From as far back as I can remember, I’ve been playing sports and/or keeping busy with physical activities. I have an inordinate amount of energy so this works out just fine (smile). And Growing up Hollis, both my mother and father always made sure that their 7 children were kept busy with physical activities and/or sports all year long.
Today it’s the gym (Edge Fitness Club in Hamden, CT) that keeps me active and sane.
But back in the day it was either organized sports (during the school year) or any kind of sports, activities or games (indoors or outdoors) with my 6 siblings and/or our neighbors. I grew up in the ’70s, a time when there were no smart phones or tablets or laptops. R U Social? We played games with each other and if you needed to see someone, you simply hopped on your no-speed bike and peddled your way over to their house (smile).
Speaking of houses, this is the house where we grew up in the small town of Groton, CT – lots of really good memories were made here – Easter Sunday back in the day…This is an updated version of when we lived in it as this picture was taken just two years ago. For instance, back in the day we had a car port, not a garage…
Organized Sports:
- Softball – I started playing softball in a Women’s league when I was just 11 years old. I ended up playing every position on the field with this league by the time I turned 15. I even won the team ball (which was signed by all of my teammates before they carried me off the field). To this day I still own that ball…
- Bowling – I starting bowling in a league at a local bowling alley when I was 11 as well. Bowling Date
- Judo – I started when I was 12 years of age and ended at age 16. I almost made it to ‘purple belt’ and my rugged gi (purposely made to be loose-fitting) fit me all 5 years.
- Track & Field – I started running track in high school ( 10th through 12th grades back then). My events were the 220, 440, mile relay and the long jump. I have to admit: although I was a decent runner, I had nothing at all on then Fitch Senior High School track standout, Sherry Johnson, whom we were all in awe of because her legs never seemed to quit :)).
Outside during the Winter – I (we) enjoyed sledding, playing ice hockey, building snowmen and/or snow caves, as well as ice skating Ski Date.
Outside during the Spring/Summer – I (we) alternately participated in or played: kickball, badminton, field hockey, dodgeball, roller skating, bike riding, and volley-ball Clams on the half shell…and roller-skates!
I (we) also walked on tall stilts, played on swings, climbed monkey bars and skipped rope.
A fave toy of mine back in the day was Big Wheels. We lived on a cul-de-sac so I could easily (and safely) ride up the street, around the circle at the end of the street and back down again for hours at a time. Once I picked up speed, I would take my feet up and off the pedals, stretch my long legs out in both directions and whiz away!
If it happened to be raining outside, I would ride my Big Wheels up and down our driveway underneath the car port (as long as my father was working) which meant that our oversized two-toned family station wagon was not parked underneath it and not in my way (smile).
Speaking of rain, Inside on rainy days: I (we) played Klik Klaks, Clacker Ball, Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Monopoly, and pored through novels Put your slippers on…plus I (we) enjoyed clap games like Patty Cake and Miss Mary Mack, musical chairs, blowing Bubbles and playing Freeze Dance or Monsters.
Outside in the Fall – We played Hide and Seek, Hop Scotch – tossed with a bean bag, Jump Rope, Jacks, Marbles, Red Light-Green Light, Mother May I?, Simon Sez, Tag, and Slinky.
Life sure was different back in the day. Electronics did not rule, our arms and legs did and, dare I say, we were better for it…