I could have sworn I saw Greasy Adam...

Several days ago, I discovered some pages on Facebook that caught my attention.  One was entitled, "I Grew up in Groves" and the other is "Gulfway Drive".  I quickly scanned the posts from people that used to or still live in the area and memories of my youth started coming back to me.

I still remember the beautiful pecan trees, heavy with sap hanging over every car and carport in sight. The slower pace of life, riding bikes to Port Neches Park and Jefferson City.  Visiting friends by walking to their house, discovering short cuts to and from Bruces Supermarket.  Those are the days I remember.

I also remember the teenage years of cruising the drag on Gulfway Drive. One of the characters in "The Long Road from Perdition" would have been riding shotgun if he really existed.  Greasy Adam was the easygoing and clumsy substitute brother for Nicholas during his hospital stay in Beaumont. 

I can see him smiling broadly, taking occasional swigs of beer and reaching for his ever present cigarette tucked in his greasy curls, behind the ear. I loved his character, he was able to be himself while still fitting in wherever he was socially.  Nurse Trahan had a love/hate relationship with him because he liked to goof off and always broke her stringent rules. 

He was a big kid and I think that was important for Nicholas to observe when he was going through some of the roughest times of his life.  It's almost as if Greasy Adamtaught him how to be free.  I'd like to think that afterNurse Trahan and Greasy Adam meet Nicholas, that she has a bit more patience for Adam. 

Sometimes that's all you can do when you're at the mercy of a workplace that is less than desirable.  As for Greasy Adam, I can still see him hot-rodding on Gulfway Drive while listening to Van Halen with a cigarette planted in his greasy hair behind his ear.

JRS