Making Memories; the Joy of Childhood

Yesterday, I had the privilege of spending the day with my grandchildren!

We had a fun-filled, memory-making busy day, spent almost in its entirety, outdoors.

They did everything that they could possibly do with the many things which were at their disposal, including those little legs of theirs. They ran and ran, for what seemed to me, a hundred miles and they never seemed to tire. (gosh I miss those days, I get exhausted just watching them!)

At dusk, I told them that it was about time to head indoors, my granddaughter began yelling, take a picture Gramma, look, take a picture Gramma quick!"

I looked up.

She had noticed the sunset!

She is only 4 years old.

My grandson looked up from some seriously intense sandbox play...and he took note as well.

His exact word and I quote....."Whoa!"

He is almost 2 years old.

I did grab a camera, I did take the picture and per usual, I could not do the sunset justice, but their noticing it, sure did my heart so much good!

~~~

How often are we caught up in the day to day, of politics (yes, those of you that know me, I'll admit it) of relationship, in traffic jams...literally, so caught up and so distracted, that we forget to look up?

When we fail to look up or look around, we miss out on the things which truly matter!

It was such a gorgeous evening and such a beautiful sunset and these little munchkins not only took note of it, they had a reaction to it.

They stole my heart all over again!

On my drive back home, thoughts and memories were flooding my mind and I could not get home quickly enough to begin jotting down some notes.

Isn't it funny how simple little things can trigger certain memories?

I love to be outside, always have and if I must be inside, I want to at least be able to see what is going on outside, in the world around me.

I'd choose to always have the windows open, but here in Florida, we don't get a lot of open window opportunities.

I have such great memories of my childhood, most of them spent in the great outdoors.

We practically lived outdoors and there was always an impromptu game of football or baseball or croquet being played in someone's backyard.

It would take some time and thought to recall the television lineup of the day.....even though, there were only three channels.

There were times when my friends had to finally give in to their Parents demands and go inside for supper. Some would disappear almost instantly at the first call, while others would last until the dreaded final countdown, then off they'd go off in a hurried panic. I'd lay in my front yard or in the driveway just to look up at the night sky.
I'd never want the afternoon spent in play with friends or the hours of the day to end, for I knew I could never have those hours, or the day, back!

Our children had it good too, lots of acreage to roam and explore, to build forts on, to camp out on, to play manhunt on (I guess that terminology sounded so much cooler than hide-and-go-seek)

They had a trampoline for many years and it was so much more than just a dangerous calisthenics apparatus, they'd lay on it for hours talking, laughing, stargazing and making memories that will always be a part of them.

I too was adding to my memories, watching them enjoying their childhood.

Is the magic of childhood being lost to the encroachment of technology?

Can the stars of the night sky compete with multiple colorful screens mesmerizing our children?

Does the great outdoors pale in comparison to the magical imagery produced in lifelike video games, constantly calling out their name?

A marathon texting session will never have the capacity to produce a Memory, designed to last a lifetime, but try telling that to an adolescent.

It is amazing how far we have come with technology and I know that it benefits so many in all aspects of life, I just can't help but wonder, unless it is to do with their health, how beneficial it is for children.

~~~

There is a sky full of stars above my house tonight and I am reminiscing once more. I'm transported back to my childhood, where my memories begin with my brothers and my cousins and with my neighborhood cohorts.

I am thinking about my children and all the great memories that went along with them, as they left our home, to start their own.

I am thinking about all of my nieces and nephews and the children of good friends, that I have watched grow up.

It is amazing how fast the time has flown by.

As I often do, I am thinking about my grandchildren.

I hope that they will always enjoy running and playing, while always learning and discovering new things, in the great outdoors.

I pray that they'll cherish these moments and that a sunset will always....make them stop in their tracks, as it takes their breath away!