Randy Smith
When I was a young lad, many, many years ago, it was before the interstate highways connected my home in Nashville to the Florida beaches. So, trips and vacations were few and far between. When we did manage to go to the beach it would take two days just to get to Daytona Beach. Highway 41 was the best route to take but it took you through every little town and pig trail there was between here and there. I remember coming through Chattanooga and was always amazed at the beauty of the mountains and the Tennessee River. I always wanted to stop at the "Confederama" which was near the Incline Railway. My parents were never willing to shell out the money so I never got to see it but I fell in love with Chattanooga, never realizing it would become my home for more than 50 years.
Trips to the beach were fun but my favorite vacation trips were a week at my grandparents' house in Waverly, Tn. My parents would always allow me to stay a week with them each summer and I loved it because I got any and everything I wanted for seven days. I remember playing whiffle ball just about everyday with my Waverly friends. We wore out several balls and those plastic bats each summer. When we noticed a crack in the bat for instance, we would cover it with duct tape. We would also cut the handle off and put a broom stick in it, then tape that up as well. We played home run derby, we would play Major League all-star games from the 1960s, with players from both leagues. When Mickey Mantle would come to bat, you would have to use his stance and since he was a switch-hitter, when he faced a right handed pitcher, you would have to bat left-handed.
From the current big league all-stars games we progressed into all-time all-star games. We had Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron facing each other and we even brought back Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and Walter Johnson as well as Rogers Hornsby. It was so much fun and our imaginations ran wild for an entire week. When it was time to go back home as my parents picked me up, I was always glad to see my family but was sad at having to leave such a warm and happy place. Having my Waverly friends for an entire week was very special because during the rest of the year, I would only see them every other Sunday.
Some of those friends are no longer with us and I lost track many years ago with the rest of them. My best friend from Waverly was Jeff Stewart and I haven't heard from him since 1972. I heard he was still in Waverly but have never been able to contact him. So, if you read this, get in touch with me because you were a big part of my life and I would love to catch up.
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Randy Smith can be reached at rsmithsports@epbfi.co