There are so many memories associated with childhood. And a midst my crazy mom life, there are times that I will be reminded of those days past.... And my heart takes a moment to remember--and to miss it terribly.
Trying to climb a tree, going down a slide or swing as high as I can--make me miss my small and strong body. My bones felt no ache, vertigo was never a thing and going as fast or as high as I could go,brought a thrill that I loved. I miss the care free playing and never thinking twice about if my head or body could handle it.
Sleep. I actually remember what it was like to sleep through the night and wake up the next morning baffled that the night had gone so quickly. My nights now consist of a crying baby among many other things that have me waking multiple times a night. I miss youthful slumber.
I miss how simple things rocked my world. Anyone remember Lisa Frank? Man oh man. I had my Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper, stickers, pens..etc. It made my heart soar. I loved stick on earrings, my boombox, a new basketball, my black hakeem olajuwan high tops, over sized pencils and the pens that had 10 colors to chose from. I miss the simplicity of it all.
I miss the days where money didn't exist for me. I didn't understand finances and what it really took to keep my tummy full, clothes put on my back and roof over my head. In the all too common moments where I am now trying to figure out how on earth we will be able to pay our bills, I yearn for my naivety of many years ago...where it wasn't a burden.
Missing my family makes me ache sometimes. 30 plus cousins always made for a good time and I loved my big family. I miss our family parties where we would run around outside, make homemade root beer and ice cream, catch bugs, laugh and sing. We always would sing. My favorite was "Oh you can't get to Heaven..." Everyone would chime in with a verse and we would always laugh. And my Grandma would yodel. All who was there would take the time to listen to her sing, and admire her for her gorgeous voice. We grew up together.
Ahh...the Jersey shore. The warm sand and dark blue water. I miss being a kid where catching sand crabs was so fun, and running in and out of the water was exciting. We would make friends with the other kids there and be in heaven to have another playmate.
The smell of cigarette and cigar smoke never bothered me, and watching everyone drink their martini's, eating cheese steaks and sweating from the humidity--- meant I was with my east coast family. Which meant I was happy.
Archie Comic books were, well, my favorite thing to read. Every single morning I would eat my cereal and absolutely needed to read those comics while I slurped my cherrios. We got those comics every year for Christmas, and I would get so excited to see them in the store. I have a huge box of them all. I might even be close to owning almost all of them.
I miss playing with chalk and having that entertain me for hours. Jumping on the tramp with the sprinkler underneath with friends, and sledding down the small curve on my front lawn.
Technology was pretty much nothing back then, and I miss using my mind and creativity in ways that I don't anymore.
I grew up. We all did. And life is pretty good. I actually loved the transition from adolescence to adulthood and found it (still do) exciting and challenging. I don't like getting old, or worse yet: feeling old! But I'm grateful for the moments I get to remember and be grateful for the past. And I sure want to give my kids the kind of life where they will always love and miss their childhood too.
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