[Fiji Hill]

The best part was that nine was the legal age to leave children without supervision *of any kind*. Her kids were left for hours locked in their apartment while she worked.

When I was that age, I was regularly riding my bike to supermarkets, drug stores, etc. that were as distant as two miles from my home. I also knew every alley in West Whittier, Calif.

This wasn't all that long ago--Eisenhower was president. However, from the way society has changed, I may as well have lived in a different galaxy.

[A_perfect_lady]

When I was that age, I was regularly riding my bike to supermarkets, drug stores, etc. that were as distant as two miles from my home. I also knew every alley in West Whittier, Calif.

Yep. By 12 I could ride my bike four miles to the store in the tiny town near our farm. I'd go buy comic books and candy bars, but I must have peddled them off the four miles back because I was pretty thin.

[cripplecreek]

I used to go to the store and buy my parents cigarettes at 9 years old.