I know, I know. I can't have the 70's back but I can continue to live like it was 1976. Those days were so carefree. We never stayed in the house for very long or the chore list would come out. We were kicked out at 9am and told not to come back till dinner. Boy, have times ever changed. We had so much freedom back then. Sure, we had criminals and bullies and bad style but we survived it.
If only the kids of today could experience a little of the freedom we had. I remember spending 10 hours a day sitting on a dock at the lake with no adult supervision...EVER! We could ride our bikes into the city for an ice cream. We could walk anywhere that we wanted and not feel threatened by anything. I remember buying a pack of cigarettes for my nana at the corner store. I was 5! My brother was 3! He could barely talk but we were okay to just wander to the market for smokes. We always got to keep the change. Candy was the ultimate goal.
I remember back when I was around 7 and my brother was 5, we had a wagon and we collected bottles. You see, my grandparents ran a large baseball diamond and park house in the heart of Vancouver, BC.
My brother and I would spend hours going around the park collecting everything from pop cans to old baseballs and discarded or forgotten clothing on the bleachers. After a few hours of clean-up, we would head back to the park house to show Grandma what we collected. We would put items into the lost and found box, hand over anything of value and then take our bottles and cans to the corner store to recycle. Back then, I think we got a nickel for most cans. Sometimes, we made $10! The only problem was that we had to take the money back to my grandma...with no reward! No payment.
She just fed us lunch.
Back then, we didn't always get something for doing something. We got a roof over our heads, a meal, fresh, clean clothes and the occasional treat.
One day after our regular cruise around the park with the wagon, my brother and I decided we would do something a little different. We went into our luggage and found some money that mom had packed us for incidentals. I am sure it was a $5 bill. I remember it being enough to get candy or a treat and that was our plan. I tucked the $5 into my pocket and off we went with the wagon to take the bottles to the corner store.
It was around 3:30pm and it was a beautiful day out. My brother and I walked into the store and returned all of the bottles. I think we made around $8. But, sadly, that money was not ours. It had to be returned to grandma.
This day was especially fantastic because on the corner close to the park was the greatest ice cream store. They made massive chocolate sundaes with whipped cream and a cherry on top! I knew that my brother and I were doing something kind of "illegal" but we didn't care. We parked the wagon out front, went into the ice cream parlor and sat at a booth! We were so young and we felt so rebellious. We ordered 1 chocolate sundae with 2 spoons! The lady that served us asked how our grandparents were doing... we said they were great as we dove into the sundae.
It was the best day ever. We tricked my grandma a bit. We got in a little later than usual and maybe made her panic a bit. But, not too much. People didn't get all crazy back then when the kids were late. Not like today where everyone is glued to a phone!
My brother and I sat down at supper time and looked at each other with a smirk. We weren't hungry but we kept the ruse going and ate everything on our plates. It was a secret that we kept until now. Grandma has long since passed away but those memories are forever. I miss the 70's but the photos and stories will be passed down to my kids so they know how much fun we really had in the "olden days".
