Cruisin' Maine

When you live in a small town there's not much to do on a Friday night. Unless you have a car and a few friends. Then you can 'cruise Maine'. And yes I'm spelling it like the state of Maine not Main, that little fact confused the heck out of my city-boy husband.

So, let's hit the bricks! Let's cruise!

Goodland, Ks has a beautiful red brick Maine Street and some pretty nifty buildings. Check out the art deco. This is the telephone building...I think.
This is the old First National Bank building. When I was in high school it was The Family Bookstore. I worked at the bookstore and loved every minute of it. I got to do all the window displays which were primarily made up of Precious Moments figurines and these strange little gnome creatures that people loved to collect. The owner's of the store were two older women that I adored. Now the building has succumbed to the fate of the times and it stands empty with a for sale sign on the door.
This is the GAC, the Goodland Activities Center. It opened when I was in 8th grade. My parents refused to let me get a membership. I could only go play racquetball when I was invited by my boyfriend and then I was too embarrassed to really show my skilz because I might mess up my hair or start to sweat. Needless to say he didn't invite me more than a couple of times. So I broke up with him, hmph!

Workin' at the car wash, at the car wash, yeah!

Remember that little car cartoon? He would turn into a hot rod and save the day. What was it called? I know someone reading should know. This is no longer a car wash, but that painting has been up there for as long as I can remember.

Okay, this is the Administration Office for USD 352. Tell me that's not the cutest thing you ever did see? It sits on Maine Street across from Central School. Rechelle and I both felt that Central School was the coolest elementary school in town.....we didn't go to Central.

Good Lord. Daylight Donut. I only have two things to say about this place and only Goodlanders will understand what I'm talking about.

Daylight Dave
and
Donut Run

Well, okay, donut run is pretty obvious. But Daylight Dave? There was only one of him and I don't think I need to do much splainin' about DayLIGHT Dave.

The movie theatre. This little place is so cool. We used to go to the movies on Tuesday nights because they only charged 2 bucks. Two Buck Tuesdays. Cruisin' Maine and going to the movies was about the only thing to do....well....except....parking. Not that I would know anything about going parking, as far as my parents know, I am still a vestal virgin. My children are immaculate conceptions. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

This used to be Collage Limited. The creme de la creme of dress shops. My sister and I would press our faces against the windows and beg our mom to go in and try on every outfit in the store. One side was for women and one side was for kids. Collage Ltd. was the only place in town you could buy Estee Lauder make up. But the most fascinating thing in the store was the large bins of potpourri. They had potpourri made out of dried rosebuds that I considered the most beautiful concoction on earth.

That's it, that's all I've got from Maine St.

I'm off to church to repent of my parking violations...ha hahahahaha. Oh, I'm crackin' myself up, parking violations. Get it? Never mind.