Memories of my childhood come flooding back every summer: bare feet on a hot sidewalk, the fragrance of freshly cut grass, hot dogs from a grill and endless games of “Annie, Annie, Over.”
When I was around eight years old, we made a baseball diamond with cardboard bases on the empty lot behind our house, where all the neighborhood girls and boys showed up for spontaneous games late in the afternoon. If it was too hot for baseball, we climbed trees or built forts, or huddled together listening to someone’s transistor radio.
I remember the freedom of long sunny days when we left the house in the cool of the morning and stayed out until twilight. We ran through the sprinklers in our bathing suits, read books from the Bookmobile and rode bicycles with our friends. Some nights, we poked holes in the lid of empty pickle jars and used them to catch fireflies, releasing them all before bedtime for our own light show.
One of my favorite memories is of Fourth of July celebrations, when my mother made the best peach ice cream in the world. She began with ripe peaches from Blood Orchard in south Wichita.
My sisters and I hovered near her in the kitchen, watching as she sliced the peaches into a blender and mixed them to a pulp. Then she’d stir that into a base of heavy cream, whole milk, sugar and eggs.
Meantime, Dad pulled out the old-style wooden ice cream maker and packed it with ice and rock salt. In true Tom Sawyer fashion, my dad turned the crank with such enthusiasm that we girls begged to help.
If you’re like me, one of life’s greatest pleasures is recalling memories like these. Another is reading The Active Age — where I always discover fun feature stories, tips on where to go and what to do, and plenty of bargains from local merchants who support the paper with their advertising.
The Active Age’s small team is devoted to bringing you a top-quality newspaper every month, free of charge. Show them you appreciate their work by sending a donation, if you’re able. Every dollar counts.
Meanwhile, have a wonderful summer filled with warm memories, good friends, and peach ice cream.
Susan Armstrong is a member of The Active Age’s volunteer board of directors. A retired marketing executive, she writes cozy mysteries as Anna St. John.
