When the Nostalgia Kicks In…

There are many things about our childhoods that are different than the ones our own children are experiencing.  I know it was the same for our parents and it will continue to be the same as new generations come into this world.  But sometimes I find myself truly longing for the “easier” days of my own upbringing, of the times when I could just ride my bike around the neighborhood and tell my mom, “I’m going to Audra’s house, I’ll be back in a little while.” She had Audra’s phone number so if she needed me, she could call there, you know, once she looked up from her ironing board, and “The Guiding Light” was over and I still was not back yet.  She just wanted to make sure I was not wearing out my welcome.

I was thinking back on the specific things below recently and wishing things could be this way again, in some ways.  I think it’s only natural for us to want that, especially if our childhood was mostly good and full of family and friends that loved us and enjoyed our company.  I was blessed in that way.  And in these ways as well…

 

Family reunions

When I was a child we went to the family reunion on my Dad’s side every June.  We would drive to the small, south Texas town that my grandmother still lived in and gather at the local KC hall (That stands for Knights of Columbus) for a potluck and barbecue dinner.  The Hosek clan was comprised of many cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.  The adults always raffled off door prizes and I spent a lot of time on the swings outside, by the men tending the barbecue anticipating the dessert part of the meal.  There were tables and tables lined with delicious, homemade food, from potato salad, with copious amounts of mayonnaise, to pies and cakes, loaded with icing.  And kolaches.  Since my family heritage is Czechoslovakian, there were LOTS of kolaches.

What we do now: Face Time?

 

The epic camping/road trip family vacation

My Dad’s gold, 1970 Chevy truck had a camper that fit on the back and almost every summer we would head out west to use it to it’s full potential.  I used to lay up in the part that sat over the cab of the truck and watch the orange desert of Arizona go by and worry that we would run out of gas and no one would be around to rescue us.  I also saw the mountains of Colorado and the orchards of California from that spot.  That truck took us to the Texas Gulf coast many times as well. I remember the sand on the floor and in the sheets of that tiny space and checking in at many K.O.A.s.

What we do now: Fly somewhere, staring at devices all the while.

 

 

Cool Whip (or Country Crock) containers full of leftovers

My mother has always been a good cook and after most of my brothers moved out I think she had a hard time adjusting to the fact that she was not feeding as many people at once anymore.  So, there were often MANY cleaned out and reused plastic containers in our fridge with leftover casseroles and other of her culinary delights.  Sometimes I would have to open three or four of them to find what I was actually looking for, like broccoli salad or leftover spinach dip.

What we do now: Pack them in glass.  Or not eat leftovers…

 

4th of July fireworks – across the street!

In the neighborhood where I grew up, there was always a bike parade in the morning on Independence Day and later, at dusk we would gather in my parents’ yard for the fireworks.  These were set off on the middle school football field, right across the street from our house.  All of us kids would run around catching fireflies and waiting, waiting and waiting for the excitement to begin. Then I would plop my terrycloth-shorted bottom on top of the cab of my Dad’s truck to watch them.  So many colors, right above my head, my neck would hurt after from watching and the finale was pratically the best part of my summer. It was amazing.

What we do Now: Scramble through crowds to find a spot among A LOT of other people and their kids at the city’s display.

 

Roadside watermelon stops

Many times my parents and I would stop and buy a watermelon right out of the back of a local farmer’s pick-up truck, usually on the way to one of my Grandparents’ houses.  They cost about $3.  And SO tasty.  They had big, black seeds and we had to spit them out or, as my Grandma Hosek used to say, a watermelon might grow in our tummies.

What we do now: Buy a “seedless” one at the grocery store that came from who-knows-where

 

Birthday parties at McDonald’s (or Wendy’s in my case)

I used to think it was the most wonderful thing ever to have your birthday with Ronald McDonald.  I went to several birthday parties with a happy meal and cake and I was SO elated just for that.  My Mom had my 5th birthday party at Wendy’s, right down the road from our house, and even though I was a little sad Ronald was not there, I had a great time at that party.  I can still remember the cute dress I wore… blue with ruffles.

What we do now: Go nuts spending a bunch of money on all kinds of parties when kids would be cool with just going to McDonald’s.

 

Oatmeal pies

I am not sure how long a box of these lasted at our house but I know it as NOT very long.  I loved them so much.  I would eat the top layer off and then eat the icing and bottom layer together.  I know they were/are full of “not-so-good-for-you” stuff but they remind me of home and childhood so I cannot completely hate them.

What we do now: NOT eat oatmeal pies

 

Running in sprinklers…

Yes, I drank from the water hose and I also ran around in the sprinkler in the back yard, A LOT.  We did not have a pool at our house and it was HOT in Austin, TX.  Just like it is every summer.  My mom had a small, metal sprinkler that she used to water the lawn and she would hook it up to the hose for me and I would run around in that thing until I got tired.  Plus, her lawn got watered at the same time!

What we do now:  Sometimes we still run in sprinklers… 🙂

 

 

 

What are you nostalgic for from your childhood summers?