Drift Away

Take me back to simpler days of water balloon fights and hide N go seek.

The days of carefree boys and girls whose only objective for the day was to have plenty of fun.

Girls jumping rope or playing hopscotch under the breezeway. Cool R&B tunes played by the cool dudes under the building watching a game of pitching pennies. Take me back to the sounds of a 16 inch clincher smacking off a bat and the cheers from the crowd lined up along the foul lines to see those Unknown Pro’s become softball legends. Kids in the playground swing in the swings and playing on the monkey bars and jumping off at the sound of the ice cream truck making its way down Federal St. 

Those were the days when hope was alive and well. And one day when we were all grown up we’d have our own stories to tell. Passing on these memories and lessons learned to our children yet to come. When candy was a penny and the joy of chewing Bub’s Daddy’s Bubble Gum.

Take me back to the times of running down the stairs to help carry up the groceries when your parent’s returned from the store. This chore was even more so when the elevators were broke and you lived on the 14th floor. There was no worry about kids getting exercise back then. Living where we did you performed this act over and over again.

Take me back to the time when a new family moved into your building and you got a new life long friend. Take me back to the time when people looked out for one another. When my mother knew your mother and they would would get in your behind if you stepped out of line. 

Those warm summer nights when the sun went to bed and we soaked up the moon’s glow. Laughter filled the night. And man I can feel the coolness of the air from those nice summer night rides to the lake on our bikes. Riding to I.I.T. to pick crab apples off the trees only to be chased by the university campus police. Choir boys singing in the back hallways filled the air with peaceful sounds of joy.

Pure mellow madness is all there is to explain what 4 part harmony sounds like echoing  off the walls making one Movement to the Next all the way from the first to the 17th floor. Take me back to the Friday night Fireworks lighting up the sky from the ball park on the other side of the Dan Ryan.The sounds of jubilant kids from the porches of those concrete buildings that were our paradise. 

Take me back to that time so that we may once again spend time with the family and friends that have left this earth but not our hearts and minds.

Foolish notion as kids we had of what we thought would be forever. If we only knew what we had maybe we wouldn’t miss them so much now that they’re gone.

On these days of chaos of my own immortality I like to sit in my comfy chair close my eyes and drift away back to those times of yesterday,yesteryear yestertimes when life was simple and the future held so much promise for us all. Don’t you want to go?

Written By:

Larry D. Miller