The Pledge of Allegiance

[rivermom]

This was so interesting to read. Reading slowly the sentences bringing memories alive being a kid. A smile formed remembering those nights out w/ the neighborhood kids playing "Kick The Can". Living in Southern California I had to be in the house by the time the fire works went off each night at Disneyland.

Not heading in through that door however before drinking out of the garden hose and ringing a few other neighbors doors for "Ding Door Ditch".

Being even younger heading out hiking with my Brother just a year older. We were gone all day. We walked - there was more to be seen by those dusty shoes then peddling some bike that day. Only harm done that day was having a cut on my leg which soon scared. That scar today brings fond memories when i look at it.

My Brother had a Daisy Bee-Bee gun. I know this for sure because he shot me in the back one day. He asked me to move and I told hin I didn't want to. Guess he thought it was not the correct answer and he shot me. Oh it didn't break the skin, but it sure stung pretty good. Oh gosh, it's funny looking back on the past!


I skated in skates w/ metal wheels and thought I was a star when the wheels created sparks sliding against the paved street.

Dark at night being a teen id sneak out to meet a friend. We'd rush along carrying bags of toilet paper ready to paper the house of those we knew celebrating a birthday, a special day, or sometimes needing no reason at all.

We created forts - and were strict on havig those who enter give the correct password. We made lemonaide stands in hopes to make enough change to run to the nearest T G & Y Drug Store for a scoop of ice cream.

We played school at home on weekends and actually had fun learning. Going back to school on Monday never caused a worry of getting shot. The worst at school was finding out the guy you liked didn't care at all about you. Or you had an argument with your best friend and you didn't talk for a week. Those weeks were the longest of my life back then. To me this was "trauma in school"

Riding horses on acres and acres of your own land - none of which was trespassing...Or if you needed more speed you'd jump on the minibike.

putting a card in the spoke of your wheel attached with a close pin just to make power sounds as you rode your bike.

I walked down sidewalks twirling the hoola-hoop around my waist for blocks and blocks. Or ran across a few neighbors yards to gain some speed for countless cart wheels or back flips.

Really wasn't indoors too much. But when I was I played with my turntable and records. Had not a clue about the meaning of "video game" or a tv with more than 8 channels on it LOL

There were some horrible times too - but i guess when you become an adult you try to focus on the good stuff and not dwell on what couldn't have been changed.

[katepoet]

Great memories rivermom. We built forts and had passwords to them to, and lemonade stands. I ran day camp in my backyard for all the neighbors kids in the summer when I was 11. We believed in secrets and magic and good books. We baked our own cookie and pie recipes and mixed secret concoctions into our chocolate milk that our mother required us to drink afterward - yuck!

Didn't you raise your kids or aren't you raising or planning to raise them - doing the same things? Being creative, having fun, believing in themselves, fairies and all the rest?

[rivermom]

Originally Posted by katepoet

Great memories rivermom. We built forts and had passwords to them to, and lemonade stands. I ran day camp in my backyard for all the neighbors kids in the summer when I was 11. We believed in secrets and magic and good books. We baked our own cookie and pie recipes and mixed secret concoctions into our chocolate milk that our mother required us to drink afterward - yuck!

Didn't you raise your kids or aren't you raising or planning to raise them - doing the same things? Being creative, having fun, believing in themselves, fairies and all the rest?

Thanks Kate
Yes, the kids were raised on ferris wheels holding a corn dog or cotton candy at a fair Friday nights. We had puppet shows, built models w/ glue that stunk real bad and none of them carried it off later to get high on.

They grew up on little league lots - each year wondering if truly the snack shack could create it's own food group by eating nachos for dinner 3-4 times a week.

we traveled once a year on family vacations. Camping, exploring, getting smashed by a wave on a visit to the beach.

They grew up believing (for awhile) that those white boot marks walking accross the carpet towards the Christmas tree truly were from Santa. (Baking soda poured into a pan, then stepped in)

Wishes were made with my daughter sitting on the back yard picnic table staring up at the stars.

Her and I created doll houses and she thought they were mansions.

Having free passes to Disney Land they can see lot's of magic being made.

Yes, they believe in themselves by making their own choices in their life. Realizing that every action in those choices has a reaction and it's accountability.

[katepoet]

Wonderful!

[AngieDoogles]

It's a lot of fun reading everyone's memories, especially because things were much different when I grew up...

Thanks for sharing all of your memories and experiences!

[judy]

Talk about "the good old days..."

My whole family went to the country for the summers, and my cousins and I belonged to the "Nature and Science Club." This involved a large part of every day. We all took off for Indian Rock, which was located beyond the blueberry field, and just in front of the Seven Meadows. Every time we went, we had to go through the initiation ritual, which we took as seriously as we would later on when choosing which car or house to buy. It involved sliding down the path, climbing up the tree, doing something by the cave, and doing several other things, until finally we had to jump across the chasm in Indian Rock which had been created by lightening many years before. Of course, if anyone messed up, they got a do over. Then we spent the rest of our time there playing. It was serious play though and had to do with a million things, like nature, and being family, and strength, and ideas and being ourselves and alive.

I kissed my first boyfriend, Eddie Rubin, who had dimples and smoked cigarettes, in the cave. My boy cousins stood in a group nearby and I remember knowing that
they did not approve - he smoked cigarettes, and I was letting a boy kiss me!

Then we would go the the top of the Rolling Meadow, where we would run to the top of the hill it formed, and then rolled down into the ditch at the bottom. We did this over and over again, and our laughter was wonderful!

I sometimes went there myself. It was there that I learned that fantasy is sometimes better than reality and I met God there. One of the meadows was called the Bridal Veil Meadow because the trees in front of it met and it looked like an alter to be married under. I stood there for a long time wanting to go in,
but I didn't because I knew that the mystery of what beauty might be inside, through those trees, was better than what I really would find. I felt a shimmering presence there that day, who I knew was God.

Those were some of the finest days of my life.

[katepoet]

Do you write, Judy?