Going outside to play

 With the return of spring comes the return of memories. The other day when I got home from work, I got out of my car and the warm breeze hit me like a ton of bricks.  I do not mean hot air, but that warm spring breeze that we've been waiting for all winter.  The one that is perfumed with honeysuckle. The one that wanted to make us go inside as fast as we could and change out of our school clothes and get back outside to play.  I often wonder, with so many children wrapped up in their devices, do they even think about going outside?  Is there a difference in school clothes and play clothes anymore?  Oh, what they are missing!

I remember the fun it was to play after school.  We would come home, grab a snack and get together to do something.  Riding a bike, playing a game, roller skating. It was just important to get together and not think about the homework that we had to do.  Yes, there were times when I stayed in to watch tv.  We all did.  But it's those times of excitement of going down to explore the creek together or playing tennis in the Griffin's private tennis court that sat behind the Derrick's house. We would often take rocks and draw art in the street.  By the way, we lived on a dead-end street so that was pretty safe for us. 

And we played until dinner.  That was the cue. Listening for our names to be called to come home for supper.  Play time was over.  And if we didn't respond, there was always the dreaded full name call using our middle names that meant we were late and would get in trouble if we did not get home right away. That always did the trick.  And another day of play came to an end.  

I miss the excitement of coming home and going outside to play.  I miss having that little group of constant people to do things with.  It's one of the parts of childhood I miss the most.  Yes, we were kids and definitely acted like kids.  We weren't always nice to each other, but it always passed and was forgotten.  And we had each other's backs when times were tough.  It was a good place to grow up and I am thankful for it. Maybe today when I get home from work, I will change my clothes and go outside and play.  You never know!