Childhood Memory - Philadelphia Freedom

The first time I heard Philadelphia Freedom, I was riding in the back of a 1970 Chevy Nova with my Dad, Brother Cory, Grampa Jack, Uncle Grayden, and my great Uncle Danny. We were on the way to the church for Allen’s wedding. Allen was Danny’s son and my Grampa had married Danny’s little sister Nora, my grandma. I remember all the men singing along, and me just grinning. I suppose they were trying to make me smile because I was pouting since I had to ride with the men. My mom and Grandma were in another car with two of the bridesmaids. I wanted to ride in that car, with the women. My mom thought I would wrinkle the dresses and decided there wasn't room for me.

All the men had on black tuxedos with yellow ruffled shirts and bow-ties. We stopped in the front yard for a few pictures, some laughing, and then we piled in the car. They passed around cans of beer and had more saved in a paper sack for later. Everyone except my brother, had a beer in their hand, and Allen said nobody better say anything to Colleen or else she’d never make it to the end of the aisle later. Colleen was one of my babysitters. The sternest sitter we ever had at that time. The men squashed me in the middle of the seat between Uncle Danny and Grampa. I had to sit on the hump in the back seat. I was 5 years old, and it made me sit nice and tall so I really didn't mind. I remember the darkness of the car, the black seats and black roof liner and all the other black and chrome features in that car. I felt like I was stuck riding in a hearse with a group of overdressed pallbearers. Black was all around me, combined with the faint smell of Hamm’s beer wafting by my nose with each burst of laughter.

We pulled out of the driveway that summer day, and as soon as we were out of the driveway, my dad turned up the AM radio. By the end of our little street, the song had changed, and Elton John was blaring through the speakers of that burgundy nova. My little arms folded across my chest, so everyone would know how angry I felt. That's when it began, Uncle Danny started, “I used to be a rolling stone,” by the first line of the chorus, my Grandpa joined him. “Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia Freedom. A smile melted the icy frown on my lips and soon my dad, uncle and brother were singing too. I know the song is short, only three minutes long, but that day the song played for what felt like 30 minutes. By the last stanza, I too was singing along. Every time I hear Philadelphia Freedom shining down on me, I am lifted up in spirit and in my heart. I smile, I sing along and can’t help but let my thoughts drift back to that day in 1975 and the joy those four men and one boy brought to a sad, pouty little girl.