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I seriously miss fireflies. When I was a kid, we chased and caught them and got as many as we could in a jar, then released them when we had to go in. I never smooshed them, wasn't into harming any living creatures (still not, really.) I had no respect for boundaries of yards or property, either, I'd go pelting through a neighbor's front yard in a heartbeat to get a firefly.
We have lived in a bunch of places. When my kids were real little, we were in Iowa and had them there. I remember filling up a jar, and then we'd all sit still around it and take the lid off. Gradually the fireflies would escape and fly out, and sometimes they'd land on us for a moment. My boys loved that. But I always taught them to stay out of other people's yards, we just got them in our own.
Then since 07, we've lived in places with no fireflies.
So I miss 'em.
Makes me think though. As a kid I thought nothing of hopping a neighbor's chain link fence or dashing through their yard. I don't know why, but I didn't think anyone would mind. I was just passing through. I think I'd be furious if neighbor kids were in my yard nowadays though and I teach my boys not to do that. I don't know if "times" were different or just my parents didn't teach me something they should have....?
I think times were different. We'd cut through people's yards right up through high school, but these days nearly everyone's yard is fenced.
Fireflies seem to come and go. We get good years and bad ones, and I do remember keeping them in jars with holes for them to 'breathe,' lol, and some grass for comfort's sake.
I grew up in South FL and what I remember pretty much my whole childhood. Some of my favorite memories were getting up on the weekends to a sunny home and watching my Saturday morning cartoons.
I also remember having a sick day at home, and we had a big square coffee table that was like a solid piece of wood, and I sat on the edge of it and put together a big jigsaw puzzle while game shows like "The Price is Right" were on in the background.
Yes...and how much we looked forward to Halloween! We dressed up in home-made costumes, although one year I had a store-bought tiger outfit.
No one went around with parents, and we loved to scare each other silly by mentioning 'the witch in the corner house' (she wasn't), or the mean old man down the block who'd put ex-lax in chocolate (he didn't).
Some people handed out apples or home-made popcorn balls. You'd make the candy last until Christmas, eating anything chocolate first, Necco wafers last. I was fond of Turkish taffy, candy cigarettes and bubble-gum cigars.
I don't remember Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, but I do recall Johnny Carson keeping my terror level at an acceptable level when I was babysitting late into the night.
I was just thinking about this a couple of days ago - the reason I got into Johnny Carson really young was due to babysitting, and he was a lifesaver for my late-night terror as well. I would be sooooooo scared when the folks I was babysitting for would stay out until the wee hours. I started babysitting when I was 12, I think. I had never been in my house without at least one parent being there all night long, then all of a sudden I'm sitting in a strange house with no adults, little kids asleep (hopefully), terrified of the horrors I was certain were lurking out there on the other side of the dark windows. Luckily, the Tonight Show was on until 1:00 a.m., and it really helped distract me from the too-quiet house and burglars that I was sure were just about to break in.
The love is what I remember the most. My mother's hand on my forehead when I felt bad, my father's strength and knowing I was safe because they were there. Their laughter low and muffled when I was trying to sleep. Feeling that no matter what I did I would be loved unconditionally. Watching their love affair that was deeper than any seen on movies or television and learning not to settle for second best. Eating together at the dinner table and actually talking and being interested in one another. My home was full of love, and it is the place I most want to visit.
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