Monday, June 9, 2008

Fun Monday - Childhood Reverie


When I first saw this assignment at Return of the White Robin; "for your assignment, I would like you to describe a happy memory from your childhood. If possible, include pictures with your reminiscing. Perhaps, for some us remembering the past may bring back some unhappy times too. But, for today, let us remember the good times", I was immediately on board. I mean, how hard can it be to remember something happy, nice, warm and fuzzy from your childhood? Turns out it was harder than I thought. Shorty says that it's because my whole childhood was so "nice" that it all just blurs together. Maybe. The only memories that sprang to mind were not pleasant. Funny, some of them, but not happy. After all, how happy would you be if you were gullible enough to believe your brother when he told you that you could fly if you held on to the feather, ala Dumbo? Yep, walked right off the roof of that garage.



I had an average childhood for the time. I took swimming lessons, played tennis, had a couple of really close friends that I spent every day, all day with - bicycling, skateboarding, playing Barbies, etc. But I was also very fortunate. My parents had the foresight to build their house just 4 houses down from Deer Park. There was a long and winding road, a few picnic tables, a little creek, and a grade school (kindergarten through 6th). I went to kindergarten there but then went to the local Catholic school for the rest of my education.



But - on long and lazy weekends and on a whole lot of summer afternoons- my friends and I would gather up a couple of pillows, a few tons of comic books (raiding my girlfriend's brother's stash), some food and drink (raiding our parents' pantries) and go to the "park". We would ride our bikes up past the school and past the playing fields to where the trails started. This was delineated by a chain link fence. Next to the fence were trees, tons of glorious trees, all protected by poison ivy. We would climb up the fence to our favorite branch on our favorite tree, an old oak. We would haul the loot up and then stash our bikes out of sight.



We would spend the day there, nestled in the crotch of that hundreds of years old tree, reading and eating apples and sharing comic books and dreams and secrets. I miss that tree and my friends and the slow, lovely, easy pace of summers past.

18 comments:

Beckie said...

Sandy - it sounds like you had a wonderfully carefree childhood. The best kind.

Anonymous said...

These memories sound fabulous Sandy. How great to be so close to the wilderness...

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a wonderful way to spend the summer!

Molly said...

While reading about the memories of others, I am thinking about many of the good times that went unmentioned in my own post. Swimming and my riding my bicycle provided me with a multitude of good times. I can almost see the younger you eating apples and reading comic books...what fun.

ChrisB said...

Sounds wonderful back when children were safe to go off all day by themselves. As was the case when I was a child. The downside was I often has to look after my brother and his friend who were 3 years younger than me!

Pamela said...

I did some tree climbing - but rarely with friends. Usually brothers.

That must have been the best afternoons ever.

Grand Life said...

Loved your post. I like you had a great many good childhood memories. We were so lucky.
Have a great week.
Judy

Jo Beaufoix said...

What a fabulous place. Reminds me of special places that we made ours when we were kids. Lovely. :D

the planet of janet said...

awesome! that's the life, all right!

Anonymous said...

OMG, I loved comic books and I remember my mom once bought us some comic books that you do not find here called Tin Tins, we loved her forever and we would read them over and over

Anonymous said...

Thanks Sandy for reminding me of those precious comic books, sounds like you had a lot of fun

daddy d said...

I really like the tree get away. That was a neat way to be away with friends and share good times.

Jenny, the Bloggess said...

Beautiful. Made me feel like I was there.

Faye said...

What is it with kids and needing to be up high in order to bond? You had trees. My cousin and I climbed the railroad trestle and sat out on it when trains went by underneath us.

Alison said...

those are great memories Sandy...you grew up right across the bay from me!!!

Aoj and The Lurchers said...

That sounds absolute bliss Sandy!

Cazzie!!! said...

Climbing trees it just the best, you sure can get lost in a tree for hours, and not submerge until you are starving hungy :)

Heather said...

It sounds so wonderful - spending the day up a tree with friends and snacks. Makes me smile!

 
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