I Miss Back When...

Do you ever wish you were younger? I don't mean in the sense that you want fewer wrinkles, or more energy. I mean the days when all you had to concern yourself with were grades (if that, haha) and well, that's pretty much it. I'm obviously not talking Jr. High, but younger than that. The days when recess meant going out to the playground, playing tag or movie freeze. When you just wanted to play tether ball and four square. The days when you would go on a class field trip to Cariollon Park and picnic outside the bell tower. Or dressing up for a field trip to go to the pioneer village and learn how life was like for them going to school. Let's not forget about the other important aspects of that age... cartoons. Do you miss getting ready for school and having 15 minutes or so to watch part of your show before running to catch the bus? Or coming home in the afternoon just in time to catch X-Men or Animaniacs? Then of course, there was Saturday morning. I also remember riding my back up and down the streets where we lived. Maybe these are all a little too specific to actually fit with some of you, but I think you get my idea. You know what else I miss? The holidays as a kid. Don't get me wrong, I still love the holidays as an adult, but you gotta admit the magic is kinda gone when you grow up. Maybe that's just me. And maybe it's because I'm kinda stuck in the middle; I'm not a little kid anymore, but I don't have my own kids either. I'm sure it's different when you're married with kids and are starting anew, just from a different angle. Right now though, I kinda miss being the kid.

When it comes to Thanksgiving, I miss being a kid and piling in the car to go to Grandma and Grandpa's where they would have the long tables all set up with white table clothes and candles and centerpieces. Grandma and Grandpa sat at the end closest to the kitchen and there were seat going all around for everyone in the family. Then the pool table at the other end of the table was covered and had all the desserts on it. There were all sorts of pies and goodies. We of course always had a blessing before eating, and it was always funny to me the difference in the prayers when someone from my family offered it versus when someone else said it. Always good though. I'm not sure if this is entirely accurate, but I recall usually having something with our name on it at our seat. I think I can remember switching those around a little sometimes... It's been a while since I've had Thanksgiving with the family and even longer since it used to be like that. I also have memories from when I was like 7 or something and driving around the little play cars they had or bouncing on this giant orangish/brown ball after the tables and chairs were cleared away. Good times.

Can't forget about Christmas. My heart would always be racing with anticipation as I tried to fall asleep. This was back when I believed in Santa. I know some parents don't even pretend there's a Santa; their kids always know that it's them. I think that just takes away from the magic they could otherwise experience as a kid. Obviously, the main message of Christmas should still be about Christ, but I see no harm in allowing the fascination that comes from Santa. Anyway. I remember waking up Christmas morning, which wasn't as early as you might think. I don't know that I ever actually woke up before 7am. I remember coming out of my room and checking my parents' room and my siblings rooms if they weren't already up. Then Mom and Dad would go downstairs to "get everything ready". They would turn on the Christmas lights, Dad usually turned on some Mo-Tab Christmas music, and they would be ready with the video recorder and camera. Meanwhile, us kids would be anxiously waiting at the top of the stairs. Most of my clear memories are from living at our house on Kilkenny, so we could see the stockings hanging up on the banister down the stairs. When Mom and Dad finally said we could come down, we would hop down the stairs (some of us wrapped in blankets... usually Dave) going youngest to oldest. By the time we got to the bottom of the stairs, we could see the white tree to the left in the living room. We'd head over to the tree and of course we had "our spots". They may have altered a little bit over the years when there was furniture movement or whatever, but pretty much stayed the same. Dad would be the one to hand out presents and when we were done we usually headed over to the family Christmas tree in the family room where we had our sibling gifts. Then of course it was time for breakfast. Later we got to go to Grandma and Grandpa's. All the presents from them would be stacked up in front of the fireplace next to their ginormous Christmas tree. There would be all sorts of food in the kitchen; it was always just go for it when you're hungry. Nothing fancy. Then we'd all gather to open presents. I can go further back than that though. Back when I was 7/8 I remember Santa coming. We would all be downstairs and Santa would come. He would call all the grandkids' names, we'd sit on his lap and he'd give us a present. Good times. I could go on with holidays and reminisce about Easter and flying kites, but I think I'll forgo that.

While there's a lot about being a kid that I'm glad is over, there are still things I miss about the simplistic lifestyle. Life is just gonna get harder, isn't it? I wonder though, are we the reason our lives become so complex? Do they really have to be as complicated as we make them out to be? Obviously there are some things they will get harder and more complex that are beyond our control, but maybe we complicate things that don't really need to be so complicated. Oh well, that's another direction entirely. This just shows that we should enjoy each part of our life, cuz eventually we'll be moving on to somewhere new.