If you remember these things in Central Oregon, you probably have gray hair and lived awhile in Central Oregon. In other words, you’re an old fart.

Do you remember when JC Penney’s had stores in downtown Redmond, Bend and Prineville?

Do you remember Patrick’s Cent-Wise Drugs had an Indian at the front door?

Do you remember Kit Bowlby at Hogan’s Men’s Store, who knew the names of every mother and son?

You might remember that, to place a call from or to Lower Bridge, the person had to ask the operator of “Ma Bell” to ring the right number of longs and shorts on your brand new crank telephone.

Do you remember that when logging trucks came through town, the logs were big enough to fill the truck — and it took no more than three pine trees? The trees came from all over Central Oregon.

Buddy Lee dolls had lots of different outfits, including a cowboy, a milk man, a railroad worker. Where did you see him in Redmond?

All the boys in 4-H got a new shirt, blue jeans and Justin cowboy boots so they looked good during showmanship.

You might remember when there only used to be one street to travel on in downtown Redmond — 6th Street. That was the Old Bend/Redmond Highway. The current Highway 97 wasn’t built yet.