Did you have a normal childhood? Like I said on my bio page, growing up between two brothers and in a neighborhood of boys, I either ran with the pack or found my private corner of books and paper dolls.
The very senior people in one of my writing groups have been talking about such games as Red Rover – Red Rover, Eeny Einy Over and Kick the Can. I don’t go as far back as Kick the Can, but I have to admit, I’m guilty of sneaking out with my brother, during long summer evenings, to play Red Rover up on Oak Street. Oak Street, where we weren’t allowed to go, with the rough boys, we weren’t allowed to play with. Just before dark we’d hear Mom calling, trying to find us. All the kids around Oak Street got to stay out after dark. Then there was Eeny Einy over where we threw the ball back and forth over someone’s roof. Another game Dad would have hollered at us for, if he’d known we were playing.
When I became a pre-teen, we moved to a more girlie neighborhood. Like any busy/dizzy teen there were girl parties here, girl parties there – with the Girl Scout Troup or Job’s Daughters. My daughters and granddaughters roll their eyes as I tell them of kid-nap-breakfasts in our PJ’s. Guess that isn’t done any more, huh? (Sometimes I feel so retro.)
Today I live in a winter wonderland. Lots of time for writing when going out means getting stuck in the long driveway. The photos on the front page are scenes from past years around my home. Twelve inches expected today. We’ll be looking like the photos before the day is through. The green shot is for contrast. It shows the real reason we stay in this frozen tundra.
Deep snow sparked my imagination for another manuscript, Secrets in the Snow. It’s set in Northern Minnesota. Not sure the snow in my yard sticks around long enough to hide bodies. “Oops, don’t be giving it away!”
In the future, I’ll be commenting on the hidden statements here (very senior, girlie neighborhood, retro and more). Please share any thoughts and/or memories awakened by the words on this page.
Photographs are Copyrighted by, and used with permission of, Rancho Riescho Productions.