Friday, June 25, 2010

Three Teens

Ahh, the memories I conjure of summer nights during the last days of my childhood. This evening we were out late and rode home with the car windows down. Oh the sights, sounds and smells: barbeque, kids playing, car radios. It made me think of when I was hovering on the brink of being too big to play, but wanting so desperately to join the neighborhood kids in a game of tag or hide and go seek in the dark. Every evening (before air conditioning) people would sit outdoors. The adults would talk while the kids played. Each night I would swear that I was not going to play with the children who lived in our apartment building. I had just turned fourteen, and would be a high school freshman in the fall. Each night I intended to join in the adult converstaion, but always ended up joining the children. I can remember being hot and sweaty and ticked off at myself that I gave in. Again!

Then, when I was fifteen, and way too sophisticated to play anymore, I sat out in the evening and talked to the teenagers on our block about movies we'd seen. We used to all go to the show twice a week. Times were different then. Life was simpler, we were innocent, not exposed to the images and harsh realities that kids today are.

We have three grandchildren all 13, hovering on the 'brink'. Half the time they act annoyed and barely grunt a response; other times they act childish. I remember when ...

3 comments:

Bookie said...

Nice memories of the age and the times!Oh riding home with the windows down in the evening time!!! When it was cooler than the day had been...and then there were the hot days when the day jutted his elbow out the window resting on the door frame as the car toddled down the road...and then there was......

Susan said...

You are right, Linda. Times were simpler when I was a kid, too. Hearing the dinging of the ice cream man's truck was pretty exciting. Also playing One-two-three redlight and statue in our front yard. Going to the outdoor drive in theater was the height of excitement. Kids nowadays don't know what they are missing. Thanks for the memories. Susan

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

It is nice that you remember what it felt like to be a kid...so many adults do not remember. That must be one of the reasons you are such a great teacher!