Thursday, July 5, 2007

Another Summer Memory

On July 2nd, our most recent Fun Monday challenge hosted by Jenni of Prairie Air was to share summer memories. I especially enjoyed this particular challenge not only because I was able to share a specifically fond memory. But also, as I read and enjoyed other's memories, I was able to once again revisit old memories that I had once forgotten. Furthermore, these trips down memory lane somehow made the present summer even more precious. So as Daddy D went for a walk down to the blacktop, as a butterfly fluttered by, or as the nighttime thunder awoke me, I remembered, if only for a moment, that these events are to be treasured.

On that very day, Monday, July 2, after entering my Fun Monday post, I came across some old and forgotten photographs. This was a particularly exciting find because the discovery was serendipitous. I found these old pictures quite by accident; I was cleaning the basement not really looking for anything. Thus again, I find myself on the path down memory lane.

In my childhood before television came to our city, the summers of the neighborhood children were spent in industrious play. As I remember, we spent hours upon hours playing outside inventing all sorts of fun. One of the events that the neighborhood children devised was our own parade. Like the regular street parades, our vehicles were fancifully decorated, usually with crepe paper. Then, our little band of participants would parade around our block on the sidewalk. The recently found picture features of one of those parades,The dog's name is Daisy. The blond child in the foreground is Susan; her sister, Gwenie is a taller girl with glasses in the background. Their baby brother, Kim , is in the stroller. Marcia, another neighborhood girl in a grass skirt, is pulling the wagon. The little girl in the wagon is Linda, who I considered my best friend. Although I am not in the photograph, I fondly remember these grand parades. Unfortunately, I do not remember the identity of the two girls in the middle of the parade. Those were the days my friend.

The next Fun Monday host for July 9th is Deb of Deb's Melon's Patch. Deb's request is, "Show your favorite place to relax. It can be a chair, corner, ledge, or limb. :) Get out those cameras and take pics or just write how you feel when you are in your zone." If you have a favorite place to relax, hurry over to Deb's to sign-up for the next Fun Monday challenge.

15 comments:

Tink said...

I love the idea of a kiddie parade! Your pictures are always so precious to me.

Anonymous said...

I abolutely LOVE these old pictures...each time I read one of the FM posts or follow-up posts, I am tossed back into time.

captain corky said...

Fantatic picture. We used to play camping in my front yard, and my sister and me used to build long trains, out of everything, that went from the upstairs of my house to the basement. It was a lot of fun.

Jen said...

Hi, mjd, thought I'd pop around for a visit since you took the time to visit me!

The pictures are lovely, and the writing is, too. Makes me think more kindly of my own childhood.

J~

Margaret said...

I loved those summers full of camps, forts and outside play. My own children dressed up as pioneers and had a pioneer tent in our back yard. It was lots of fun!

Biddie said...

So, any news on grandbaby #2 yet?

Nessa said...

I remember these. The doggy is cute.

Tiggerlane said...

I sure wish my kiddo had grown up in those days of innocence....a kiddie parade. How cool.

We used to have fun with our imaginations, and now I worry that the next generation won't have one at all - with all their gadgets. Thanks for the trip back in time...

Luv4Zoe said...

Looks like a fun parade. The picture is so cute!

Pamela said...

turn off the electricity nationwide for one day... so kids will play again.

AfKaP said...

I agree with Tiggerlane. Kids need less stuff so they can play more. I guess you'll probably spoil your new grandbaby too - but I bet kid parade is a lot more fun than playing video games!

Momentary Madness said...

Beautiful photo I really want to be back there...please grant me that wish...well you have in a way and I thank you for it. Not my memories but a glimpse back to my own which I can appreciate. Wonderful or not they are time that evoke some special feeling that is whole and hopeful and calming. Thank you somuch.
Y;-) Paddy

Beccy said...

I love the photo and your memories of the fun you had, making the parade.

daddy d said...

The parade activity was a dynamic person directed. It is neat because of all the children getting to be in the activity. Very social.

Frema said...

What a fun picture. Kids definitely watch too much TV these days!