The birdfeeder in your yard and feeders in your neighbors' yards are like the drive-ins we used to go to as teenagers. Birds, just like we used to be, are "cruisers." We didn't restrict ourselves to the offerings of one place nor do the birds. What a sport it used to be to go from drive-in to drive-in, maybe getting a grape limeade at one stop and a coke at another.

Broad Ripple teens had Borky's close by, but they'd also make the rounds to the Rendezvous (or Vouz) near Butler, the TeePee at 38th & Fall Creek, Al Green's on East Washington Street where you could see a movie and eat a big tenderloin, The Pole on West Washington Street, and Northwood on North Meridian where city types mixed with the "farm kids" from Carmel.

Burgers, cherry cokes, and fries were delivered on trays that were mounted to open car windows. The TeePee's car hops in short wool skirts, red and blue jackets, and hats often roller skated orders to your car. Those were the days!

I remember Merrill's High Decker on 38th Street, just across from the Indiana State Fair grounds. Its double-decker structure was unique. The top story was just for the DJ, then Dick Summers, who would be broadcasting as teens motored around the parking lot. While I was still too young to cruise, I listened to the DJ every night on the handy portable radio stuffed under my pillow, hoping that my favorite records would spin.

Perhaps memories of bygone drive-in days will come to you when you spot a finch or sparrow in your yard. Chances are they're not the same ones that were in your yard earlier as birds make their rounds just like we used to do. Their eateries are "fly-ins," not "drive-ins." They eat their fill at one feeder and move on to another. Yes, humans and birds do share a commonality in that good and plentiful food is always an attraction