- Memories are such a good thing!
- I think I will officially submit my resignation as an adult. I have decided I want to be a kid again.
By Larry Whiteley
Our grandkids used to visit us at our weekend cabin a lot when they were little. After they went home with Mom and Dad, Grandma and I would sit on the deck, relaxing, but missing them. They loved it down at the cabin, on the creek.
We created many grandkid memories at that special place in the woods. They are all grown up now with lives of their own. I wonder if they remember all the good times when they were little.
I always wished I had their energy. Today, I still wish I had many things kids have. I think I will officially submit my resignation as an adult. I have decided I want to be a kid again.
I want to have a Grandma and Papa who always greet me with a hug and a kiss. Who let me do just about anything I want and will even do it with me. When it is time to go, I want to see them run out to wave goodbye, blow me kisses, and tell me they love me. I want to say thank you, and I love you to them again before it’s too late, and I can’t.
I want to build a campfire, enjoy poking around in it, watching the flames dance, and make s’mores. I want to make a wooden boat and sail it down the creek. I want to use my toy truck and digger to make roads on the gravel bar. I want to find beautiful rocks, rocks with holes in them, and chewed-on beaver sticks.
I want to feel good because I can drive an ATV all by myself, but safely because Mom, Dad, Grandma, or Papa are riding with me. I want to sing songs at the top of my voice as I ride and feel the comfort of big arms around me.
I want to be oblivious to all the complexities of life and be overly excited about the little things again. Finding a turkey feather or a turtle shell, hunting squirrels, and finding mushrooms.
I want to be excited when I catch a fish or a crawdad. I want to have fun walking through a puddle, learning to skip a rock, or playing in the creek or waterfall. I want to go snorkeling and discover the underwater world. I want to laugh again as I push Papa in the cold creek; he screams, and we all laugh.
I would look forward to helping Grandma bake cookies and pumpkin pies. I would help make cinnamon rolls with Papa and get flour and cinnamon all over me. I want to smile when I beat adults in board games and video games. I want to go to Disney World one more time with Grandma, Papa, Mom, and Dad.
I want to feel important when I am handed a trophy or ribbon for sports or showing cattle. I want to look and see that Mom, Dad, and my grandparents are there to see me. I want to know they are all there when I need them.
I want to climb onto Mom or Dad’s or Grandma or Papa’s lap and have them read me a book and then feel proud when I can read it to them. I want Mom and Dad to help me with my homework again. I want Mom to talk to me again as she drives me to school. I want to watch her cry when I get on that big yellow school bus, and the first day I drive myself.
I want to know that I can always run and jump into my Papa’s arms, and he will catch me. I want Dad to explain patiently to me again how to do things. I want Grandma to take me shopping. I want to know that if I have bad dreams or hear a storm, Mom and Dad are close by and will snuggle with me so I can go to sleep.
I want to know if Dad is too busy or too tired to play ball with me, I can just call Papa, and he will come right over. I want to ride my bike for the first time without training wheels and feel safe because Dad is running along beside me, and Grandma is proud of me because I can ride my bike without training wheels.
I want to experience summer nights filled with shooting fireworks, catching lightning bugs, and putting them in jars. I want to find a frog or turtle, give them a name, and feel tears running down my cheek when they escape, or Dad says I have to let them go.
I want to pick up a garden hose and squirt all the adults in sight or play on a slip ’n slide until my toes and fingers get all wrinkled. I want to slide a snake down my sliding board again and cut down the neighbor’s tree with Dad’s hatchet. I want to dress up like Spider-Man again and make things out of Legos. I want Grandma to scratch my back.
I want to play snow football, build a snowman or a fort, and make a snow angel. I want to play wiffle ball, do a cartwheel, and color in my coloring book. I want to take a piece of cardboard and slide down the steps. I want Grandma to lie down on the driveway again while I outline her in chalk.
I want to climb a tree, carve initials in it, or sit in a tree with Dad or Grandpa, looking for deer. I want to go turkey hunting and walk down that lane holding hands with Dad again.
I want Dad to lift me and help me make a basket or help me swing a big bat. I want to toss around the football with Dad or Papa. I want to play on my little indoor basketball goal again with Grandpa. I miss it!
I want to jump on the trampoline and my bed. I want to play sports for the fun of it. I want to believe, as Papa told me, that I can do anything I put my mind to. Heck, I would even look forward to going to school again.
I do not want to have to get up and go to work every day, worry about budgets, deadlines, computer crashes, or meetings. I don’t want to pay taxes or insurance anymore. I don’t want to watch, read, or hear the news.
I do not want to hear gossip. I do not want to worry about how much I have in my savings account. I do not want to worry if I did or said something to offend anyone. I do not want to worry about my kids or grandkids, but I still want to be there for them and help them if they need me.
I want to believe in the power of God, family, smiles, hugs, saying thank you, kind words, truth, justice, peace, dreams, and imagination. I want all parents and grandparents to know that kids spell love TIME.
Okay, that’s it! I am through talking. You can have my checkbook, credit cards, bank statement, house keys, car keys, computer, smartphone, or anything else you want. I will not need them anymore. I therefore submit my resignation. I am no longer an adult.
So, tag you are it. I am going outside. I saw a mud puddle, and I am going to jump in it.
I want to be a kid again.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
A boy, his dog, and a fishing pole.
All thoughts are his and his alone.
To catch a fish and go back home.
Never a care what tomorrow would bring.
This little boy had everything.
– Unknown Author