I wish I were young again. I wish I could go back.
My dad says, "It's a shame that youth is wasted on the young." I agree with him although those may not be his words. Youths today don't know how good they've got it. That is true, but my father is always stealing other people's words and I hate that. The thing is that youths have never known how good they've got it. They never will either.
We didn't!
I am sure that I would have blogged more if I had been aware of how baller my life was. "Yes, Mother. I will take that grilled cheese sandwich now." I said with a five year old British accent. "No Chef Boyardee for me, thank you."
You see...I knew then that those Big Beef Ravioli's would have an adverse affect on my play schedule. Big Beef means "Big Trouble" and frequent restroom breaks. I do not endorse Chef Boyardee. In fact, I wish to have it removed from my memory and every supermarket in America. It is gross. I digress.
The point I am trying to make is that I didn't pay for the grilled cheese. I definitely didn't shop for it and I lacked the physical ability to prepare it. That shit just appeared all hot and gooey and ready to eat in front of me. Sometimes it came with a bowl of tomato soup. That did not suck. That shit is baller. Childhood is great.
"So much time and so little to do."-Willy Wonka "Wait! Strike that. Reverse it."
NOOOOO! Don't reverse it. Don't ever reverse it. Life is so much better as a kid. Never Neverland and such.
So little to do is awesome.
There are many times when we have too much to do.
That's the beauty of childhood. Kids don't have anywhere to be. Why do they wear watches? They're never late. It's never their fault. They just...are...they are in the moment and they do what they please. Kids aren't breaking plans. They aren't making them. They don't have "in-laws". They don't have a "work-thing". They are free to do whatever strikes their fancy. I am sure that many of us wonder (in awe) how absolutely thrilling it might be to live as a child again.
"Gee, it's 4 o'clock and it is time to play." said the kid who didn't have a job.
"I don't have to work today." said the kids that don't pay rent or buy any groceries.
"I'm happy to be awake at 7am on a Sunday." said the shrill voiced and annoying little brat that didn't have a hangover.
I remember the good old days.
I remember playing after school.
I remember wearing my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles watch.
I remember big wheels and training wheels.
Saturday morning cartoons.
Super Mario Bros.
The pool - Splashing the lifeguards and definitely not working on my tan
Riding bikes. - For fun...and not for exercise
Jumping off things - Just because
Playing "21" - A basketball game that didn't cost me $10 a hand
Creek stomping - Just like it sounds because all you do is stomp in a creek
Climbing trees - Because there was just nothing better to do
You know what else I remember...ok, I'll tell you. I used to be excited about weather reports of snow and ice or extreme cold. I remember wishing and hoping that schools would close or classes would be canceled due to in-climate weather. I remember not knowing what in-climate weather meant. I remember 2 hour delays. I remember snow days! I would watch those listings of school closings as they cycle through on the local news and hope my school was "lucky" enough to be on that magic list. I would wake up an turn on the TV as if it were Christmas morning.
You unwrap that package of icy white hope (NOT RACIST) and its one of 3 things.
No closing or delay is the equivalent of socks from grandma. They are needed. They provide warmth and they don't call it "Smart Wool" for nothin'. Stay in school.
The 2 hour delay is like a $10 gift card to Best Buy. It's not an actual gift because you can't get anything worth having at Best Buy for under a Hamilton, but its better than nothing and now you only have to fork over $49 plus tax for Call of Duty: Black Ops
The Snow Day is like the Nintendo Wii that everyone wanted several years ago. It was excitement and entertainment for everyone (including grandma) that lasts for about 24 hours. Then it sucks because you have to go to school the next day. Also, the nun chuck is sold separately from the controller and that's fairly rude. No analogy. No metaphor. JUST RUDE.
A snow day is a beautiful thing. It means alot to kids. Let them enjoy it. Build a snowman. Go sledding. Play with them or just play with yourself (wait...) Just have fun. Its a Snow Day! Its 1 day. They don't last forever. I will be at work and hating you, but go ahead and have a blast. I get a 1 hour delay which is just enough extra time to scrape off all the ice from my truck. Its certainly not enough time to get drunk and blog or recover for the morning commute. I will deal with those consequences later, but I will leave you with this one last quote.
"You don't quit playing because you grow old. You grow old because you quit playing." - My Dad
