Summer's Gone By

When I was a youngster "back in the day", summer days were often spent outside. I am sure those of you who were born in the 1950s and early 60s remember what the outdoors was like. Those who graced the stage in the 70s and later have no clue about the freedom of summer.

Summer days were ours. We started early and we stayed out late. We had streetlights that came on at regular hours and Mom would always say, "Be home before the streetlights come on." She never asked where we were going, she just admonished, "Stay out of trouble."

The rest of the day was ours. We rode bikes, played ball, swam at either the local pool or a watering hole in the country. When we were hungry, we ate either at a friend's house, or we made an appearance at our own home, usually with friends in tow. Parents always had something in the frig, and Kool-aid or tea or lemonade cold. We "slept out" in tents in the back yard, and had the run of the city at night. Police did not bother us unless we were making noise. We played baseball and basketball by the streetlights; we chased fireflies and put them in jars.

Sounds like a lament, doesn't it? I guess it is.

Today, we don't let our kids go to someone's house alone without investigating the parents ten ways to Sunday. We have to sign kids up for so much activity that they are pretty much incapable of designing their own amusement. We think we have to control everything. As a result, our kids today have trouble making decisions, thinking, entertaining themselves. If someone does not plan something for them, the kids stay inside, and watch TV or play video games or sleep. We have created the apathy that permeates our society.

Young adults are not taken to patriotic events like Memorial Day observances, or Fourth of July celebrations. We have to cultivate nationalism and let it grow. So much has been said lately of America being fragmented due to immigration and other factors. The biggest reason, though, seems to be that adults have become apathetic. We have to lead the way by getting out, doing things, standing when the flag goes by and retelling the stories of our youth.

Times were simpler then, and our children and grandchildren will probably never get to know the freedom we enjoyed. Technology has not allowed us to communicate better, it has built walls between us. The local coffee shop is gone, the neighborhood bar is boarded up; people don't even get together like they used to as neighbors.

Remember the Lone Ranger? Kids don't even know the story behind him and Tonto. We need to return to "those thrilling days of yesteryear...."

Doughnut