A random childhood memory

[dancerjodi]

There was an article in the local paper about the last standing Waverly Oak in the Waltham/Belmont park that I used to frequent a lot as a kid. It was deemed one of the most beautiful trees in the area back in the late 1800's: http://www.state.ma.us/mdc/beaver.htm .

Whenever I used to visit my Gram as a kid we would always take a day trip to Waverly Oaks. At that time there were lots of huge stone animals to climb on in the wading pool and a big fountain in the middle (now there are random rocks that spout water from them). We would pack a picnic lunch and Gram would always buy us an ice-cream from the truck that stopped by daily around 1:00. I would get the "rocket sundae" with vanilla ice cream and fudge swirl that you would push up from the bottom.

There is a little spring crossed by a footbridge - we would collect crawfish there (but I was always afraid of getting bitten). And there is a HUGE field for playing ball or reserving for picnics. My Grandmother's huge extended family would have the summer reunions there (she is the oldest of 19 kids, no foolin'). There were sections roped off for grills and hibachis, shaded areas for the babies to sleep and designated game areas for the 3-legged or potato sack races. It was a great opportunity to get to meet "the cousins" that you would never know by name because there were just so damn many of them!

I haven't been to that park in a long time and usually when B and I drive by I comment on how I need to take him there. I really want to do that soon now that the weather is getting nicer (hmm, wonder if the extra wide slide is still there - B and I could go down it side by side at the same time!).

I wonder if that sense of family or community exists in many places anymore, I know that it has declined in my own family. Groups get larger, people get older and we all grow apart. I think the loss of "community" may be a factor in the crazy bustle of our everyday lives . . . there just isn't as much of a support network anymore.

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Do you have any nice childhood stories of summer that you would like to share? Or have you experienced that sense of community and now miss it?

Comments

[nepenthedreams]

I have always longed for a family community. My family never got together very often. My mom and her 5 siblings are all spread across the country and never talk to eachother. My dad's family and I got separated when I was young because of the divorce. My stepmom's family welcomed me in and they get together all the time for events, but they asked me never to come to the shore again because I was a promiscuous (supposedly) 14 year old and they thought I was a bad influence on the other cousins/sisters. I think they forgot what it's like to be 14! Anyway, now my mom got remarried, and Scott's family has been so awesome and welcoming. Every weekend during the summer, we have get-togethers at their pool, bbqs on every holiday, and it's wonderful. I just wish I had grown up with *this* family so that I could feel more a part of it. One of the great side-benefits of being with Mike is that I love his family and they really like to get together.

So, I try to encourage family togetherness whenever possible, but sometimes the other members of the various semi-related families are not as into it as I am.

A reflection...

[tember.livejournal.com]

When I was a little girl my I would go stay at this farm house with my Grandmother. My Uncle made a tree house for my brother and I, we would love it out there far away from the city. My Gram would make these homemade donuts in a cast iron cauldron just like the old days. There was this Wolfe hi-bred that would come around and guard me, it was like I was his pup or something. It was a special time for me to simply be a kid and explore nature since there wasn't much where we lived. I still recall my last sight of the old farmhouse as we drove off when my Gram had to move, and I swear (even tho my mother says I imagined it) that I heard a wolfes cry of goodbye. This is one of my fondest childhood memories the other can be viewed at http://www.livejournal.com/talkpost.bml?itemid=3774953

Memories....

[stephatit.livejournal.com]

One of my fondest memories when I was growing up was when my family would all get together at Christmas time. We would all drive to Ennis, Texas to my aunt's farm. She had horses and we would all take turns riding them. The family was very large then and we could barely fit in my aunt's house, but it was always so exciting to see everyone together in one room. I miss that very much. Several of my aunts have died and the cousins just do not get together anymore.