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Thursday, April 2, 2009

If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays - Childhood Memories

Come join me for If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays! We'll be taking time out to share some memories. We'll Blog Back Time with possible ways to right past wrongs or about how times have changed. We'll share childhood memories, school/work memories, family and friend memories.

Today's topic is: Childhood Memories

I grew up in a southeast suburb of Milwaukee, WI. Like many young families in the 60's, my parents bought a ranch in a new subdivision. My sister and I had plenty of friends our own age.

We were really close to 3 families on the block. In the summers we were thick as thieves. We rode our bicycles all day long.
This was just like my first bicycle, a Schwinn Hornet. Mine was black and white. They made these from 1951 to 1958. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say mine was one of the earlier models. My Father got it used and I was mortified because all the other kids on the block got brand new bikes. Theirs were shiny new, 1970's models. Not works of art like this Schwinn. I had no appreciation whatsoever. If I still had that bicycle it would be worth thousands of dollars.
What I really wanted was one of these. The highly coveted Schwinn Sting-Ray. The boy next door had a brand new one and he would not let anyone else ride it. Ever.

During Summer Break we got up early, had breakfast, rode until lunchtime, came home for lunch and then we were back out until dinner time. We rode around the neighborhood and through the fields behind our grade school. We rode our bicycles to the bowling alley and back several times a day just for something to do. When we got really bold, we started riding on 27th street (Hwy 41) and rode to the Southgate Mall and back. Our parents didn't have a clue where we went. The only time they did know was when someone slipped and said that we were planning on heading to Southridge Mall which was 5 miles away. We were told that was too far, which was kind of silly, since our trips to Southgate Mall were 4.5 miles away.

In the winter there was a pond that froze over in that field. We convinced my parents that we needed ice skates and they got us used ones. We'd disappear for hours in that field skating on that pond.

Now it's your turn. Please post your Childhood Memory on your blog. Then come back to Lola's Diner and leave the actual post link here. Please grab the html code for If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays! Badge HERE. Please note these links are STRICTLY for If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays! participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Lola's Diner
©2008-2009

14 comments:

Auntie E said...

This sounds like a good one for Thursdays. I will not be able to blog it today. But for sure next week. This week is dedicated to National Cherry blossom Festival.I will sure check back to see what everyone blogs.:-)

Auntie E said...

Ok, figure out how to put it on my Ready 2 get fit blogsite this week. Hope you enjoy the Post.
Thank you for being my top ten dropper.Posted you on my At home.. site.

Gina Alfani said...

I love this :) Those bikes . . . my brother had the one with the banana seat and the high handlebars . . . his had a varooooom motor on it . . . remember those?

My post is dedicated to my childhood memories of the hula hoop!

Gina
http://babyboomerflashback.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I promised myself not to get into any more of these weekly themes, tempting though it would be to join this one. If I could have my time again, I'd go back to the sixties when I was a student in Liverpool, just after the Beatles' time, but the time of student protest and flower power. I should have enjoyed it more! There's more to life than exam results. :)

Anonymous said...

Your neighborhood sounds a lot like how mine was. Happy memories!

john said...

I had a schwin, but you forgot to mention those plastic strings that you would plug into the handles of the bike. we use to take the baseball cards and my mothers clothes pins (remember those) and clip them on the spokes and varruummmmm, we were off.

Lola said...

@ Auntie E - You're welcome.

@ Gina - I remember the hoola hoop too!.

@ A. - Wow, the 60's in Liverpool had to be fascinating.

@ Blueviolet - Yes, it was a lot of fun. It just makes me sad that because of the times my kids and their kids won't enjoy that kind of carefree childhood.

@ John - My friends used to put playing cards on their spokes with clothes pins but my Dad forbid us to do that. So we occasionally traded bikes with our friends (out of the sights of our parents) so that we could experience the cards on the spokes ride.

lilaphase said...

Thanks for bringing back some great memories of my bike with the banana seat!

Ranran said...

i rode bikes, too! that's definitelely one of my fondest childhood memories. now i can't do it anymore cos we now live in the city.

BK said...

Your memory brought me back to the time when I was riding bicycle around the neighborhood. Life was so carefree back then. I just hope that children nowadays get to do things like we did when we were young. They are more hooked to computer games and stressed with studies now.

Margo said...

this looks fun, Lola. I'll try to join in someday soon. Something about spring seems to bring back good bicycle memories :)

DhoyM said...

Hi Lola, I;m sorry this one is out of topic. I just want to share this friendly award. Please grab it when you get a chance. Here is the link:http://dhoyblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/friendly-blogger-award.html

Unknown said...

That is too cool, I use to have a purple bike just like that, and I am here to tell you I rode that thing everywhere. We lived in the country and I rode that bike until it wore out, that was my good ole stingray, yes sir re!! Great post!

Jodi

Lisa Samples said...

If you could please forward a 125x125 button - you were my top EC dropper for March and won 125x125 ad space!
Thanks,
Lisa

 
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