Memories of Tempe, Arizona in 1982


Let's turn the wayback machine to 1982, and go to Tempe, Arizona!

Actually, I really don't have a wayback machine - all I have is a 64 year-old memory, and some old Polaroid photos that I scanned in, and the undeniable fact that I was there at that time. My diploma from ASU is from 1983, but only because I finished up my credits in the winter, and the diplomas weren't printed until the next spring. So I will be focusing on truthful, and verifiable, stuff, but I'll be looking at through rose-colored glasses, of course!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Of course over the years I've tried to give the impression that I did all of the typical things that ASU students did, like go to concerts, or games, or restaurants, but it's really not true. I was on such a limited budget that even buying film for my camera meant that it was a special time. That darned car (which I loved) was always breaking down, and it alone sucked a large percentage of the money I earned, which I did doing freelance graphic design.

I do remember going to the Chuckbox, and Minder Binders, but other than those places I really didn't eat out much, not even McDonalds, which was right there on Apache, but I never knew about it. Wherever I went to buy groceries, or do my laundry is lost in a memory that can still remember the beautiful girls of ASU, and I'm OK with that. Seems to me I went to El Rancho?

I lived for two years in a converted garage on Wildermuth Road, which is just south of Apache, and west of Price. And if you're familiar with the neighborhood, and are wondering if it was nice back then, no it wasn't. It was cheap. I didn't need much, a place to park the Sonett, and place to hang my hat. It had excellent air conditioning (the apartment, not the car), so I was pretty comfortable there.

If you're familiar with the area, I was near the railroad tracks, and would often walk along them down to Tri-City mall. Of course I never bought anything there, but when I did have money to spend I would treat myself to a breakfast at Denny's (or was it a Sambo's?). I spent a lot of time walking by the tracks, as the area was wide open back then, and I would often borrow my neighbor's dogs and go visit the farm that was just west of me. The farm was where the condos are now, and the area was so empty that there were beehives over by the canal.

I was very happy there for many reason, the first of which is that I wasn't in Minnesota, where I grew up. In Arizona I had my own place, and the sense of freedom is something that I can still taste. And I would walk out into the open field (where the light industrial area is now) and watch the sunsets. 

I could go on and on, and I probably will, but right now seems a good place to stop for now. Thank you for helping me with my Arizona memories. And yes, I'll have another beer, if you're having one!

Thank you for the encouragement! If you want to see daily pics of my adventures on my recumbent trike in suburban Phoenix (just for fun, of course!) you can follow me on Buy me a coffee, and you can buy me a coffee if you'd like to:

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