First Times

They say there is a first time for everything. This is my first blog so I decided to write about my first times. Not every first time! Some I prefer to not tell to everybody. Wait come back. You might find some of my other firsts interesting. Like the first time I saw Peoria!

The first time I saw Peoria it was from the middle of the Illinois River. It was also the first time I had drived anything with a motor in it. Well actually it was an outboard motor on my uncle's racing boat. My dad was not happy when he found out but since he was not there to prevent it I was having a great time leaving the barges in my wake . I was having a blast so the skyline of Peoria made little if any impression on me a mere lad of seven. The fact that I was sitting on three life saving seat cushions rather than my uncle's lap had me higher than a kite. Well high enough to see where I was steering . I will always remember my uncle for trusting me with one of his very favorite things. It was the first but not the last time my uncle would provide me with a first time.

The next time I saw Peoria was 13 years later. I was in my first car { a double barreled 283 dark blue 57 chevy] headed for my future wife's house to meet her family for the first time. On my way to her house I had my first car troubles. I had stopped to get a room at the Pere Marquette as I planned to spend 4 days visiting in Peoria. However the price quickly changed my mind. Little did I know that just a few years later I would be hired to manage the hotel I could not afford to stay in. But That is a story better saved for another time. {to be continued my supper awaits me.] Besides I want to see how this first blog looks when I hit the publish button.