Quinn 4

Let us not destroy the imagination of a child, For if we do we destroy everything and the earth become like the moon.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

BRAVO on soooooo many fronts!!!!!!!

Don's Leica Loc: Asheville, NC

I was a small, timid child. Unskilled at any game played with a ball. So slow learning to ride a bike that I had to borrow a small one from the boy in the corner house who was half my age (12), and ride it up and down the sidewalk between our house and his, with big circles around his tree and in the grass at our house. Dad teased me for having a friend half my age, but I knew I was different from the rough boys who started fights and showed off tricks they could do on a bike.

bobsisk Loc: Chandler, Arizona

One of my favorite memories took place northwest of the small Texas town where I was born and grew up. West of the house where we lived was a 40-acre field that my grandfather owned. He owned the house too, but that's another story. One summer day (early '50s) some cousins were visiting and I asked mother if we could go play in 'The Willows'. That was a small grove of Willow trees that I had discovered sometime before on the west side of the field, across the railroad turn-around and down in a ravine. You couldn't see it from the house because the ravine was deep enough that the tops of the trees didn't show until you got to the west edge of the field.

So with mother's permission the cousins, my sister just younger than me and I went to 'The Willows'. We were having a great time romping among the trees when one of the boys happened to venture out on the west side of them. The next thing we heard was, "Hey! There's watermelons over here!" The slope of the hill rising up on that side of the ravine was indeed gentle enough to plant and it rose up just high enough that you could see some of it with a house perched on the top from our back door. There were water melon plants all over the side of the hill. While the others were discussing about snitching one of the melons my conscience got the better of me and I interrupted them with, "Wait! How much money do we have?" Including what I had, we rounded up about 25 or 30 cents. Then one of the kids said, "Look! There's someone coming from that house up there." Then they all ran back into the trees, leaving me alone.

Here's what a clear conscience does for you. I saw the fellow coming and thought, "Oh good. Now I don't have to climb all the way up to the house." I started up towards him and as we got withing hearing range I held up my hand and opened it so the money showed and asked, "Mister, can we buy one of your watermelons?" He skidded to a stop on the down slope and said, "Well, I, ah-ah-ah, I guess so." As he hunted for what he figured was a suitable melon he explained that he'd already had a number of melons stolen and figured we were about to do the same. We had surprised him with our honesty. He finally handed me a melon that was so big I could hardly carry it and he wouldn't take the money. With his admonition to go and have a good time, I trudged back into the trees. As the others came out of hiding I gave the others back their money and shortly discovered that the man knew his water melons. It was a yellow one; they're usually better than the red ones, but this one was exceptional. We moaned in ecstasy with every bite even thought we had to break it open on a large rock and dig in with our hands. Of course, in those days all a kid had to do was wipe hands on clothes and, Voila, clean. Shucky darn, I haven't seen a yellow melon since.

nauticalmike

And putting on extra clothes to have bb gun and rock fights.

Ed Greding Loc: Texas

Thanks Graham. I also remember lots of good things from childhood. Yes, some things weren't so great, but we human beings seem to have a way of letting the less pleasant memories fade, while the good ones live on. Some are negative: I don't recall ever having the slightest fear that I might be shot while at school, and I carried a pocket knife; as far as I knew there was no rule against it.. And, I used to bring a bow and arrows when in seventh grade; other boys brought theirs, if they had them, and we shared a great time at play period. I guess somebody could have been hurt, but nobody ever was. All my classmates respected their teachers, and most of school was fun. I guess school is still fun for most, yet our country in in trouble, and I think most of us know that. What happened?

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Thank you for bringing back the memories!!!!!

OZMON Loc: WIGAN UK

I wholeheartedly agree Graham,I was born in 1937 and when I was 2 my dad went into the army leaving 2 children and my mum pregnant, we had nothing,as a 6 year old I had to go picking cinders in the local tip to try to keep warm,although I would not wish those times on kids today it did not do me any harm,and like you say we seemed to get over everything nature threw at us, scarlet fever, mumps, measles, etc.
now if kids get any of those it is life threatening.

Also we used run everywhere, school, miles in the countryside, and we never saw any overweight kids.
Best wishes OZDON.

Ring Loc: Reed City Michigan

Or in many cases, they don't even know the neighbor next door!

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

Best Reply award is your one and there have been a hell of a lot great replies. This so far has been a great topic, enjoyed by sensible
human beings with wonderful memories.............My sincere thanks to all who subscribed and and viewed.

Cheers and Beers
Graham
/098\

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York