Family matters

When We Were Wee

12 Comments

I wish I’d appreciated how good I had it when I was a kid. No work, no bills, summer vacation. It’s true: Youth is wasted on the young. I spent most of my long, uneventful summer days wishing I had something to “do.” I can’t remember much of what I did to pass the time then, but
here are a few things I do recall:

  • Days spent reading next to the pool or curled up in the recliner.
  • Watching far too many episodes of “Saved By the Bell.”
  • Riding bikes down to Frost’s store after we got our allowances and stocking up on candy. Mine was always gone by the end of the day.
  • Riding bikes up and down and up and down and up and down the road, making sure to pedal as fast as we could past the “ninja house.” (Yeah, I don’t know.)
  • Motorcycle rides with Dad.
  • Blue raspberry freezes at The Freezer (and the accompanying post-freeze blue-tongue syndrome).
  • Mongolian beef, sizzling rice soup and “red pop” at Forbidden City.
  • Playing in the pool — floating around, diving for golf balls, Marco Polo …
  • Cookouts with the fam.

    It’s been a long time since I had a summer like that. But “strange things are afoot at the Circle K.” We’re moving at the end of June, and we’ll sort of be hobos until August. I know it won’t be quite the same, but I’m so looking forward to it. There will be, I hope, reading by the pool (and floating and diving and maybe even Marco Polo) and bike rides and motorcycle rides. I might have a blue raspberry freeze, I will certainly have sizzling rice soup and mongolian beef. And this time around, I plan to enjoy every minute of it.

    • 12 thoughts on “When We Were Wee”

    1. The best kinds of summer memories! Here’s hoping you get to make some more this summer…

    2. ‘strange things are a foot at the circle K'(bill and ted rock!)
      ha-ha I love it…you’ve just given me a good idea for illustration friday.
      I was thinking about participating in Sund.Scrib. but wanted to read some others first.
      I think I will:)

      Thanks for the inspiration!

    3. Riding past the ninja house…there was always some house in childhood with a funny name and story to tell.

      Good luck with the move and being vagabounds in the interim.

    4. It is PERFECTION when the things that you loved from childhood become part of your adult life! I hope that reading by the pool, motorcycle rides, and blue raspberry freezes all assume a key role in your world after your move! Thank you for sharing your memories–I could relate on many levels–riding the bike up and down the road, motorcycling with my dad! I’m grateful for this reminder to appreciate those fine experiences!

    5. Love this. We should all have a chance to revisit our youth as adults to better savor those wonderful moments.

    6. Good description of highlights of your childhood. Reminds me of things I had forgotten. Thanks for sharing these memories.

    10. i totally hear ya on that one, nicole. what did we do with all that free time… i’m not even sure but i know it was a lot of fun. do you know where you guys are heading yet with your move? keep us updated ! =D take care ! -Mel

    11. thank you for writing about your childhood. there is a lot i can relate to here, and i enjoyed those things, but i also enjoyed reading about things i didn’t do as a kid. i think i love stories in general 🙂 i am looking very forward to a simple summer with my child and nothing else. i don’t think i’ll be complaining of nothing to do anymore either! i’ve learned my lesson as a crazy busy adult.

    12. Nikki~
      I remember those “pool days.” It was a lot of fun. Now, with kids of my own, I long for a pool that we can splash around in and play Marco Polo or just jump into on a hot summer day. I also remember getting those freezes and ice creams at the Freezer…yum. Now, I spend my time at the Dairy Queen here…eating my banana split, along with my girls’ ice cream before it hits the ground! I also remember traveling to see you … Justin sang and rocked all the way down (and back) “I love my mommy (or daddy) and my mommy (or daddy) loves me!” Drove me nuts! I thought it would be nice if we could throw him out the window! LOL…anyhow…how I miss those days. I haven’t seen you or Justin in a LONG time and would love to soon. I was bummed that I missed seeing you last time you were here. Anyhow…hope you have a great time in the Netherlands. Hope to see you when you get back.

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