Five Things I Miss About My Childhood

Date: 09 July 2005 05:34:21

Philippa tagged me with her wonderful remembrances of childhood. I'd be interested to hear what yours are. Mine, in no particular order:

Fantasy World: perhaps I may still live in one at times, but back in my childhood I only needed my teddy bears [brown bear & big bear: very imaginative!] and we were transported to the school-room or to having tea with a king or to exploring the moon. Nothing was beyond imagining and a simple cardboard box could be a table or a house or a spaceship.
Licking the Bowl: is there anything better than licking the spoon after mum or grandma has made icing? I don't bake cakes, but if I started I'd be greedy and make sure I got to lick the spoon!
The Children's Section of the Local Library: there is no more magical place. Rows and rows of books ordered by age level. And the excitement of growing through the various sections as I grew up. Making my way through Roald Dahl's books or the Paddington Bear series [I loved Paddington!] There were so many books. I returned to my local library the other day: the magic seemed to have gone. There was hardly anyone there and the children's section was a small corner rather than a separate room. I did feel rather sad.
Long Drives on Family Holidays: 10+ hours in the car on the way to Brisbane or Melbourne. Endless games of I-Spy or other games of my sister's and my making. Stopping in a small country town on the way for scones with jam and cream and a milkshake [I go for Devonshire Teas now]. The endless lollies we had in the car: snakes, jellybeans, Minties and more. Making a tape of my favourite songs during the week before to play in the car on the way up there.
Neighbourhood Kids: I have great neighbours now and I cannot complain, but there is something special about the kids in your neighbourhood when you are growing up. I am only still in contact with one of them, but I remember fondly the great times we had together. It didn't matter if they were older or younger, we often played together and visited one another. From Football Trading Cards to Transformers ["more than meets the eye!"] with fellow boys to Hopscotch and Elastics with the girls -- I played with anyone and everyone! -- the days were endless and the fun never-ending.