July 26, 2013
Playtime Was Always More Fun After Dark

Starlight, starbright, first star I see tonight.....

While sitting outside the other night as dusk approached, watching the stars peek out of the darkening sky I was reminded of my childhood on much the same kind of evening. 

Those endless days of summer were made sweeter just by knowing that we kids could linger outside way past our conventional bedtime hour (which was always way too early.)   We somehow knew that those  precious extra minutes could had on a sweet summer night by making ourselves scarce and out of sight of our parents.

As we avoided the call to come inside by our parents, there were games to be played that could only be enjoyed more as the daylight wained. 

Like hide and seek.  So many places to conceal oneself as darkness approached. And tag.  "You're it!!" was hollered as we all scattered across the yard that seemed so vast at night compared to in the daytime.  Tag was much more fun when played in the dark.

Ghosts in the graveyard, red light/green light, anty-over....all were such adventures when played in the gloaming hour.

Perhaps the best times we had were when the neighborhood teenager from down the block would tell us scary ghost stories - tales that curled our young toes in fear and no doubt sparked more than one or two nightmares.  But there was strength in numbers as we gathered around her, listening with rapt attention.

I'm sure if mom and dad had known what was going on we'd have been beckoned inside long before the sun sank in the western sky.  But it was summer and it was just that way.  Those days and nights were priceless, even if we didn't realize it at the time.

These days I still find great pleasure in sitting outside in the midnight hour, contemplating the heavens above and harkening back to those careless, carefree days of youth.  It's a pleasure unlike any other and one that I have never outgrown.  It's also one that I would recommend for any "grown up" to try. 

Just remember.....things that go bump in the night aren't always what they might seem to be so don't be alarmed.  Just enjoy the peaceful enchantment that you find when nighttime has fallen on the world. And if you listen carefully, you might even hear your mom calling you home.