April 2004                                                              The Megaphone                                                                Page 2

Leaving Elwood

by Craig Toensing

My family moved to Elwood from Indianapolis the summer before my senior high school year. I had that year and summer vacations from college in town. 

My brother Trent and I often were struck by how many of our friends strongly expressed the thought somewhat along the lines of "I can't wait to get out of this *#**##* town." We had not heard that expressed in Indianapolis. I think the expressed desire to leave was characteristic of those in their teen years who lived in a small town where much of what those folks desire is missing. In addition there was not much in the way of job opportunities beyond the laborer level. 

I left upon graduation from college followed by a stint in the Marines and then entering the work force. My life's work, trust banking, was just not available in Elwood. I returned to a class reunion in Elwood when I was about 53. One's desires at that age are much different than those at age 18. Upon driving into town on a Friday evening, I was struck by how many youngsters were outside playing in the yards and on porches. Clearly it said this is a safe place. Over the course of the weekend I was also struck by how many of my friends and acquaintances had left Elwood, but over time had moved back, often to raise their families in an environment where values still mattered. 

I am a New Englander now and like it a lot, but I do not dismiss out of hand the thought of living in Elwood.

Submitted by . . .

Craig Toensing '55

My Brother's Bike

by Becky (Hahn) Capps

                                 
Isn't it funny how things stay in a person's mind? For instance as with me I cannot remember what I had to eat yesterday but I can tell you a story about a time I rode my brother's "big" bike.

We lived at 2100 South L Street. I could not have been over 6 or 7 years old at the time. Someone taught me how to ride a two wheeler and I thought I was a big girl. Well, my brother had a "big boy" bike which in my mind was the thing to ride to prove I was big. I walked the bike over to a big rock and climbed on the rock. I got the pedals adjusted so I could get on the bike, start pedaling, and yet not hurt myself on that stupid boy bar. 

I did it . . . I was going around the yard, up and down L Street and up and down 21st street. I was getting tired though and had no way to get off the bike. I did know enough that if I just stopped I was going to fall as there was no way I could reach the ground. If I fell, that bar was going to mean pain for me. I decided that I had to yell for someone to come and get me but everyone was in the house. I rode by the house and hollered for my brother but he did not hear me. I kept riding and screaming. I must have been a sight. 

Finally my mom came out and she was not the person I wanted to see because I knew I was going to be in trouble but I had to get off that bike. Mom saw me and made my sister come out and catch me so I could get off. Then just when I thought I was going to be in trouble mom started saying whoever taught me to ride that bike was going to be in big trouble. The bad part is I recall riding that bike and doing the same thing several times. 

Submitted by . . .  

Becky (Hahn) Capps '77

Elwood

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