THE MEDINA HAYRIDE

*** A hayride was a big event in Medina . They were usually sponsored by a local church . A Youth Minster or Sunday School teacher did the driving.

All you needed for a hayride was a long flat - bed trailer, a few bales of straw and a tractor. I don't think the church leaders knew they were pulling a mobile Lover's Lane .They had their back to all the action.

In 1963 I was going on the hayride with Peggy Lee Tate . You have to understand ,Peggy Lee was Smoking Hot. She was the most beautiful girl in the world. At least in Gibson ,Madison ,& Carroll counties anyway.

When Peggy Lee left Medina they retired her sweater . Put in right up there in the trophy case.

Peggy had already caused me to almost fail the 8th grade. She cheated on her test by writing the answers high on her leg. When teacher wasn't looking Peggy would raise her skirt & get the answers.

I could not finish my test . The teachers screamed at me "what have you been doing " & you had plenty of time".

I knew I needed help to appear worldly . My Baptist Church thought wearing a tie was worldly but a tie didn't seem right for a hayride . So I bought a pack of cigarettes instead .

So on the hayride we go . I opened my pack of Winston & lit one . Having never smoked before , I was seized by a coughing fit like those guys with TB.

When I finished coughing I leaned over & put my best kiss on Peggy Lee. She kissed back . I knew what the Apostle Paul was speaking of when he was caught up to the third heaven .

Being in a state of bliss , & not being an experienced smoker ,I didn't know what to do with my Winston . So I laid that sucker down .

Seconds later a flash fire erupted on the hayride . Straw burns really fast . Couples were forced to untangle & dive to safety . This caused a lot of bruises & skinned knees.

Last we saw of the youth minster he was pulling a pillar of fire down Lonnie Holt Road . Everybody was really whizzed at me & Peggy Lee was less than impressed.

Some Good came from this . I never smoked again !!