and sisters standing under the magic mushroom fountain in the kiddee pool, my first jump off a high dive and the squeals of delight and laughter from all the pool's visiting children, somehow still resonating in the still winter air. Our old "Redwood House" and surrounding homes have sadly begun to show their age. I can still see and remember the basketball goal that my Dad so lovingly attached to the garage,(much less far from the street than I remembered) and all the fun adventures I had with my friend and nextdoor neighbor Valdez Miller. Main Street looks much less long and I was sad that Mel's Diner where Valdez and I bought hamburgers and root beers each Saturday has long since disappeared. The Porter Theater, the special "palace" for so many Saturday kid's matinees, Root Beer Barrels, Jujubees, popcorn, and black and white "serials" is now sadly closed. I remembered my Dad's newspaper building, where he worked for many years, now divided into many small shops. I was always so proud to visit with him there, and had such fun using his typewriter. The Post Office held special memories of walking up its' stairs and playing around its' columns, in the company of my "Papa" when he would visit us from Indiana. I miss those warm summer walks and long talks with him very much! A favorite restaurant (now Chinese) remains, with its' "Pig Chef" sign and logo still displayed on an outside wall. I have very fond memories of having pancakes or waffles there with my Dad, on some special Saturday mornings. Much has changed here but oddly the memories remain, now nearly 50 years later, still vivid for me. A very special visit back to childhood's playground, made even more so being able to share those memories and my Porterville story with my daughter and wife....