Thirteen childhood memories that make me want to go back.
- I'll guestimate that 98% of the moms in my neighborhood were home. Which means 98% of the kids were home as well. The playmate possibilities were endless.
- Being reasonably safe when out of eye shot of our parents. We had freedom to explore the neighborhood, go "down the street" alone to play with a friend, etc.
- The simplicity of television. Three channels plus fuzzy UHF (which might have added three more at best.) The Waltons. The Brady Bunch. The Courtship of Eddie's Father ("People, let me tell you 'bout my best friend..."). Little House on The Prairie. Family Affair. Candid Camera. Truth or Consequences. Walter Cronkite. And does anyone remember KIMBA the White Lion? If so (and even if not), check it out online. I'm thinking Disney majorly "borrowed" this show as a model for The Lion King.
- Our bicycles; monkey handlebars, banana seats (with that little metal loop at the back that was perfect for your "passenger" to hold on while "doubling" together), and the "must have" decorations (the basket, bell, streamers, and the lovely sound of the spoke straws)
- The great toys! Hotwheels, Crissy Dolls (I picked one up at a Thrift store recently), Slinky and Magic 8 ball, paper dolls, close-n-play (remember warping the speed on the lp's?), Kenner's SSP racers with the "work you over" t-straps, Mrs. Beasley, Romper Stompers, kites, Easy Bake oven, Shaker Makers, Lite Bright, Crazy Wheels and Big Wheels....and and and...(feel free to add your own in comments)
- Watching all the holiday specials in REAL TIME. No videos. No airing multiple times on multiple stations. "Once and ONLY once" was the order of the day. And it was BIG BIG news when your parents told you that Friday night was "it." Charlie Brown Christmas was coming on (with its bold Christian message). Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, The Little Drummer Boy (could we have cried any more over that poor lamb who didn't stay "dead"?), The Walton Christmas Special, Santa Claus is Coming To Town. Oh, and who remembers the Norelco Santa Christmas commercial? Did that rule or what?!
- Knock knock Zoom zoom. Kick the Can. Spud. Hide and Seek. Kickball. Red Rover. Neighborhood baseball. Jump rope. Tag. We played all these and more on a REGULAR basis because there were actually kids home to play REGULARLY with.
- The lack of materialism that is so prevalent today. Anyone recall when we didn't wear brand name logos? Brilliant advertising move on their part; that we should wear their logos, a la free advertising for them, as "status symbols." Remember when we didn't wear $80 tennis shoes to school? We pretty much wore only one pair of shoes for that matter. And we didn't carry Coach and Prada and Kate Spade handbags? And we didn't "need" the latest technology? And our swing sets didn't cost $1500 or more? I realize some of this equates to better quality (though all "better quality" is not truly necessary) but my point is, times were much more simple. Remember when we didn't "need" a dual income?
- Captain Kangaroo (need I say more?)
- Talking with the garbage men, street cleaners, mailman or firemen (remember when they would service the hydrants and kids could sit in the high pressure water and be pushed along on their behinds in the tree lawn?) We had the same mailman for eons back then.
- The milkman (loved those metal coolers), Avon lady, Encyclopedia Britannica sales rep, or HOME photography photo session (anyone?).
- Laying in the grass and "seeing" things in the clouds, noticing the "milk" in a dandelion, discovering that a blade of grass makes noise when held taut and blown on, watching potato bugs roll and unroll, trying to catch butterflies, lightning bugs and birds, checking on tadpoles, running barefoot in the grass.
- Imagination and creativity were the order of the day. Wii who? Electronic what? (remember when Merlin was "big"? Oh how far we've progressed.) We were OUTSIDE, being Kings of Kingdoms, damsels in distress, racers in a great continental bike race, jockeys on "horses", tigers, bears and other wild things, daydreamers, risk takers, cops and cowboys, pirates and more. There was just no end to the ways in which we imagined. And there was no home air conditioning, b'zillion channel tv programming or mesmerizing video games to inhibit us. For those who have been there and know what I'm talking about, I can honestly say,...
Those were the days.
And now, if you're feeling retro, do stop by here for a "full up".
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24 comments:
I can certainly remember playing a lot more outside-- computers didn't come around until I was getting older.
My parents talk of leaving children in strollers outside of grocery stores and going in to shop.
It's a long way we have come...
What a neat blog! And I remember my banana seat. Seems like things just moved slower and we had time to enjoy our lives...
My TT are up here
Oh my! Thanks so much for the memories! I can relate to all of them.
Yep...STILL cry every time that lamb dies.
We try to get our kids outdoors too - I have such fond memories of pill bugs and watching clouds and getting so tired and dirty and just having fun and using our minds! Good list!
Shari
I'd love a Magic 8 ball...
And if our mailman saw deer at the end of our street, he'd come back and pick up the neighborhood kids and take them for a ride to go see.
re: #13 - I'm not sure "progressed" is the right word ;-)
Your post brought back many happy memories, thanks!
