It’s Been a Long Time Coming

Yes, I’m back to posting. It’s like back-to-school. Daughter is doing 8th grade in a private school – Son is doing 8th grade in an urban K-8 public school. Different strokes for different kids. We gave them very long leashes this summer and they proved themselves able to handle the freedom. They kept us informed of their whereabouts. Obeyed the rules (wear your helmet, no visitors without an adult home). We checked up on them from time to time and they were good. They had some real adventures this summer.

They explored the very old, huge and creepy Oakwood Cemetery in the neighborhood with their friends. They investigated an old abandoned chapel there and read the weathered civil war era headstones. They told each other scary stories to see who would freak out and pedal home first. Eventually they were chased out of the cemetery – like kids every summer for the past 100+ years. It’s a rite of passage.

My son and his buddies investigated an very large neighborhood drainage pipe. It runs a few hundred feet under some woods in the park and just funnels storm water into a holding pond. I asked it anyone brought a flashlight and the reply was, “We have our cellphones – duh!” Times have changed, but kids haven’t. I just cautioned them against going in it during rainy days. I knew eventually they’d have to investigate it.

We live on a divided street with a small brook in the middle and I’ve seen kids going down it in canoes, ducking their heads through the underpasses. I suppose that will be next summer now that my son has a kayak. . . . .