Good morning! I had my coffee on the deck this morning and so enjoyed the quiet and calm. Unfortunately, we are supposed to get some strong afternoon thunderstorms and then some cooler weather tomorrow. So many people are dealing with severe weather conditions like extreme heat and devastating storms, and my prayers go out to them.
I remember when I was young, and air conditioning was not yet common. During the sweltering days of summer, my mom would close all the drapes in the house to keep the sun and heat out. There was something so cozy about those summer days, when we were together inside, waiting for late afternoon to head back out and play kickball with the neighbor boys while my mom fixed dinner. Then, my dad would come home from work, pulling in the driveway in his truck, one arm out the window. We would run to him as he climbed out with his briefcase, and then we would all head in to eat, with promises to return for our evening game of Ghost in the Graveyard.
Those summers seemed to last forever, didn't they? Endless possibilities stretched before us—afternoons at the pool, games of Monopoly, melting ice cream cones and chasing fireflies. Of course, they are gone now, but something will come along and remind me of those carefree days every now and then. And I can return to them in my heart and once again be nine years old, running barefoot through the grass, waiting for my mom to call us in for dinner.
Make a memory today, my friends.
Enjoy!
I loved this post Billie Jo! Brought back memories of playing hide and seek with all the neighborhood kids, riding my skateboard, playing jacks. And my dad would often drive with his arm bent, propped on the door of his car too. This was fun! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteIt's good, that there are still some of us around, who remember summers, as they used to be............
ReplyDeleteI just love your posts, Billie Jo...we have been discussing similiar things here at our home.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely post, making me think of the carefree bygone days of my childhood and evoking so many nice memories.
ReplyDeleteThe swimming hole, where we damned up rattlesnake creek, so fun. Imagine what the EPA would say now to a bunch of determined school kids damning up a major creek! Boy did we have fun that summer. Even our dad's came down to swim with us and erected a rope swing. Good times.
ReplyDeleteWe had a neighborhood filled with kids and every summer night after dinner all of us would gather under the streetlight to determine what we would play. Usually "Capture the Flag" or Kick the Can".
ReplyDeleteOne of our neighbors back yards was huge with a brick walkway dividing it in half. It was perfect for those games where we were divided into teams.
We took jars out at night and caught lightening bugs. Our Mothers ALWAYS had to make us come inside. We stayed out after dark playing and having fun! Love this post and I always think I need a new coffee mug! lol Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThose are great summer memories. For me it would be at the neighborhood pool, making forts out of branches and old boxes, playing at the park. Sitting on our enclosed porch on lawn chairs at night with my parents. How about huddled around one fan when it was so hot outside.
ReplyDeleteLove this so much and brings back such memories of my youth as well! Those endless summer days, when it felt safe to ride my bike all around the neighborhood. Playing "statue maker" and having water balloon fights and catching fireflies at night. Running through a slip and slide. We didn't have air conditioning either and my Dad would put fans in the windows instead. Lol Such great memories.
ReplyDeleteCars weren't air conditioned back then either, at least our station wagon wasn't. I remember getting my suit on, and spraying myself with the hose, on a hot summer night. We played neighborhood-wide games of hide and seek, and kickball in the road, as well as huge games of jump rope. We rode our bikes around the block, and having scabbed knees seemed like just another summer time thing. We still don't have air conditioning, in our house, and I kind of like it. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely memories. :-)
ReplyDeletePlaying outside all day long... I remember
ReplyDeleteYup those carefree summer days. Sleepovers at our best friends house across the street. They had a flat roof so we'd gather pillows and blankets and sleep up there. There were four of us and four of them. The eight of us would tell ghost stories and laugh like crazy till one by one we'd fall asleep. The early morning sun would wake us up and we'd climb down, go home and do it all again that night. Such fun times. Such good memories.
ReplyDeleteI remember those lovely summer days of childhood. I loved reading your beautiful words, it took me back to a time that was so dear to my heart. Hugs to you my friend. ~Juli
ReplyDeleteI miss those days.. now everything is so fast paced. Even in the summer.. too many activities and not a lot of carefree relaxing.
ReplyDeleteThose old-time summer nights were great! I always remember everyone's windows being open because there was no a/c and hearing the play-by-play of the Pirates' games. I hope you didn't get hit too hard by the rain and storms. It started here around 5:00 last evening and didn't stop until this morning. Not much damage, but some pretty heavy rain at times and around 8:00 last night there was one big boom of thunder, seriously, the loudest one I've ever heard. It sounded like it was right on the roof! EVERYTHING shook with it.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a wonderful childhood, and I loved hearing about it! Summer days are the best when we are kids. So many carefree days of fun and just being a kid. I smiled when you mentioned kickball because I remember that game also. Your morning coffee on the deck sounds so nice. We need some of your rain here in California. It hasn't rained hardly any this year, and it worries me. Hold onto your memories of chasing fireflies, Billie Jo. They are wonderful memories to have. : )
ReplyDelete~Sheri