WHEN I WAS A CHILD

When I was a child, (no, not in the stone age)!

We were able to play outside, go to movies with

Our friends and walk to the local convenience store

For an ICEE and feel safe, not to be bothered with.

Back then we lived on the city limits.  Across the

Street to the South was a pasture with horses.  They 

Were beautiful to see.  My oldest sister would feed them

Her lunch and forget school, and always be tardy.

She could draw horses beautifully.  My other sister

Could draw anything.  She drew a pencil sketch of

Me to give Grandma for a gift.  At that time, pictures of  kids

With big, sad eyes were in.  I can see her  drawing them still.

It was a neighborhood where we all knew each other,we

Were like extended family.  The pasture across from us was sold.

Houses were built there, we were no longer on the city limits.  To this day,

The longtime neighbors call them the "new houses", even though now they're old.

Some of us would sleep in tents in our neighbors back yard, and had no

Fears for our safety.  We'd have snowball and water fights--

Depending on the season.  Our school was 2 blocks away and we

Walked to and from by ourselves obeying the crossing light.

We would play out on the playground at recess.  The jungle gym,

The monkey bars, merry-go-round, and swings.  We could also play tether

Ball, Crack The Whip, Red Rover and Dodge Ball.  I don't think they

Allow Dodge Ball anymore.  We'd stay inside and dance in bad weather.

Every so often, a lady in a camper would come by. The camper

Had an organ and benches in it.  She'd tell  us a Bible story, and we'd

Sing hymns, say prayer, and return to class.  That is now banned by

Law.  Look what's happened to us.

We may not have had all the techno gadgets kids have today,

Or the big fancy school buildings they have now.

But we learned to read and write:  print AND cursive.

And no mass school shootings and we managed fine anyhow.