independence day

For years I have been waiting for this.

They did it.

I am so proud and excited for them. It was my greatest pleasure as a child and now it is theirs, too.

I would ride to the country club and swim. I would ride to Izzo's Drug Store for a slaw dog and a vanilla coke. I would feed the fish at the courthouse and go visit my grandmother. I would explore back alleys and abandoned houses. I would slog through creeks and balance across (active) train trestles. I would deliberate for hours at the Sing Store in the candy aisle. (money truly has meaning when you are stretching your $2.00 allowance across an entire Saturday) I would play at the park and when it was unbearably hot on a July day in South Georgia I would go to the library and sit in the stacks on the floor and examine the bottom row of books in the cool dimness. When I was on my bike, out on the town, I was in charge of myself.

As Max put it so eloquently the other day, 'time was my own.'

So I was beside myself the other morning when Max announced that he was 'going to town'. Lew was going, too. They were going to the skate park. And it's not a short trip.
Seven or so miles on a very twisty county road and then a mile or two more downtown.

It was hard for me not to overwhelm them with directives, but I kept my mouth shut.

"Meet me at triangle park at 4:00." I said (it was only 9:30!) and I gave Max my watch.

"Don't forget to eat some lunch!" I shouted as they sped down the driveway, skateboards lashed to their backpacks.

No, they did not have a cell phone. (don't get me started on the 'invisible leash'...)

Yes, they had a blast.

And at 4:00 o 'clock I was very happy to see their shining faces.

They were tired and so proud of themselves. They talked non-stop about their adventures.

Time was "their own" and I remembered again what a wonderful gift that is.