Post #3 -- Good Times

Good Times

A product of the Great Depression – that’s how Mom and Dad described themselves.  Their stories of that time left me with such vivid images it’s like I was there.  Both my parents came from large farm families.  In the 1930s that meant that they were very poor.  Lots of their stories were about hard times and hard work.  Still, for every one of those stories there was one about play and good times.

Memories

Mom and Dad were very competitive and good athletes.  The first memory I have of Mom is her telling me that I had to go home with Aunt Martha because Dad was taking her to the hospital for stitches.  A high stick had sliced her eyebrow during a women’s hockey game.  Dad could run and jump like a white-tailed deer.  He had represented his army troop at track and field games during the war.

All of the stories that they told took place outside.  Most of my stories happen out in nature; some of our sons’ stories happen in the out-of-doors.  I have wondered about how hard it is going to be for today’s youngest to create an interesting story that takes place in front of some electronic device.

Nature’s Welcome

This trend that has our young people spending more and more time inside is hard to explain given that outdoor activities are so welcoming.  They are not expensive – some activities fit into a 1930s budget.  Nature experiences make no demands that we need to be top athletes.  Competitiveness isn’t a requirement. 

My favourite outdoor activity is splitting firewood for the stove.  In all my years I have never been challenged to a wood splitting contest.  Snowshoeing, hiking, fishing and bird watching are other activities that require little or no experience.  If you desire something more physically challenging, try canoeing, kayaking, archery, cross-country skiing or wilderness survival.  All of these nature-based outdoor experiences will fill your day with enjoyment and material for a good story.

It’s About Choice

Mom and Dad grew up outside because they had no choice.

Then TV came along as a source of entertainment and gave me a choice.

Our kids saw the arrival of the computer screen and another choice.

Today our young people have quietly had one of their choices taken away from them – that’s the choice of playing and learning outside.

We must give that choice back to them and encourage them to spend more time in nature.  If we give them that opportunity they will have a variety of stories to tell future generations.

Pops