Summer Memories

I’ve been somewhat nostalgic recently. My thoughts have drifted back to my summers growing up in small-town Iowa. I can’t pinpoint why, but maybe it has to do with losing my dad earlier this year (and my mom almost four years ago) and now realizing I no longer have that link to my past. Or maybe it’s because I’m celebrating 50 years out of high school this year.

Whatever it is, it’s there.

I know some of you are waiting to hear more about our new house and I will write about that soon. But these memories from way back need to be acknowledged first.

I had a wonderful childhood. My life was pretty carefree. We didn’t take many vacations, but I didn’t care. I simply enjoyed having the summer all to myself. Who could ask for more?

Growing up in the 60s was the best time. Of course, I’m not biased or anything. But we had so few distractions (cell phones, etc.) and few obligations (no sports every weekend). My biggest requirement was piano lessons once a week. And I could ride my bike to my teacher’s house, so I wasn’t dependent on anyone else.

I think this year’s hot weather sparked some of these memories. I loved our hot summers, going to the swimming pool every day with my friends. We’d spend hours there every afternoon and then I’d ride my bike home and stop at this little stand and buy a bag of popcorn.

Riding my bike home from swimming was not the highlight of the day. The pool was on the east side of town and we lived on the west side. I vividly remember those hot, sunny days riding into the sun on my way home. That part wasn’t much fun. But you’re a kid, so you do it.

Once I got home, I sat in front of the big box fan in my room. You see, this was before we had central air conditioning. I spent a lot of time in front of that fan.

Some days/nights we’d have thunderstorms and we’d lose power. But no one cared. We’d get together with neighbors and play cards by candlelight in our kitchen. Back then, we were great friends with our neighbors and because we always had our windows open, we could talk back and forth. We knew what everyone was up to!

At one point, my bed was up against one of the windows in my room, which I loved. Most nights, I would hear the whistles as trains made their way through town. On the weekends, it was the sprint or stock car races, even though the fairgrounds were across town. Mainly, I just loved the sounds of summer.

My days were mine to fill. I read a lot but I also spent most of the time outside. We’d play with kids in the neighborhood or I’d ride my bike to my best friend’s house. We did things like roller skating, playing badminton in the backyard, having lemonade stands, playing Barbies, and even collecting seeds from the 4 O’Clock flowers that grew in our window wells. I don’t remember ever being bored.

Do you remember the Big Wheel? I swear, someone in my neighborhood created the first version of this by inverting the back part of a tricycle and reattaching it to the front wheel. My memory is fuzzy but I know it happened.

I loved going to our library. I tell everyone it’s the best library in the world. It’s a beautiful old building and exactly what you’d expect a library to be. There were stacks and stacks of books and it always had that old book smell. I’m pretty sure I read every Agatha Christie book they had. My love for mysteries goes way back.

During the day, we listened to KIOA radio and I loved the music from this time. But because of our location, we couldn’t get KIOA after 8:00 at night. Then I’d listen to WLS in Chicago or the Little Rock, Arkansas station. I can’t remember their call letters. I’ve always had trouble falling asleep; in those days, I’d listen to the radio in my bed.

It was also a big deal when you got a transistor radio. You could listen to the radio anywhere!! When we started going to a nearby lake instead of the swimming pool, someone always blasted their radio on the beach.

My mind is fuzzy on how often we did this, but in the evenings, we’d pile into someone’s car to get ice cream cones. Maybe that’s why I’ve been eating more ice cream cones this summer. Sometimes there’s nothing better than a chocolate soft-serve cone!!

My life is pretty good right now too. Maybe that’s why these memories are so strong. I’m back to that carefree feeling of my childhood. Yes, we had a super busy summer with the move, but I feel calm inside. It’s been a while since I’ve felt like that.

Now, if I just had the energy and flexible body of those days, my life would be perfect. But I can dream. And remember.

❤️