So, lately I've been thinking, and mostly about the past. Not completely sure why. There's two lines of thought on the past. One is the, "Man I remember when...." line of thinking. The other is simply remembering things from the past.
Man, I remember when Blogging was called 'writing in a diary'. I actually had a few. I think I still have some. One I took with me when I went to camp back when I was in 6th grade, and tried to write something each day. I kept one in High school, because I didn't have siblings to talk to about the stuff I was dealing with. Now, people just Blog. Some people blog like a diary, others use their blogs to share information on a topic. I'm sure you've figured out my blog it the first kind. Little more than a diary. I wish I knew enough about something to write a blog that informs on a topic, but I'm only knowledgeable with the stuff in my own head. That's of little use to anyone other than me.
The idea of sharing diary type entries with whoever, would never have gone over well with me in high school. The things I wrote about I didn't want anyone seeing or reading. It was stuff I couldn't tell anyone. Not even friends. Mostly because it was about them. So I find it strange that kids today tend to blog rather than keep a diary. But I suppose it's more open and honest.
I also remember when McDonald's was a treat, not a staple of the American Diet. This goes for most fast food and even higher class take out places, and your standard restaurant. Sure, we're busier today than our parents were. We have less time for the things that matter, like cooking a meal and spending time with family. But I still remember when my Grandfather took us out to Furr's for Easter. It was a treat. Pizza Hut was a once every four to six months kind of thing, and my mother made homemade pizza the rest of the time. I still miss her pizza. Can't make it to save my life, but it was good.
I did some research on depression era cooking once, and came up with some really good recipes. Of course, some things they had back then I wouldn't eat today. Lard sandwiches. Then again, maybe we just replaced that with fast food. Who knows? I can't imagine a triple grease burger with cheese is any less damaging than a sandwich made of lard. Especially when the wrapper drips with grease when you unwrap it. I do imagine it tastes a damn sight better, but as I'm not going to try a lard sandwich, I'll just stick with my imagination on this one.
Of course, I've been thinking a lot about the past as well. Like when I was little, in Oklahoma. I suppose it's because the Bug is here, and I keep thinking of all the things my folks did with me. I know she's not my kid, but at the same time, I'd like to give her some good memories of when she was here. You might think kids can't remember what goes on when they're 18 months, but I can remember some things about that far back. I know, because I can remember the house my dad's parents had, with large French doors. They moved from that house when I was about two, into the house my Grandfather owned until he died. And I remember my Grandmother in that second house as well, and she died when I was three. So yes, kids can remember.
I know we used to go to the zoo a lot, and the duck pond to feed the ducks. Sadly, that duck pond no longer exists, thank you highways and progress. Even if it did, it would be in the wrong state. So, I have to find some place around here like that. I know the zoo is close, but it's so expensive to go right now. We'd have to wait until Dig starts his job at least. So then I'm left with parks. There's a park nearby, with toddler friendly swings and stuff. I'd like to take Muriel and the Bug out and let her play there for a while. I think she'd like it.I remember playing at a park a few blocks from our house, back when it was still relatively safe for kids of about 7 or 8 to go to the park with a small group of friends, rather than an armed detail of bodyguards.
I also want to get a kiddie pool, so she can play in the back yard. Probably not for this year, as money is tight and by the time it isn't, summer will be over. But for next summer. Given how she likes baths, I think she'd like the pool. I have tons of pictures of me as a kid in those pools. They rarely survived more than one summer, but the whole neighborhood seemed to gather in the front yard in their bathing suits and go for a dip or two. I remember the slip 'n' slide. I don't know if they still make those. They seem too dangerous for today's over-protective crowd.
Winter is coming up and I'm hoping we have some snow and then a warm day, so we can take her out to play in the snow for a little bit. Maybe find a sled and pull her along, like I used to do with my cousin and some of the neighborhood kids. Of course, Oklahoma had more ice than snow, so we did a lot of sliding without meaning to. Snowmen were hard to make.
But before Winter, comes Halloween, and though she's still too young to understand it, she should go trick or treating around the neighborhood. Even though she can't eat any of the candy, it should be fun for her. I think when people don't do something with a kid because they are 'too young to understand' they cheat them out of the experience. Besides, I've lived here for 3 years. I should really get out and see some neighbors.
But it's not just childhood memories I keep thinking about. High school too. And those, I can't blame on the Bug. There's a lot of things I might have done differently if I knew then what I know now. I find I sometimes miss the halls of the school, the freedom I had back then and didn't realize, the sounds of other kids around me, and the interactions with people my age. Even college didn't measure up to that. There was just something about high school that you don't find anywhere else. But then again, looking back I seem to remember how much I hated it when I was there. I wanted to be somewhere else. If only I'd known then how I'd miss it now, I might have enjoyed it more. Or not. I was kinda stubborn back then. But things I thought were the end of the world then, I know now were just raindrops.
Oh, and don't get me wrong. College was fun too. I miss the coffee shop on Tuesday nights when we'd gather and read poetry. It was a lot of fun, and I made some interesting, if short-lived, friendships.If I could go back then, I might had taken more time to explore classes, and been a little more expressive in my clothing and poetry. I might have followed through with my desire to write. Not sure.
Music makes me think back, all the time. If I'd discovered some of the bands I listen to now, back in high school, think of all the hours of musical enjoyment I could have had, that I missed out on. If I'd have discovered Gaming, both table-top and online, before I was 21, think of all the geeky fun I could have had. I missed a lot of buses back then, living in my little domed world. I wonder where I might be now, if I'd explored just a little more back then?
But, sadly, now it's all just moonlight on the water. I cannot go back, unless someone invents some kind of time reversal device (because a time machine would do me no good unless I can revert to being 14 again). So, you young kids, get with it. Invent that time reversal device so us old folks can go back and re-live our youth the way you are now. Hop to it. Snap, Snap.
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