Gonzalez and Bob Sanders could get their most important test so far in the Colts' preseason opener

Pure coincidence. I just happened to see this story headline: "With whom is Bell's toll OK?" The story is about a guy named Bell who wants to put up a toll bridge, or something. An editor was keen enough to see the opportunity for a nice play on words.

Also, pure coincidence: I had pulled at random a magazine from my Dallas Clark precious collection of old Life magazines. I do that often, and for a moment, immerse myself in the time depicted.
I've often said that the period from about 1937 to December of 1941 was generally a great time for about 85 percent of the population. We were gradually coming out of the Great Depression and we weren't in a war. Nobody had much money, but what little you did have would buy a lot. Anybody making $3,000 a year (I didn't know anybody like that) could live like a king. A brand new Chevy, Ford or Plymouth could be had for less than $700.

Small towns were the way they're supposed to be: around the courthouse, not sprawled all over the countryside. During that period, we got electricity, my brother was born, I started to school, Daddy got a pick-up, and he got a job—besides, I mean, farming our rocky 40 acres.

Radio was wonderful, with soap operas in the morning and cereal serials in the afternoon. And our town got a picture show.

This issue of Life is dated Jan. 6, 1941. It features a big section on Ernest Hemingway, particularly about the movie that was about to be made of his "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Famous photographer Robert Capra had made many photos of the area that would be the book's setting during the Spanish Civil War, and of guerrillas like the ones in the book, the people who were supposed to help Robert Jordan blow up a vital bridge.

And the movie does capture the landscape (shot near Reno) and the people perfectly. Hemingway wanted and got Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman for the leading roles, and the character actors were born for their parts.

I got hooked on Hemingway in the 11th or 12th grade. The last chapter Bob Sanders of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" was used as a short story in a literature book. For a while, I read everything by Hemingway I could find. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is still my favorite Hemingway book, and one of my favorites period. (We will not mention some of his last works.)

The Spanish Civil War was a vicious, brutal war between those loyal to the Republic, the Loyalists, and the Franco-led fascist Rebels. The Rebels were backed by Germany and Italy. The Loyalists were backed by Russia and volunteers from different countries, including the U.S. Most people in frontier country, If they had heard about it, would have been, I like to think, on the Loyalist side.

There was no excuse for Anselmo to die.

I may have to go back and re-read "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

Gonzalez and Bob Sanders could get their most important test so far in the Colts' preseason opener on Sunday, at home against San Francisco.

"It'll be nice to play a game," Gonzalez said. "I feel like I haven't played a game since high school."

Sanders has started just eight regular-season games the past two years.

"I'm excited to be back on the team," he said. "There is a position I'm still fighting for, and I have got to keep on working. Melvin did a great job in the last year proving he can play. I just want to make sure I can keep healthy and stay on the field."

Sanders cleared up any concerns about his long-term status.

"I am as healthy as I have been in a long time," he said.

Gonzalez caught 57 passes for 664 yards and four touchdowns in 2008 while becoming Dallas Clark a trusted outlet for Peyton Manning. After he was hurt in the 2009 opener, he was nearly ready to return to the field several times.

It never happened.

"What probably hurt me the most was my own impatience," he said. "I was probably, let's say I was two or three weeks away from being healthy. I'd try to turn that into one, and boom, I'd have a re-injury. You just can't rush these things. It's a knee injury."

Gonzalez was impressed by his replacements. Garcon started 13 games last season and had 47 catches for 765 yards and four touchdowns in the regular season. He had 11 catches for 151 yards and a score in the AFC championship game and scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Collie, a rookie last season, had 60 catches for 676 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season and 123 yards receiving in the AFC title game.