Our playgrounds were construction sites, heaps of dirt, creeks filled with snakes and turtles we collected as pets. We climbed trees, muddied our Garanimals, scaled fences between neighbors' backyards. We spent Memorial Day to Labor Day barefoot, the soles of our feet blackened like coal, dirt clumping underneath our toenails. Skateboards, roller skates and bikes defined our boundaries -- our Baby Boomer parents would scoff if we asked for a ride somewhere.
I'm a boomer, and construction sites were a mainstay of my childhood in Union County NJ circa 1960. I ran barefoot all summer, so this was scanning for me. Then I hit skateboards. You know we invented skateboards in the early sixties, when I was in high school, by nailing the back and front of metal wheeled skates to a board, a 1" plank, usually. It was a fad.
So this whole scenario is crossing my signals. And Garanimals ???
“You know we invented skateboards in the early sixties, when I was in high school, by nailing the back and front of metal wheeled skates to a board, a 1” plank, usually.”
Been there, done that.
“And Garanimals ??? “
That threw me, too. I don’t remember any brands from childhood other than Levi’s—back when Levi stood for pioneering spirit, not rainbows and skittle poop.
I’m a very late boomer and it hits close enough my experience. Not a Garanimal wearer, but remember them. My mother insisted on shoes other than on our lawn, but some others didn’t. Definitely played in creeks filled with snakes and turtles and climbed trees. Used to capture and name frogs, toads, etc.