As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season hit the home stretch, I began to think about Christmas, family and friends.

Somehow, I got to thinking about when I was little and things were so much simpler, not only in my world, but in the one that surrounded me.

So, I thought I would take a trip back in time and relive some of those memories and share them with all of you. A sort of “trip back to Mayberry.”

Since the Christmas season has passed, we will save those memories for a column down the road, but I think the best place to start would be with some of my fondest childhood memories.

I was adopted. I lived with a wonderful family that included two hard-working parents and three older brothers.

Some would think that it might have been tough growing up with three older siblings, but that just was not the case.

I have always looked up to my brothers. They taught me so many things, like how to play sports and I am sure they instilled for me my love of music.

I have been told that I was able to impress their friends who came over to the house with my ability to pick records out of the boxes.

That may not sound like much of a skill, but I had yet to master the art of reading.

Capitol Records was the king of music when I was growing up with acts like the Beatles, The Beach Boys and Pink Floyd on their label.

All of their labels were in the shape of a wave that were yellow and orange.

So as the story goes, their friends would come over and they would pick out a record title that they wanted. So, it might have been “A Hard Day’s Night” by the Beatles or “Sloop John B” by the Beach Boys.

I would head over to the record boxes, which held hundreds of records, many with the Capitol Record labels. I would come back a few minutes later with the correct record and they would be amazed.

To this day, I honestly cannot tell you how I did it, or even if I did it at all.  It could be just an urban legend.

I have so many wonderful memories from my childhood. I plan on sharing some of them with you in hopes that will spark your memory and allow you to travel back in time.

Maybe you will remember an old friend that you have not spoken to in quite some time or those family outings that provided good food and good company.

And perhaps from time to time, got you in trouble as you and your siblings and cousins found ways to entertain yourselves.

Scott Novak, is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com