When I was a child, things were a lot different. Life was different. It was simpler, easier, freer.
During the summer, we would leave the house after dinner, simply telling the parents that we would be in the neighborhood, and we'd hit the streets to play.
At times, we'd hang out in someone's yard, playing tag and red rover and freeze tag. We'd have water fights and marathon games of hide and seek.
Other times, we'd wander; maybe to the juinor high school across the street to play in the secluded cracks and crevices the building gave us. One little corner would be a dungeon, another a secret hide-out. We did the same at a local gothic-style church, which became a castle. We were limited only by our imagination.
We had a lot of fun and never once worried about whether or not we were safe. As long as we didn't do anything stupid to risk injury safety wasn't a factor.
Our bikes, which every kid had, went home when the street lights came on but we usually stayed out for a bit longer. I seem to remember ten being the time we had to head home.
We were safe and we had a blast.
Things have changed so much and I find myself pondering whether those changes have been for the good. It may be naive to want to go back to those simpler days, but at times I do.
One of my most cherished memories from back then was the man in the moon.
Do you see him up there, in that photograph?
He was the benevolent face that watched us through all our antics. When we flopped down on the grass after running ourselves out playing tag, we would look up and ponder the nature of him, the moon, and the universe.
The man in the moon would watch and sometimes, it looked like he was winking his eye at us.
Kids today have no idea what I'm talking about when I mention him. All they see is the moon, a place we've been, a known entity.
Where I once saw endless possibilities, they see nothing. Kids don't play outside any more. Not like we did. Not with the freedom we had.
Call me naive, but I wish I could give those days back to the kids these days, man in the moon and all.
3 comments:
It's almost sad in a way. As kids we were always outside playing but we almost never see kids outside anymore. I think safety is one factor but I think there's also too many temptations inside--TV and video games. With those distractions and more to come, I'm sure, I don't see us going back...
I can't even imagine what "the good old days" will comprise of for the kids of today..
Trish-
I know safety is a huge issue, which in and of itself is rather sad. Have we really reached a point where our kids can't play outside? And the electronic clutter is up to the parents to a degree, isn't it? I mean, teach them when they're little that they don't want to spend all day sitting in front of the TV and hopefully it will last.
Deslily-
I know. I don't see a whole lot that matches up with my childhood memories. Sad.
cjh
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