🧑‍🤝‍🧑 / 🏡 Remember cruisin'?

[sean]

Or just hanging out with friends? Does anybody do that, anymore?

Back in day, we used to hang out/cruise in local parking lots. There was 2 main lots we used to hang out at, and they were across the street from each other. We'd also hang out at a couple of the fast food places, but we only did that if we bought something (they had rules and would let you hang out as long as you wanted so long as you bought something...even if it was just a drink) And I'm not exaggerating when I say there was probably 200 cars. And the thing is, I can remember only 1 actual fight happening; and nobody got shot. It was a fist fight that lasted a few seconds, then it stopped, then we all went back to what we were doing after the guys got separated and sent opposite directions. We all just hung out, in our cars, not causing any trouble. And if we drove, we drove slow through the lots and didn't cause issues by acting like idiots. We respected that the businesses were still open and still had customers (although most times we waited until late to show up so as not to be too much of a hassle).

Back then, "mini trucks" were the hot thing. I had a Nissan, my best friend had a Mazda, a couple other guys had Mazdas, a couple other guys had Toyotas, and a couple more had S-10s. One guy had a red Monte Carlo SS. One guy had a nice, custom VW Beetle. And we all had systems with highs, mids, subs, and multiple amps.

Those were some fun times. It was between the ages of 18 and 21. Out of high school and still too young to go to a bar/club.

So does anybody go cruisin' anymore?

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

I don't do it anymore, I hate being on the road unless I have to be (unless it's some scenic drive situation). I do miss the days as a teen though when we'd load up in a car (usually mine) or two and drive from Daphne to Gulf Shores via the back roads in the evenings. We'd usually end up driving around for a while, going into Gulf State Park, down to Ft. Morgan, etc. Would often times come back up Hwy 98 and pass Judge Roy Beans on the way home. RIP to the Goat.

 

[rick4bama]

Taking my friend's Dad's Fork Workings truck out was something we would do. We would drive from Dairy Queen to Amigo's fast food joint to the Dairy King. Then we would do the same thing, but reverse it! On Saturday nights, we would engage in an extreme activity by driving the entire 13 miles to Wedowee and then back to Roanoke.

 

[TerryP]

Or just hanging out with friends? Does anybody do that, anymore?

Every day. Well, almost every day. But, it's on the patio or the deck at my house...on his deck at Dustin's, or Dennis and his wife...either patio or front porch. What's changed is we don't go anywhere to hang out. It's not even planned. It all depends who shows up where. Dustin showed up here yesterday with a battery he'd found at work...fits my new saw. He brought beer and called Dennis...who called Carol...who called Heather...who saw Patrick at the store...who brought his wife.

Now, on the "cruisin'" thing.

My older cousin, Mike, had a Gran Torino SS. He's probably 10 years older than I am...not sure. But, I remember him talking about hitting the Sonic in Huntsville. That car was BAD ASS. '72, deep forest green two door...had that stripe on the sides that was gold turning into a darker color as it faded to the back. The rear quarter panel on that car was huge...cool design.

But no. Never cruised. On Friday nights in the summer we'd shoot each other with BB guns. Or wiffle ball, A LOT. It's a bit weird thinking about it...I was on a bike a lot, going fishing. Now, I'm still doing both though the pole isn't on the bike (most of the time. I had my bream buster on the bike two days ago because of a thread @doemasters started.)