The grill was hot.
The charcoal was glowing.
And Dad was outside cooking.
Hamburgers.
Hot dogs.
Maybe corn on the cob.
Mom brought out the potato salad.
Grandma had something homemade.
The children were running around the yard.
Someone was playing badminton.
Someone else was throwing a baseball.
Neighbors stopped by.
Folding chairs appeared.
And before long…
A simple backyard cookout turned into a neighborhood gathering.
Nobody needed an invitation weeks in advance.
Someone simply said:
“Come on over.”
And people did.
Looking back…
Those summer cookouts weren’t about fancy food.
They were about open doors, good neighbors, and families spending an afternoon together.
The moment the bell rang…
Everyone ran outside.
No homework.
No worksheets.
No sitting still.
Just recess.
Someone grabbed the kickball.
Someone found a jump rope.
Others headed straight for the swings.
The jungle gym was always crowded.
And there was usually one child who could climb higher than everyone else.
Teachers watched from nearby.
But for those few minutes…
The playground belonged to the kids.
Rules were simple.
Take turns.
Don’t push.
And keep playing.
Looking back…
Recess gave children something today’s schedules often don’t:
Time to simply run around and be kids.
For us, Tuesday or Wednesday nights in the summer, Dad drove us to Taco Hut before we enjoyed double feature movies.
The car pulled into either the Trail or Mission drive-in.
Dad found a parking space and adjusted the speaker.
And then came the important question…
“Who wants a taco? We’ll get popcorn after intermission.”
My sister Bobbi and I were already excited.
The giant screen towered above the rows of cars.
Families settled into their seats.
Teenagers whispered in the back.
The concession workers were friendly and offered:
Popcorn.
Soda.
Candy.
Maybe a hamburger.
Then the lights dimmed.
The screen came alive.
And for the next couple of hours…
The whole family watched a movie under the stars.
You didn’t have to sit quietly in a theater.
You could sit in your own car.
Roll the window down.
Listen to the movie through the little speaker.
And look up at the night sky.
Looking back…
The drive-in wasn’t simply a place to watch a movie.
It was an entire summer night experience.
To receive free email notification, when we post new articles like this, sign up below. Clever Journeys does & will not sell or share your information with anyone.
In God We Trust
______________
.
