back when

 Sometimes I miss the good  old days

    I guess I am just a little nostalgic tonight.

    I miss the simpler things. 

    Riding a bike.  Playing ball in the alley. Walking to the movie house to watch John Wayne.

    Catching fireflies.  Playing outside  until the street lights came on.

    The gang I hung around with when gangs were groups of friends, not drug runners or other types of nefarious individuals.

    I miss holding a newspaper in my hands, smelling the ink and having to wash my hands when I was done reading.  We had the Tribune, Sun Times, American, and Daily News when I was young and it was great to read the printed word.  Especially Mike Royko.

    I miss playing with my cousins and eating Milk Bones on a dare, finding out I liked them and continuing to eat  them after the dare was done.

    I miss the joy of Earnie Banks and the unabashed Cub lover Jack Brickhouse calling games and going "wooo heee" or "Hey Hey" when a Cub homered.

    I know my childhood was special because of where I lived and who I was.

    I wasn't aware of the injustices people faced until I heard about civil rights workers being killed, and marchers being blasted by hoses and chased by dogs.

    I remember getting vaccinated agains polio while thousands did not and got sick.

    I don't think I knew anyone who was gay, because that was hidden and not condoned.

    What I did not know made for a simpler life.

    And some of that I miss.  Other parts I don't miss, and neither do those who had. their rights and lives taken away because of the color of their skin or sexual  lifestyles.

    I hope someday kids will look back and remember the good things.

    And someday when kids look back maybe they won't have to remember hatred, war, hunger or poverty.

    Because it won't exist.

    Except in memories of old people.

    Like me.

          Peace and Love

                Especially Peace