Blazers Clubhouse

Took a stroll yesterday, did I, thru the old neighborhood and experienced a rude awakening by doing so. It was painfully clear to this reporter that the aging process had been hard at work here since doing my last survey. It must be all the old home movies I've been watching lately - they leave an impression that things haven't changed much down in Blazerville. Unfortunately that's far from true.

The gathering place for 'all things Blazer' during the first half of the 70s was definitely the front stairs of Don's house. Many an adventure into time and space would begin on these wooden steps with the casual dropping by of the regular gang. (For some reason, I don't recall Rob or Doug ever being a part of this 'stair' gang.) In the winter months, a street hockey game might soon break out; but in the summer, we'd head to the back yard for some dramatic ping-pong action that sometimes lasted past midnight.

But there won't be any late night games here in the near future - based on this picture of the current condition of Don's backyard (below). Don and Co. packed up their ping-pong paddles and related belongings and left the residence long ago, so we can't blame him for what's become of our once pampered home court.

Compare that image (above) with the following one I took of Bartholomew Woods (below) standing in the exact same yard. This was back in the days when the grass would be cut like the greens of a professional golf course. In fact we used to bring out the 'Mad Max' golf game (look for that item on ebay, Bart) for a few rounds on the manicured lawn now and then.

To catch a glimpse of our ping-pongish ways back in 1974, (plus a bonus clip of a day on the slopes) the following video may be employed.