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Bob
Batz
Read Bob's bio and previous columns
January 16, 2009
Story of the Streets
Some roll smoothly off the tongue like the first line of a
Robert Frost poem. Others don’t.
I’m talking about the names of the streets, roads, avenues, courts,
boulevards and what-have-you here in my little corner of America.
I was reading the telephone directory the other day –
sometimes I do that when I can’t find anything else to read – and I
started noticing the names.
Many, like Fifth Street and Center Street, don’t show any
imagination whatsoever. Others, however, including Mystic Drive,
Windsong Trail and Serene Place do.
Sure, you can move into a house on Fourth Street, but wouldn’t it be a
lot more fun to live on Candy Lane, or maybe Whisper Drive?
Center Road is a nice enough name for a ribbon of concrete,
but wouldn’t it be more comforting to know you reside in a house or
apartment on Windsong Trail, Snowbank Circle or Misty Oaks Court?
During our 45 years as husband and wife, Sally and I have
lived on our share of streets with boring names, including Main Street,
Maple Street and 12th Street. Yawn.
But I would have traded every one of those places for a
chance to hang my hat in a house on Sail Boat Run, Pine Needles Drive,
Wild Ivy Way or Morning Glory Lane.
Some names beg explanations, like Desert Turtle Court. I
mean, are there really turtles in the desert? Huh? Huh?
Patriotism was obviously taken into consideration when naming
Betsy Ross Circle and Blue and White Boulevard.
And some pretty famous people got their names on streets when they
opened Winston Churchill Drive and John Glenn Road.
Some names are quite whimsical, like Woodchuck Court and
Bandit Trail. Others are a tad more serious, including Symphony Way and
Misty Oaks Court.
Have a sweet tooth? All you have to do is move to Fudge Street.
While we’re on the subject of streets, are there any ducks on Mallard
Glen Court or Duckview Court?
Looking to live in a spicy neighborhood? Try Nutmeg Court.
Love poetry? Move to a home on Ace Place.
Many, many thoroughfares have “people” names like Daphne, Louise,
Carolyn, Charles, Peggy, Pollyanna, Rex, Patty and Zelda.
If you’re planning to take life easy soon, check out the real
estate ads for properties on Leisure Drive.
And while we’re asking questions, how long is Short Street and are there
any pint-size baseball players on Little League Drive?
Hey, does Straight Street have any curves? Hey, again, does
Woodchuck Court have any . . . um . . . woodchucks?
The neat street names go on and on . . . How fast should you drive on
Radar Drive? Are there any large outbuildings on Red Barn Way?
Love birds? Then Wren Circle is the street for you.
And, if you’d like to see the snow, ice, and freezing temperatures go
away, just pack up your things and make the move to Winter’s End Trail.
© 2009
North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.
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