One of my favorite childhood memories was always having someone to play with. A younger brother, a cousin or kids across the street. Growing up on 51 acres of land with woods, farm, rivers and a pond was amazing. We had big hills to slide or ride down anytime. My brother and I had a Big Wheel, if you remember those three wheel joy givers, then you had a great childhood. We would ride down the longest hill at top speeds and then push it back up to ride again, for hours!!
When I had children of my own, they had a Big Wheel! Their hill was not as long and surrounded by suburbia, but just as much fun. In their path was a large tree, and my only instructions were to avoid hitting the tree and you would be fine….I am sure we all know how this goes.
The first time they hit the tree, they were hurt, well by modern standards, not by 1980 standards. I remember my little girls crying and not wanted to do it anymore. I said, “just get back on and turn right to miss the tree”, with a little persuasion they did, they missed the tree and rode for hours upon end! Did they ever hit the tree again, “yes” but they always got back up and continued having fun.
I remember one year them visiting their cousins in the same town I grew up. It was 7:00 am, and they had never gotten up that early on a weekend, let alone a “vacation” time. I hear laughter and look outside to find all the kids, with on swimsuits on, a garden hose running and a big ole mudhole that served as a slip and slide! This was their own doing and when I walked out they froze….I asked “why did you stop, carry on” and then took pictures of them playing with their cousins, in a mud hole, early in the morning.
This was June of 2017 and they were young, wild and free! I hope they remember the feeling of joy in playing with their cousins in the mudhole. Taking “risk” and riding the 4 wheeler and the simple pleasure of being pulled around in a lawn tractor. The picture of all four of the sums them up, Corban concnetrating on his thing (his thumb), Gabi showcasing and 1000% enjoying lfe with no thoughts, Lexi grabbing someone (Gabi in this case) to keep her safe and Kati ready to spring into action with a smile on her face.
If any of my kids are reading this, that tree mentioned above produced the acorns that I Huck Finned you into picking up every year. And always remember, do the fun things in life, enjoy the mud and always get back up. Life can be fun if you live it.
Alex Putman 