pocket knife "land game"

[zoogirl]

Ouch, Jerry! I hope he healed ok.
Nowadays we have a rubber mat under most playground stuff. It’s made of recycled tires. I guess it a good thing. It’s kind of a symptom of cocoon kids though.
We could ride our bikes as far as we wanted, as long as we were home for dinner. Everyone had knives and their own hammer, including the girls. Otherwise, how could you build a shakey tree fort? We played games with holly berry or pea guns, rode homemade sleds and go karts and went to the park alone or with friends. We had apple fights. Snowballs too.
My kids probably got the last taste of it. They are now 30 and 32. Their kids won’t have anywhere near the same freedom. Two of the grandkids are all bogged up with structured sports and play times and who knows what. Yes, that stuff has its place and they are having fun, but I don’t see any time for free play. Can’t get them off the screens anyway.
We learned a valuable lesson out in the world. We learned what not to do.
Don’t go to hang out with the old guy at the shoe store. He likes kids a little too much.
Don’t go to the park down 12th Ave. The kids there are mean.
Watch out for rusty nails in the field by the school.
Jackie’s dog bites.
Be home by dark or your mom will yell.

See, we knew the rules, because there were rules. We learned common sense.

Too bad the kids now don’t get the chance. It’s a heckuva shock when they get out of school and have to live in the real world.