I still find it so very odd (and sad) that our neighborhood streets are virtually empty of kids on bikes, or the sound of kids at play. I know it's not because no kids live around us. I guess they're all indoors tied to their tv's/computers/video games/cell phones, etc.
Speaking of cell phones, that's one you left out. Remember when there was only one phone in a household? Or maybe you're enough younger than me not to remember that one. I did finally get a phone in my room when I was a teenager, and that was a BIG deal.
I am amazed at the number of young children I see walking around with cell phones stuck to their ears. What do they find to talk about? Maybe that's why you don't see them outside playing, maybe they're just "talking" about playing.
Oh, how I remember one phone. And we're not talking cordless either, or even touch dial (lol!).
You're so right, Renna. The modern silence of neighborhoods is a sad, sad reality.
Blessings,
~Toni~
I had a Chrissy doll! I got it one year when I found presents under a bed from "santa" early, and my mom said it was because we had been bad and that Santa may not come. Well, we got those presents that year.
I loved my doll!
What a trip down memory lane this is, Toni. I so remember having 3 TV channels and having to jiggle the rabbit ears to get reception. Totally remember moms being home and feeling safe in our neighborhood after dark.
When I read something like this post, it almost shocks me how much times have changed, in what's really a short amount of time. Sigh.
This was a fun trip down memory lane. I especially remember that when The Wizard of Oz was on, it was a hugely exciting event that we looked forward to for weeks. I really miss that. It's sad how much some things have changed. Remember how there were no seatbelt laws? My Mom would nurse my baby brother in the car on the way somewhere. It made for much quieter car rides. Thanks for sharing. Oh, how do you join the Thursday thirteen? Just curious.
PF Flyers "Run faster and jump higher".
Red Ball Jets. (The rich kids wore Buster Brown)
Bomino Turkish Taffy - you had to whack it!
Fizzies.
Shake a Puddin'
Wax bottles filled with Kool-aid sirup.
Astro Boy
How about the TV sign off signal that woke you up to at 1:00 am?
Awwwwwwww the good ole days....what I wouldnt give to have that again if for only one day. Thanks for the memories:)
What a wonderful list! And I definitely agree with #4 - I miss the bike I had as a kid. It's just not the same now.
Thanks for viisiting my TT! :-)
Sniz,
Thursday Thirteen (TT) is easy. Just head to the website (see link in my post) and you'll find "the code" to copy and paste in your TT post. Then, when your post is up and running, just leave a comment on the TT website (find the current TT date and look for "participants-Join in!" That's where you leave your comment.)
What a great list. I could relate to almost all of yours listed
I recall waiting for The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, and of course Grease to come on once a year. You always made sure that no matter what you were doing you stopped to watch these movies.
How about the monday night movie?
Maribeth
www.marnini.wordpress.com
I remember all that, Toni! How fun this post was! :-) I still see that Norelco commercial at Christmas time; you and I aren't the only ones who liked it.
I had a Velvet doll, who was Chrissy's cousin, or sister, or something. She had blond hair (like me), but my mom liked the Chrissy doll, 'cuz my mom had red hair, albeit dyed, but just the same. :-)
Yes, those were the days. It makes me sad at times that my kids will not know this kind of world. I was just talking about this with some of my neighbors and how we all walked a mile to elementary school by ourselves.
There is a new elem. school about 2 blocks away from our house now and we will all probably be walking our kids there supervised. Such is the world we live in today.
thanks for the info, Toni. I'm going to check it out. OOOh, and I remember the Sound of Music. And Peter Pan...the theatrical version with Sandy Whats-her-name as Peter. I loved that and kept waiting for it to come on every year, but they only showed it for 2-3 years.
My kids love Kimba the White Lion. To be honest, I don't remember it being on when we were younger, but then I don't remember watching tv much. I was outside. My kids also still watch the New Zoo Review. Remember Henrietta Hippo? Gotta love !
Blessings to all!
What a wonderful list! It took me back to a time when that I sadly miss.
We were lucky to grow up when we did, weren't we?
cjh
Don't get me started on Kimba!!!!!
I loved, loved, loved Kimba when I was a young kid and spent the next 30-some years longing to see it again. Then Disney was making "The Lion King" which I enjoyed as an obvious remake of Kimba. Then I noticed that Disney was trying to pass off "Lion King" as an original concept. Did they think that all of us who saw Kimba had developed amnesia? Anyway, my husband made it one of his life's quests to reunite me with Kimba. He special ordered video copies as soon as they got released from Disney's attempt to crush them. Now we've discovered that there is a complete box set of all Kimba episodes and I must have them!!!
I love your TT, Toni!
Interesting list, but I still think the best of times to live is now. All those sickly sweet TV shows are enough to put me off the past!
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