One of the many cherished memories I have of Linda and the one that inadvertently making a huge impact on my life. Linda came to visit me in Florida and was there for my 14th birthday. Her mother had sent me $25. In trying to decide what to get, Linda told me that she knew that you could buy a refurbished pin ball machine for $25. Well I didn’t believe her, but she convinced me to get out the telephone book and call around and see. Well, she was right and off we went to find the best pin ball machine I could buy for my $25. The next morning we caught the beach express bus to downtown St. Petersburg and walked to couple of blocks to the small store front that barely looked open.
Inside we met the man I had talked to on the phone and explained that I whaant the best used pin ball machine he had. He led us to the back where there was a whole wall of machines that he said he would sell and deliver for my $25. So for the next hour we walked back and forth trying to decide which machine would be the best.
Hawaiian Beauty was our choice as it was in the best shape and looked difficult enough to be fun and challenging. The deal was done.
To celebrate we went a few doors down to have lunch at the Coney Island Hot Dog restaurant for the first time.(One I would visit many times over the years.) Then off to Del Webb’s City to see the Mermaids before heading home.
The story doesn’t end here. Not only did that machine provide endless hours of fun for me and my friends, but hours of misery for my mother that had to listen to bang and knocking into the night. But that beauty also intrigued my curiosity into how it worked and by teaching myself how to keep it running smoothly eventually led to me getting into the Electronics Industry and latter computers. And that’s rest of the story.
Thank’s Linda you unknowingly shaped my life.
Love.
Kent
