Times were so much different than they are today. And, I don't think it's more evident than in the way kids play today. Today there are scheduled playdates. Calls made to parents, notes sent home from school, etc... All in an effort to get kids to play with other kids. It wasn't like that in the 1950s. Kids ran around and played with other kids from the neighborhood from sunrise to sunset. Dad had a group of kids he played with for many years. All within a few blocks from his house. This group consisted of Butchie Briton - who was the oldest and toughest in the group, Eddie Hopkins, Jimmy and Oliver Bathhurst, Phil Musmaci, Phil DePetro, Rocky Cennio (he was only there for a couple of years, but they became really good friends), Dave Wallace, Don Beavers, and Bob Hassick. His brother Carl would play with them many times as well. And the two girls of the bunch were his sister Debbie and Eddie's sister, Faye. That's a large group of kids! I can't imagine seeing a group that size playing together nowadays. But, play they did. They played hide-and-go-seek, kick the can, manhunt, cowboys and indians and, of course, any variation of baseball they could think of. This was a close-knit group of friends who didn't have to wait for their parents to set up playdates or worry about having a guardian there to babysit them. They would race out the door to go to a buddy's house or head to the playground across the street and enjoy the freedom and fun of just playing together. What an innocent time it was back then.
9 years ago
I have to say, those were wonderful times and even I had at least five girlfriends who lived in a one-block area from me, and we all got together on a regular basis and played "mommy" or "bride". And when there was a wedding at one of the churches, we little girls would stand outside the church just waiting for a glimpse of that bride and her bridesmaids.
ReplyDeleteNo one worried about getting kidnapped or killed or molested or anything like that. The adults all watched out for each other's children, and we felt safe, all the time. No fear. What a wonderful time. Imagine, no fear. Today's children must really have it awful rough. I can't imagine living with the fear that someone might try to steal me. Ugh!
Mama's still good friends with Faye. :-)
ReplyDeleteI imagine that beautiful window of time for kids was because of the help the USA gave to getting Israel established. It was God's special blessing. The times after that were not safe- not when I grew up, not now- and from what I've read, before that it was pretty rough on the kids as well.
But, it's been ok for us since I always enjoyed playing with all the kids anyway. Most of the young'uns my kids have grown up with have thought I was their big sister- and many still do :-)
Have a BLESSED week!!!