5 Things I Miss About My Childhood

Me and my brother at Christmas- 

I was tagged by soozieq several days ago, so here goes: 5 Things I Miss About My Childhood

Christmas and other holidays.
Christmas was the biggest of the holidays in my childhood. My birthday comes nine days before, so I've always felt this was my holiday.
The letter to Santa, the tree, the pretty cards and wrap, looking out into the night for Santa on Christmas Eve. Sometimes we'd receive gifts from our grandparents in the mail, but sometimes we flew "Back East" to visit!

Visiting the grandparents.
We moved to California, from Virginia, when I was eight. From that time on we were only able to see them twice a year. Flying back to Maryland and New York was a big treat, something we happily anticipated.
Each grandma cooked differently, and we always had real butter at Grandma Warren's house!
Aunts, uncles and cousins would drop in to visit. We'd go sightseeing!
In the summer we'd swim at Frock's pool in Westminster Maryland, or in Lake Ontario when we were in Rochester. We loved catching fireflies in the warm summer evenings, making lamps made with old mayonnaise jars.
The winters were snowy, something I dearly missed. Old Mrs. Jerew across the street from grandmother Nicht had The Christmas House! Each and every room was decorated to the max... including the bathrooms!

Playing outside all day long.
Weekends and summer we were allowed to play with our friends between breakfast and dinner (supper until we moved to California.) We played at the schoolground unfettered by teachers and the dreaded yard-duty mothers. We built tree forts, took hikes, and sometimes just sat on a curb and talked. Sometimes, not frequently, someone was allowed to host a slumber party!

Sunday drives.
The worst thing my dad could call a person was a Sunday Driver, yet that was something the family loved to do. We'd drive the short distance to San Francisco sometimes, or we might travel through Hillsborough (a ritzy area) looking for Bing Crosby's house. Usually we didn't stop anywhere, this was an inexpensive form of entertainment... but sometimes we'd get to stop for hamburgers at Flings in Millbrae. My next younger brother loved to hide his fries, wait until I was done with my meal, then pull them out of hiding just to torture me!

Picnics and camping.
My parents tried to surprise us, but when mom began making potato salad on a Friday evening after dinner we knew a picnic was coming. We'd usually head to a park, especially one with a playground. Once we took the hibachi to a Pescadero Beach to cook steaks. Big mistake! The winds kicked up and we had sand in our food.
Camping was another favorite. Mom made most of the food ahead of time and dad BBQ'd, giving mom a well deserved break. She'd usually make cupcakes, and always brought along the makings for S'mores. The evening campfire was my favorite part. Spooky stories, card games, those S'mores and a sleeping bag waiting was heaven to me. That's probably why I decided to move to the woods... I'm camping 24/7 (with all the amenities.)

I was supposed to tag others and get them to post on this topic, but I don't feel comfortable doing so. I would love to read other postings on this topic, so if you are interested, please give it a go!