The Florida of My Youth - the Games We Played
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Looking back is so much fun. If we were young again, we could not look back. Appreciate all you can.
The Florida of My Youth – The Games We Played
By Franklin Price
10/20/2019
Our family had no TV 'til nineteen-fifty-three
We had a console radio we listened to for free
No quality of FM only AM which was grand
At night we got a hop and skip from far off in the land
We heard the grand old opry from Nashville Tennessee
Listened to the Friday fights, could hear but could not see
The Lone Ranger and friend Tonto fought for what was right
George Burns and Gracie Allen had fun into the night
Many things to listen to but that was not the way
To further entertain us, we had many games to play
First of all the cards came out; Old Maid and Crazy Eight,
Then must Go Fish or go to War, where defeat could be our fate
Nothing complicated, to think much, not my choice
Remember I was younger, only had a minor voice
We played Five Hundred Rummy which I could never win
My siblings never let me, it was a good way to begin.
When school was in I was alone, and played all by myself
I got my rubber soldiers from their place there on the shelf
Was both the friend and enemy for I was all alone
No cell phones then to download games. We had a party phone.
When other kids came over, the games for more than one
Red Light – Green Light, Tag you're it, and Hide and Seek were fun
Statue was a challenge and Dodge Ball was so great
For some mental exercise,Twenty Questions was a date
Imagination ruled our play, technologies were few
When bored with what was happening, we thought of something new
Made believe our bikes were horses and we rode them into town
Drew our guns on bad guys and we quickly shot them down
Hopscotch on the sidewalk, Jacks bought at the five and ten
Maybe a game of marbles, or Pick Up Sticks that we might win
Too many games to mention, played with kids that we had found
It was best if we just got along, with so few of us around
Political correctness did not exist back in the day
We sometimes called each other names when we came out to play
But before the day was over, we were better than before
Because, who were we to play with, if not with our friend next door?
If we got a little hungry sometimes this is what we'd do
Search for empty soda bottles, that were worth a cent or two
Take them to the country store, just a short way down the street
Where just a few were traded for something good to eat
There was penny candy, and a drink less than a dime
To find those empty bottles just took a little of our time
We made a game of searching, but we never kept the score
We then shared what we bought with them at the little country store
Copyright © Franklin Price | Year Posted 2019
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