Gold Pile Posted September 2, 2010 Posted September 2, 2010 An old man with a limp was in my way at the supermarket. The image of the limp revived an old memory from my early youth. Early 1970's, my teenaged aunt came around with her new boyfriend. To us little kids a guy in his 20's was really cool. All the power of an adult but not acting like a parent. He had all the right stuff for the times.... Patched jeans, an Army shirt with peace sign patches, long shaggy hair, head-band, and a hand braided "peace belt". My cousin Bob Pile and I were really impressed. His nickname was Captain Purple. We were awe struck that he had a limp...how cool was that! Unlike the other hippie clones he had a purple glove on one hand. He approached us kids and said things like "peace", and "groovy". Just when he couldn't get any cooler...my Aunt explained the glove was metal and used to hide the fact that his left hand was lost in an accident. We were floored!! We made up stories of Captain Purple. ....That he used his metal glove to beat up crooks that picked him up when he hitch-hiked. He killed a guy who stole his 8-track tape. The stories spread. Soon the Captain had a loyal following with the neighborhood kids.... a legend. When he and my Aunt walked about, we all followed to see what mayhem would regret coming his way. When nothing happened, those that weren't there got wild reports of the Captain's havoc from those who were there. Really all he ever did was smoke joints and pot pipes with other hippies. We lived for the moments when he would flash the peace sign at a friend. (a secret code between warriors no doubt) . When ever someone picked him up hitch-hiking, we would hear tales ... "that guy in the Chevy that picked him up was a bank robber, the Captain beat him senseless" He faded away eventually. Back to today, I looked the old man over and noted the prosthetic hand. "Captain Purple!" I shouted. It took a few minutes to jog his memory of me, of my Aunt more correctly. He became sad when he realized the man talking to him (I'm no spring chicken) was one of those little kids. Made him feel old. We caught each other up on things. Those were good times for him, the other young men were drafted, away at school to avoid the draft, or in hiding in Canada. Even a limping guy could score. He ended up being a bookeeper and recently retired at age 62. He didn't have any tales of bloodshed or crooks. He said he would later be heading to the Social Security office to straighten out some issue with his benefit check . I' called my cousin Bob Pile and told him who I just ran into. An hour ago my Aunt called me and wanted to know what was all this about Capt Purple planning to kick ass at the Soc Sec office.
Veronica K Posted September 3, 2010 Posted September 3, 2010 Haha...Captain Purple will never be able to live down the great many things he never did.
Author Gold Pile Posted September 8, 2010 Author Posted September 8, 2010 Haha...Captain Purple will never be able to live down the great many things he never did. Thank You Veronica for replying to my lonely post. I think the references to the early 1970's are too early for the LS crew.
D-Lish Posted September 8, 2010 Posted September 8, 2010 Thank You Veronica for replying to my lonely post. I think the references to the early 1970's are too early for the LS crew. I was a little kid in the 70's. All the kids in my neighbourhood talked about "Dr. Moon". He was a crazy man that apparantly caught and ate children if they stepped onto his property. Captian Purple sounds cooler.
Author Gold Pile Posted September 9, 2010 Author Posted September 9, 2010 I was a little kid in the 70's. All the kids in my neighbourhood talked about "Dr. Moon". He was a crazy man that apparantly caught and ate children if they stepped onto his property. Captian Purple sounds cooler. and you look too youthful to have been around in the 70's. Strictly speaking Capt Purple probably ate my Aunt (so to speak)
D-Lish Posted September 9, 2010 Posted September 9, 2010 and you look too youthful to have been around in the 70's. Strictly speaking Capt Purple probably ate my Aunt (so to speak) Oh I am sure he did- which is why he is cooler:p I was born in '69 baby:cool:
alphamale Posted September 9, 2010 Posted September 9, 2010 I' called my cousin Bob Pile and told him who I just ran into. do you have another cousin named gomer pile?
Author Gold Pile Posted September 9, 2010 Author Posted September 9, 2010 do you have another cousin named gomer pile? :lmao::lmao: that's great
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