February 10, 2015 • 49

CHILDHOOD: gone…but NOT forgotten

“Arizona’s Grandeur”

I am not sure why…but…for some reason, I keep getting older. Last thing I remember was playing bicycle tag with John and Billy on Lynmore Avenue. And then enjoying “mistakes” at Weir’s Ice Cream (“mistakes” is a code word for ice cream sundaes rejected by customers, but free for us clever kids who knew to ask for them.)

Then…all of a sudden…I was married, had a child, and was paying bills. Lots of them. Oh yeah. And tons of student loans!

Please don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind being an adult. I actually really enjoy it.

And having a family has been the most fulfilling and rewarding experience I have ever had. (Well…other than getting my first Nintendo on that amazing Christmas morning back in the 80s!)

Dissing adulthood, and all its responsibilities, is not my point. Rather. I am just baffled how quickly time moves. When you are a kid, a summer can feel like a lifetime. But after you turn 21, five years can go by in a blink of an eye.

Strange. Very strange, indeed.

Although my childhood is well behind me. I remember it fondly. I recall days when I would just sit and play with my He-Man figures. And other days, when my friends and I played basketball for hours upon hours in the driveway.

I look back on those days not to dwell in the past or to long for a time that has come and gone. No, I look back on that time-period because it brings a smile to my face. And that’s good enough for me.

Every point in life has its moment. You live it. And then tomorrow arrives.

So… when I look back on the fun I had as a child. The innocence that I once possessed. The wonderment that filled my brain.

I remember all of it with fondness…and without regret.

My childhood has shaped the man I am today. And each day, I try to improve who I am. So, hopefully, when I am 80 years old, I can look back upon this point in my life with the same fondness I have for my early years.

(P.S. After I took and processed that photo, I stared at it…And, the image completely reminded me of Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. Right? Can’t you just picture a wooden Acme crate crashing on Coyote’s head?!)

Categories: Ideas, Inspiration, Photography

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49 replies »

  1. All of your photos amazingly beautiful. And what a great essay, so true and down to earth… I’ll be browsing around when I can. Thanks -J

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  2. Wow, a wonderful post and an awesome picture. Forgive me but I really don’t know better words. I’m so overwhelmed, I can hardly remember any English!

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  4. I, also, wonder where my childhood has gone. Here I am at 68 yrs. young and I do remember my time of long ago. From a childhood boy growing up in Hamburg, PA, to joining the US Navy, my experiences in Vietnam, going to school to be a Machinist, working for 30 yrs. in the Trade, and now being Retired. Seems like it has gone by so fast. Where did it go?

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  8. Thank you for liking “Living Bridge.” Fantastic post! 🙂 Now that I am older, I have also had moments when I find myself asking, “Where did all the time go?” I have some happy childhood memories too, but I don’t want to be Peter Pan and be a child forever. And I certainly don’t want to go back and live through my teenage years again. I hated high school! However, one thing I miss from the early part of my life is being able to get enough sleep. 🙂

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  10. Great attitude, Kevin! It’s really hard to stay in the moment and to cherish the present (it is a gift, after all!), when throughout our lives we’ve looked to the past with longing and regret or to the future with hope or fear. It’s something that I’m working on, and I’m sure that a lot of other people are working on as well. Thank you for the reminder to stay positive!

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    • Thanks for the comment, Camille! Staying positive in this crazy world is something that most of us work on. It is so easy to dwell on all the negative, Keep your head up, and always know that tomorrow may bring you a pleasant surprise. 🙂

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  13. Another heart-lifting and enjoyable entry as always, Kevin! You seem like a very positive person and a good, caring father. I’m honestly a little jealous of your childhood haha! Anyways, because my writing always seems so “moody” (can’t help it lol), reading yours brings me a breath of fresh air. Thanks for sharing!

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    • Thanks Harry! I like your writing…it is raw and honest! Trust me, I’m not always this upbeat. I have my moments when I enter those dark places. But, I constantly strive to find the good in situations. It’s my way of coping with this crazy place called earth! Thanks for the comment and being a part of my blog.

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  17. You are right about the picture. Funny! I like what you wrote about growing older and thinking back to the younger years. Sometimes when I just hear a song on the radio I am back into the old times. I may not remember each detail but at least get the feeling.

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