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Speaking of lightening bugs, we use to catch grasshoppers in our yard & then let them go. At nite, we ‘d watch the lightening bugs fly around in the yard, as we sat & talked on our side porch in the yard. At night it was too spooky to go in to the yard, no lights except the lone light at the back of the property in the alley. In Chicago, in the 30s & 40s, when the summer nites were sweltering & no one of course had air conditioning, and fans weren’t enough, people would go down to the Chicago lakefront and sleep on the lawns there. It was safe back then, and the police would keep an eye on everyone. Our family would just sweat it out, with all the windows open at home, when the lights went out..what I wouldn't have done to have a summer porch to sleep in, with cool breezes and the stars in the sky to light up the night. I also remember putting on bathing suits and running through the water from the oscillating sprinkler in our yard on summer days..still can remember the feel of the wet grass under my feet and the cool water. I agree with you. I don't envy the lives of children today. Such a dangerous, regimented life they lead, with no opportunity to really be a kid and do the things that kids do, safe from harm, with no communist/socialist/marxist/muzzie supporter in their White House who wants to destroy their world and make it into a utopia of oppression and death. God help them.

I remember piling up in my grandparents living room they would leave the door open and we would all sleep on the floor so the night air would cool us. It was sleeping outside without the bugs!

I live in the woods now and we are well armed. Once again I can sleep with the windows open. I really missed that for 30 years or so. I only put the air on when the cats start to pant.

I wonder if the kids growing up today would trade places with those who grew up during the 40s and 50s. They may actually believe they got the better deal. Computers, video games, cell phones, smart phones, suburban homes, two-income parents, etc., etc. Maybe every generation thinks theirs was the best.

I relate to the 40s and 50s era and keep in touch with a couple of friends from those days. One of them lived three houses away on a row house street with 16 ft. wide homes. We've been friends for 69 yrs. and frequently talk about our great childhood (in the city). Yes, life was simpler then for kids. We walked to and from school in the morning, for lunch, and after school regardless of the weather. None of the moms drove cars and the dads worked all day.

We didn't have a park nearby---we called it "the lot", and the boys got together to play baseball there---no adults controlled their games.

I'm tempted to go on about jumping rope in the one-block street,the boys playing half-ball against the cigar factory wall,and so much more. Maybe I should write some memoirs!

Anyway, thanks for the memories.