That Little Voice

That Little Voice

Growing up in small town America in the late 1940s afforded opportunities to live and roam without barriers.

Thus, we were able to wander about exploring back alleys, and neighbors’ detached garages, play ball in vacant lots, and climb cherry trees for an afternoon treat.

We always had a dog, at least one, and honestly I don’t remember if they slept inside or out, but they too were left to freely investigate new sites without a leash or supervision.

We had all types of canines, usually strays, and usually named Poochie. They would follow us around whether we were walking or riding our bikes, and often were killed in traffic, the hazard of unrestricted control.

Sometime in the 1950s, or perhaps the 1960s, fences began to appear…tall wood structures, that blocked entrance, both visually and physically. Privacy seemed to become important, for a reason I’m not clear about.

Admittedly, those barriers didn’t stop our roaming, but they did slow us down. By the late 50s and early 60s, my days of finding new adventures in other people’s backyards had lost it glamour. My interest moved to more ‘worldly’ adventures— Boys.

This shift in attraction led to attempting to find isolated spots not known or visited by anyone else. We discovered the reasons for privacy: smoking, drinking, and necking. If you don’t know about necking, you probably aren’t old enough to even be interested in this column, so ask your grandparents.

When visiting the small Oklahoma town where my grandparents lived, I find I can still meander around town, walking alleys and streets with clear views of front and backyards at will. There may be fences, but they are chain link, and not the most secure. However, they keep chickens and most dogs in, and remind me of those childhood strolls around town where we ran and played with total abandonment.

Today, I appreciate the feeling of privacy and security we have come to expect, but I wonder where do kids play and where do their imaginations get challenged without open neighborhoods and the freedom of rambling.