So what’s on your mind?

I’ve lived in Galion much of my life, but for the past 20 years or so, I’ve pretty much JUST lived here.

I worked out of town, I golfed mostly out of town, I vacationed out of town and I usually did my weekly R&R out of town.

That doesn’t mean I have no interest in my hometown, the place I spent most of my youth. It’s just that other things kept me from really knowing what was happening in G-town.

For those who don’t know, I spent about 15 or 16 years at the Galion Inquirer —- oh, ending in the late 1990s. I did a little bit of everything. I wrote sports, I wrote news, I took pictures, I typed obits, I did design and layout and when I left, I was the editor.

And frankly, after that 15 or 16 years of knowing pretty much all that was happening in this community — the good, the bad and the ugly — I was ready for a break from small-town politics and the drama that went with it.

Since I left, we have new school buildings here, we have a few new business, but we also have a lot of old businesses that packed up for one reason or another. The bars and taverns and restaurants I frequented are either shut down, torn down or have new owners.

The only exception that pops into my mind is Wendy’s. Dan Beach was the manager when I left — I worked for Dan for a few years — and he is still running things today. Even a few c0-workers from back in the day are still there. It’s still a favorite place to eat, but I do miss the blue and white striped shirts.

When I left my job as Inquirer editor in 1999, I thought I had a pretty good handle on what folks liked about Galion, what they were kind of fond about, what they were a little sick of, and what they absolutely hated.

Now, I’m kind of in the dark about those things.

So you tell me.

What do you like about Galion?

What do you dislike about Galion?

What do you hate about Galion?

What do you do for fun here?

What would you like to be able to do for fun here?

If you had the chance to change something in Galion, to make the city better, what would it be?

Where are the best places to hang out and have a little fun … for kids, for young adults and for those adults, like myself, who are a little older.

What do you miss about Galion of old?

I guess what I’m trying to get at is this.

When you think of Galion, is your first impression a good one, or is your first thought something negative.

I’m just curious.

If you want to share, send me an email at [email protected]. I really am interested to know what you think.

I get the feeling a lot of folks have negative feelings about this community.

But that’s not unusual. Folks I’ve encountered in other towns and villages share the same sentiments. They all have something negative to say about their communities.

As for myself, I have a lot of good thoughts when I think of this town and my time growing up here.

I spent my summers at Heise Park, playing lob-ball, tennis and basketball and then cooling off at the swimming pool. When I got a little older, I’ll admit to drinking a few beers — discreetly — in our vehicles at that park, which some of us even called Heise Park University.

Autumns meant football season and hayrides and sometimes a little bit of hard cider “borrowed” from a friend’s farm.

Winter was basketball season and sled-riding at Galion Country Club. Yes, just off the 11th hole.

And when spring came along, it was time to think about summer. I always looked forward to our big school picnic and our senior proms, but mostly I just wanted that last day of school to arrive.

As far as romances, young love was as good as it g0t. And for me, it was in Galion where I got my first taste of amore. Mary Beth, Karen, Jill, Denise … you all remain very dear to me.

Those are good memories.

If you grew up here, you must have some, too.

So share if you will.

What do you think — good or bad?

I may use some of your comments or recollections in a future column, but mostly I’m curious.

No community is perfect, although any place with miles of white sandy beaches and an ocean breeze is pretty darn close in my book.

But all in all, Galion was a pretty great place to grow up.

Is it still?

Send me a note about your memories. My email address is [email protected].