Hi everyone,
Every time I walk down the hall into my office, the first thing I see is a bowling pin propped against the wall. It came from Zodiac Lanes, a bowling alley that operated in Camdenton, Missouri for more than thirty years. It was owned and run by a man named DON BARRETT. Sandy and I owned part of the shopping center where Zodiac Lanes was located, including that building and a Glen Block Hardware and Building Supply next door that was part of my own business, Glenstone Block Company.
When the highway was rerouted around that area, Don was eventually forced to close the business he loved so much. There is a long, personal story about how the Zodiac was eventually torn down and we sold the land to the City of Camdenton and how I came to have this bowling pin my office.
I will tell you that Don Barrett is a man of honor, a man of strong convictions who loves his family, community, his country, and his friends. You who visit my blog know his name and have read his poetry and comments. This morning, coming down the hall and seeing the pin he gave me made me want to say, “Hi, Don. I’m glad we are friends.”
Next door to the office was a bowling alley, Zodiac Lanes, owned and operated by Don Barrett. When Highway 5 North was bypassed a few years ago, businesses up and down the street began to suffer from loss of traffic. The Zodiac, after decades of providing good times and memories for its patrons, finally fell victim too.
The other day when I stood there taking these pictures, I felt a profound feeling of sadness for what once was and will never be again.
Children's Author David L. Harrison's Blog 