Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Reminiscing of childhood…

I live in a subdivision laden with children. I hear them more now that it is summertime, with their yelps and laughter and bouncing of basket balls. I hear their scooters, or should I say Razors, gliding up and down the sidewalks. And I hear an occasionally hockey puck hitting the side of my fence.

What I do not hear is the sounds of my youth. The sounds that I remember…

I remember building forts and tree houses, and then, because I’m a girl furnishing them. I remember the rhythmic whoosh of jump ropes and the throwing of pebbles on a hopscotch outline that we drew on the sidewalk with chalk. And as dusk drew near we all had our suggestions for the evening. Would it be the usual game of hide and seek, or the more complex game of Ghost in the Graveyard?

And do any of you remember ‘I believe in Mary Worth’ and ‘Light as a Feather Stiff as a Board’?

Though there are numerous sounds I don’t hear, there is one activity that I have experienced and feel fortunate to be a part of. That is the scavenger hunt. I swear, no less than ten times in the six years I have lived here, I have answered that knock on my door. Children, timid because they don’t know what my reaction will be to their intrusion and me excited by the reminder of childhood.

“What do you still need?” I ask, and then proceed to scour my house for any item remaining on their list. And even though it is their game, their fun, their time; I revel in the fact that I played a part in it. I ‘played’ again.

14 comments:

CK said...

I am 53 years old... and I still can't walk into a dark bathroom and look into the mirror without "Mary Worth" coming into my head!

Mental P Mama said...

Great memories...I loved "light as a feather." I have never had any scavengers...you are lucky! So much fun!

Badass Geek said...

I used to live in a neighborhood with lots of kids, and on Halloween I would always hide in the front bushes to scare the kids as they came up to the door for candy.

I only got to scare one kid before I got grounded.

Unknown said...

We used to play Relievio - a team game of tag - until it was so dark we couldn't see anymore. By the time we were 11 and 12 years old we began to look for creative ways to 'tag' the girls. Hee, hee. Ah, innocent fun. Not to be had anymore, I'll tell you.

Anonymous said...

I used to love 'Murder In The Dark.' We still play it at my son's parties as well as 'Hide & Seek.' Despite all the sophisticated technology kids today have to play with, they still like the old games!

Megan said...

Hide & Seek was always fun, but I would hide in a cabinet, like under the bathroom sink and get scared because it was sooo dark. :)

Pleasant Living said...

Ahhh! The dog days of summer...

Anonymous said...

We called Mary Worth "Bloody Mary" and I am still afraid of a mirror in the dark. I am not kidding you, I won't even sleep next to one, haha.

I have been watching a show called "Swingtown" and even though the content is all adult, watching the kids on the show reminds me of my youth in the 70's and I miss it so much at times.

Anonymous said...

Aww... scavenger hunts are the best. I didnt know kids still did that. My 12 year old wants to do nothing more than text messaging and video games.

Im glad you got to feel like you 'played' again.

I need more play time in this grown-up life.

Coal Miner's Granddaughter said...

I distinctly remember an all-night game of "Manhunt" that I wished would never end. Oh, I wish the kids in our neighborhood would have scavenger hunts!

Expat No. 3699 said...

CK:
“I believe in Mary Worth. I believe in Mary Worth.”

Mental P Mama:
I wish I was “Light as a Feather!”

Badass Geek:
You got grounded on Halloween? That sucks. I hope you have siblings that shared their booty with you.

Lceel:
‘Tag the girls’! Lou, I thought you were a gentleman!

Selma:
The ‘simple’ games are best! They are tried and true fun.

Megan:
I, too, would hide under the bathroom cabinet. Of course I can’t do that anymore, I’d have to be a contortionist!

Pleasant Drive;
Yes, the dog days of summer. I’m feeling them now.

Hilly:
Bloody Mary? Sounds good, minus the tomato juice. I’ll have mine straight up, thank you very much.

Meleah Rebeccah:
Scavenger Hunts rock! It’s a great game for adults to play too!

Coal Miner’s Granddaughter:
I don’t recall ‘Manhunt’, but you could be the one to start scavenger hunts in your area. If you don’t want to wait until your kids are old enough, do it with adults!

Michael C said...

I can only remember participating in one scavenger hunt growing up. Now I am longing (or as the kids say - Jonesing) to do another one. Perhaps I shall start one at work tomorrow!

Expat No. 3699 said...

Michael C:
Now that would be fun. Perhaps you could copy your 'To Do List' and rename it 'Scavenger Hunt List' and get them do your work for you.

Bretthead said...

Kick the can!!

Baseball in the street.

Staying out, doing whatever we wanted, until the street lights came on!

Those were the days...