vibin N' madison

or as I wanted to call it, 'MAD 4 MADISON', but I was overruled by the supreme council of 37115. Even the concept of vibin N' madison has been scoffed and giggled at by my closest and dearest hearts. "But Why" as they snicker from their HOA pulpits and here's why. I grew up here. Went to elementary school at Gateway, went to Goodlettsville HIgh School, cruised Rivergate and Madison Square on Friday and Saturday nights where I got into fights and/or made out and tore those streets up as a kid. It's my stomping grounds. Uncle Roscoe had a grocery store out on Neelys and I remember when there was no mall, Myatt Drive didn't exist and that was the coolest Sears in the world but we couldn't afford it and school clothes were bought at K-Mart.

This is my home. I've seen it go from Bee Hive hairdos to whatever it is they do today. I assure myself our big hair in the 80s was worse that whatever the youngsters are doing today. There is one thing for certain, Madison has changed, but one thing for certain, it's a lot more diverse culturally. Madison needs a little work, it's seen better days, but better days are coming. Another thing is certain, we're a helluva lot less Vegas a whole lot more Ville. I see more people sitting on front porches talking to neighbors, more block parties and flower beds with pink flamingos from all walks of life and from all parts of the world. Parts of Madison haven't been touched in my 60 years and frankly, that's cool. It's my roots. You can pull the boy can out of the trailer park, but you can't pull the trailer park out of the boy. LOL, I ain't too proud to admit that. A potted meat and tomato sandwich with a slice of onion is still comfort food I can call on when I need it. Driving by where I got my ass kicked when I was 16 in the Rivergate parking lot is still a humbling drive by. "Don't run that mouth and get too big for your britches, especially when he's twice your size". LOL, that was a lesson learned Timmy boy!!