There are certain sights,smells, and thoughts that I associate with things that aren't necessarily related unless the back story is known.

An example of this would happen to be Cherry Kool-Aid, Tootsie Pops, Freeze Pops, the sight of fireflies in the grass, and the feel of hot concrete under my bare feet.

Before everyone grew up in the neighborhood , the neighborhood kids would gather and play games. Sometimes there were groups of people just chatting, and other times it was one massive herd of kids assembling to play a game. Teams were chosen by use of the captain system, and although there were the first and the last picks everyone was okay with that. Everyone knew the garages and the games that were best suited to each yard. A wide level lawn was perfectly okay for a good game of kick-ball, but down the street the house with trees, nooks, and crannies was perfect for hide-n-go seek tag. There were house rules about where you could and couldn't hide for hide-and go seek, and how many times you could be"it" if you were the youngest and slowest player. There were times when the boys would go off and play and the girls would play hand clapping games like Stella Ella Olla.

The refreshments throughout the day would consist of Kool-Aid pitchers made by the mothers. Occasionally, Freeze Pops and Tootsie Pops would make an appearance. Everyone had their favorite flavors, and everyone respected that. There were unspoken things known about each person, whether it be the fact that one family was getting a divorce or the fact that another family was planning on moving, the stress of the day to day school year was shed during the summer in favor of basking in the sunlight and joking with age old friends.

The summers stopped becoming magical about ten years ago. People grew up, cell phones were invented, and drivers license's were obtained. We no longer needed the comradeship to help dispel the otherwise unscheduled summer days. People started sleeping in late, dating, going to parties, drinking, and losing interest in the childhood days.

Every so often, at a graduation party or a neighborhood get together , the kids will assemble again. There will be more talk and reminiscing about the good old days, but more often than not, people will leave the gathering to grab sneakers. Soon there will be games of badminton on the level lawn, and popsicles will surface from someone's house. Soon, the summer will have gone back in time to a more carefree era. , and we all smile.