remember when

When I grew up in the city, summer nights were spent outside. Moms sat out on the porches coffee clutching while dads were gathered around the hood of some car with a 12 pack of some cheap beer and anywhere you went you would hear the sound of children laughing. We were laughing because we were out playing with our friends. Swimming or running through the sprinkler, playing baseball in the alleys, hide'n'seek all around the block, ding dong ditch and just running around. And we stayed out until 10:00 or later, until our moms & dads were ready to go in and go to bed. And we did this every night.

Last night was an absolute beautiful end to a perfect weekend. It was a slightly breezy 75 with a clear sky to view the stars. There are still a few cicadas around that were loudly doing what they do. We had opened a bottle of "two buck chuck" (that really costs 3 bucks) and decided to play hide'n'seek with our kids and their friend from down the street. It was a great time! 10:30 PM arrived much sooner than later!

I couldn't help but feel a bit sad though. Sad for all of the families we didn't see. Everyone, with the exception of the occasional person walking a dog, was inside their house watching TV. Not just watching TV, but so involved in it that they did not realize what they were missing by being indoors.

What is everyone watching while their life goes by? How are people building families when they aren't talking to each other? Have they completely forgotten what they did on summer nights all those years ago? How has everyone let this happen?

Don't worry, all you people who don't care to partake in outdoor family fun, you can live vicariously through us!