Ponderings on "Kids these days"

So school is out and our neighborhood has come to life with kids. I love to see the kids out enjoying the great summer days that Michigan has to offer. It brings back memories of the great summer days I spent outside with my neighborhood friends. It was a rare day that we spent inside. We would be out early in the morning, coming inside only when a parent would give 'the family's whistle' for dinner, then back out until the street lights came on. (even then trying to stretch it out a little longer) We built forts galore, played countless neighborhood street games, rode our horses, dressed up our dogs, played with our Breyer horses (outside under an old apple tree), climbed the old apple tree, inner tubed down Buck Creek and then pulled 'blood suckers' (leaches) off, walked home from where ever we ended up, went to 4-H, played Cowboys and Indians and made our own weapons, we rode bikes everywhere-the one speed sort...the list goes on...probably a few things I shouldn't mention just in case my mom might read this. Oh, and our parents got together, moms for coffee almost every morning and the couples would play cards on weekend nights (and drink things out of the 'secret' cupboard! Ahh the good 'ol days.
So I have a bit of a smile and some sadness as I observe the kids 'playing' in my neighborhood. The first thing I notice is that no one is riding bikes (and if they did it would surely have speeds), no one is playing in the fields or woods, and no one builds forts. They are moving about from house to house on numerous motorized vehicles - scooters, mopeds, and Segways (yes I said Segways). They don't play in the woods or the fields because they have resort style pools in their backyards. Their forts are camper trailers or motor homes parked in their driveways. There goes all the exercise, exploring the wonder of nature, and the creativity of some of the most awesome years of life. Now I am all for technology and these kids have some great opportunities with all that it offers. Granted, I do live a 'gated' sort of community, but I just don't want them to miss out of the simple joys of being a kid. So kids, get out to the woods, go fishing in the pond, try to find some salamanders, build a tree fort...and if you need any help come and knock on my door, I'd be happy to come out and play! Ella will come too!
~bekuyps