The Bike Jump

Mercy, I'v been sitting here reading some of the blogs you guys have been writing and it is bringing back so many memories!!

In my Jr High and High School years we lived over. in what was called "Cox Addition" I never knew why it was called that but it was. During my grade school years we lived just west of the grade school up that hill and we were right up at the top. Stan Tucker lived about half way up on the next street south of us, so I could go down the ally behind our house and stop at his house and we would go on to school together. Dr. Hogaboom (spell?) lived directly behind us and we always had to watch crossing the street to make sure Dr. Hogaboom wasn't coming. He was noted for how fast he drove and he might be a little "high" also. He had a drinking problem.

Then I remember riding my bike down that hill to school. There was a bar ditch at the upper west end of the school yard and I would hit that ditch and jump several feet in the air with my bike. Then the bright idea struck! Just how far could I jump if I really got up my speed coming down that hill?? So I let all of my friends know to be sure to watch when I came back to school after lunch. (Most of us did go home for lunch, only the "country kids" brought their lunches.) So on that fateful day I started from the top of the hill and got up my speed really good. I crossed over onto the sidewalk and then went across the Kelly's lawn and got a good staraight shot at that ditch. I remember sailing into the air and doing a flip in the air, the next thing I remember is waking up on the couch outside of Mrs. Johnson's office. I was having a hard time breathing, my chest hurt really bad. The school nurse kept me there until I felt better, and then sent me back to my classroom. Mercy! Amazing - no broken bones!