One for Ms. Peggy: "Tadpoles and Baseball"

Riding the pony at my grandfather's farm,

I stop and pick the tadpoles out of the waterhole.

Learning of their cold, slimy skin was almost as fun as

Learning the thrill of bike riding,

But bikes tire little legs

And little boys must take naps in their big soft bed

(Even though they don't like taking them.)

Daddy takes naps, too, when he comes home from work.

And little boys must learn quiet things to do

Like play with building blocks, or learn to read at three.

Daddies wake up though, and little boys can have friends up,

And play on the big rocks, pretending to be cowboys or Indians

And sometimes even wade in the crisp, cool creek.

Friends are good to play Star Wars with, even before robots changed

Into seventy different things.

Friends are also good to have a fight with,

And then play football or baseball with soon after.

Some little boys learn to hate baseball though,

Because their daddies are always watching it after *their* naps are finished.

Some little boys grow up to be Yankees fans.

***********************************************

July, 1987, Camp SAGA

I really like how you capture the era of my childhood. I am grateful to have grown up back then.

I wouldn't trade growing up then for anything in the world. We're the perfect cusp generation, as far as I'm concerned. We got steeped in old school, but were still young enough to adapt to the new.

:toast:

Nice to meetcha!

And I have read a few of your OPs before, so I am basing what I said on more than just that poem.

Yup, we got Star Wars and other cool stuff, but we also didn't have Viagra commercials etc. Well you know, you are able to put into words what I am thinking. I think that is really cool.

Back atcha! :toast:

Is there any sound better than crack of ball off bat?

"And I have read a few of your OPs before, so I am basing what I said on more than just that poem."

Hey, thanks!

:toast:

"Yup, we got Star Wars and other cool stuff,"

Wouldn't eBay it for anything.

"but we also didn't have Viagra commercials etc."

Don't whistle too loud past that particular graveyard!

:rofl:

"Well you know, you are able to put into words what I am thinking. I think that is really cool."

No harder than catching tadpoles or learning to ride a bike. Honest. Just a little practice.

:toast:

I really miss the 70s. It was a very different time. Like I said, I count my blessings that I grew up back then. Cannot imagine being a kid today. :scared:

... and permanent winters, though.

But yeah. I worry about kids of a certain age when 9/11 struck. I really do.

What a beautiful and lyrical ode to your childhood...

And you were born in 1972?

So was my last daughter...in May.

No, you may not call me Mom!

Thank you for this, sweetie... :hug:

... my very dear Ms. Peggy.

:hug:

At 15, I could see the end of childhood. So, that was on my mind in 87. Glad I got it down when I did.

:toast: