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By Cathy M Wallace (cathy4)
Grandma and Grandpa Conrad lived in a house in the city, where they build the houses close together with just gangways (sidewalks) between each home. Their house had a covered porch, with screens in the summer and windows in the winter. It was just wide enough to hang a porch swing, but not very deep. My sisters and I would squeeze in together on either side of Grandpa, and swing gently. If we went too high, the swing would hit the wall and Grandma would get after us. Can you imagine what that sounded like from in the house? BLAM! followed by giggles and Grandpa saying “Don’t worry, I’ll take the blame.”
My parents are wonderful to us, and despite having very little money, we had a swing set in the backyard. It had a glider, teeter-totter, 2 swings and a slide, the Cadillac of swing sets for our neighborhood! My good friend Linda and I would swing for hours. I remember singing songs so loud while we would swing that a neighbor came out and yelled at us to be quiet! I was never very good at being quiet.
The local park had giant swing sets, where I tried and tried to fly up and over the bar. Pumping my feet, I could reach that split second where I was suspended in air, tied to Earth only by my hands holding the chains.
My teen years had very few swings in them, other than my mood swings. Does that count?
We married shortly after high school, and babies started a few years later. We had a little baby swing that hooked to the door jam. I’m not sure who loved that swing more, the babies or me. The gentle rocking back and forth was comforting, along with my off pitch song. My parents loved big bands, so my children had some interesting lullabies, such as Moonlight Serenade by The Glenn Miller Band.
Remembering how I loved our wonderful swing as a child, I made sure we saved until our kids could have the same set. One daughter loved to swing and sing, the other loved to dance on the top of the slide or hang upside down from the top bar. My son rarely got on it, he liked to run around and around the yard. Who can understand toddlers?
We now have a large wood swing in the backyard, out under the redbud tree. It is my little place to go when I want to be alone, and the place my husband and I like to sit together when we want to talk. We often sit there until after the lightening bugs come out. Naps are wonderful on this swing, on nice days and even when it is chilly. Drag that blanket out with you when you go, and put your hat over your eyes if you want the neighbors to leave you alone.
But it is my absolutely favorite place when my grandchildren come to visit. Everyone squeezes on either side of me, and off we go, swinging and singing. My only regret is that it doesn’t make that wonder BLAM sound up against the house.
Thanks for Dave's Garden Members mydaisy and PJDaylily for the use of their picture.
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