When I was a little girl I used to lye on my trampoline what seemed to be all summer eating saltines, apples with cinnamon and sugar on them, and drinking strawberry juice. I would watch the clouds pass by in familiar shaped objects like bunnies and balloons. I loved those blue skies and sunny days. Summer felt so long and so rewarding.
Now when I look up at the sky in short intervals through windows of class rooms or rushed walks to the next place I have to go to the clouds are stratus-shaped or cumulonimbus clouds. On rare occasions they are shaped like kidneys or femurs, but never bunnies or balloons...
I don't wish it back. I can't quite put a finger on it, but this is the summer that I define my childhood summers as. It might be the independence I felt in being the boss of my day. I could eat what I wanted, wear clothes three times in a row, dig holes with my dog, climb trees, catch toads, or just lye on the trampoline and watch clouds pass by in great fascination. It could possibly be that time made no difference in my day. I had no meetings to attend, no planes to catch, or work to go to. Or it might have been because there was no school. I didn't have to read any chapters in my Medical Nutrition Therapy book, or study for an exam on Monday, or meet hard deadlines for papers.
I was free.
Great memories! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I find it somewhat ironic that children are generally eager to become adults because they think that they'll have more freedom. But when they grow up, they realize that they had it all wrong. Still, I wouldn't want to go back. I just treasure those "trampoline moments" more whenever they come along. :)
PS. I like your new design!
It's so true! I miss you Christen :)
ReplyDeleteI miss you, too!!! Soccer, cookies, frosting . . . more great memories. :)
ReplyDeleteChildhood was nice in its simplicity. But I agree with you both that I wouldn't want to go back. I enjoy each new day that God has given me and cherish that He brings me closer to Him. Although the time freedom that I had as a child was nice I didn't know God and after growing closer to Him I would not want to trade that for the world.
ReplyDeleteI still see balloons and bunnies (maybe I am still 8 at heart)but the difference is that I rarely take the time to look at the clouds. Oh the joy of taking time in God's creation, to stop and glory in His splendor. That clouds form familiar shapes! I am waiting for the day when I see math equations in the sky!