Memories of Yesteryear...

We decided to leave the mall after an hour or so, to seek the target of our trip to Midwest City - my old schools as well as Tinker AFB.

I knew we were near our destination, as Crossroads Mall was within minutes of Midwest City. After getting lost trying to find the main gate to Tinker AFB, I decided to pull over to a gas station to ask for directions.

Midwest City didn't look anything like I remembered it. Then again, I never drove through Midwest City as a child...and my orientation/bearings were off. The girls at the gas station counter pointed me in the right direction, and soon...I found myself looking at a familiar landmark...although it wasn't quite as I remembered it...

I could have sworn the Midwest City Bombers Water Tower used to be shiny silver with distinct black lettering...but looking out the car window, I found the tower rusty-colored and old looking...

And the street that I was driving on looked a bit different as a tornado had ripped through the area a few years ago, wiping out the businesses outside the Main Gate to Tinker AFB.

It was strange to come upon the road to the main gate...and to see the bank that I remembered should have been there. I don't know if the bank has stayed the same...but the building was fully as I remembered it.

I turned right onto Air Depot Blvd., heading towards what I remembered as Midwest City. Turning left would have put me into Tinker AFB, but I didn't think they would let me onto the base. Looking back as I write this, I wish I would have tried. It would have been interesting to visit the base housing area as well as Three Tunnels, Devil's Gate, the bowling alley, library and other buildings I remember so fondly.

I proceeded to try to find Jarman Jr. High. This proved to be more difficult than I thought. I managed to find Midwest City High School, as well as Traub Elementary and our old apartment (the one we lived in before moving to base housing), but Jarman Jr. High proved to be elusive to me.

Although Midwest City High School still looked the same, I couldn't belive how old and run down Midwest City appeared to me. Air Depot Blvd. was littered with old, run-down houses and the stores along the road had not seen any renovations since last I was there. I guess 21+ years can age a city quite a bit...

I felt so old...

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