OT: Something you miss from summers you had when you were young

[storrsroars]

Depending on how old you are, rivers and some lakes were much more polluted back then than they are now.

And that's why I have a great immune system. Used to actually skinnydip in Norwalk Harbor.

That said, the reason I never got my NAUI certification was I thought all testing would be done in the pool. I was passing with flying colors up to the point of the final test - which was done in open water off Stratford/Bridgeport. My partners were usually horrible at giving me back the regulator in the pool, but I could live with that. In LI Sound with visibility of less than 10 feet, I was not taking the chance of sucking in that crappy water.

 

[storrsroars]

The more I think about this, it's not just that technology has stifled what we olds consider imagination, it's parents and litigation that have had significant effect.

I had two friends from the block with whom we did everything together. Lots of it was normal 60s childhood stuff. Some of it would result in lawsuits today. There was a place on the other side of the tracks from the Springdale train station we used to call the "sandpits ".It was supposed to be off limits, although none of us remember any specific signage. That's where clandestine kissing often occured. It's all developed now, but back then there were several large abandoned and rusted out machines that made for great climbing spots. Sure we all got small cuts that probably could've developed into tetanus, but we didn't care. If we got hurt, it was us being stupid, not the equipment's fault. That wouldn't be the case today. Whomever left that crap there would be sued to high heaven.

There was a lot of residential construction going on in Springdale as well. And we used to play in all the construction sites. OneAn time we actually took a pile of cinder blocks, threw them all into the foundation hole and built a basement w/o mortar. That had to be aggravating for the construction crew. But the best was when a basketball court was being built across from the old civil defense building (which had our neighborhood bomb shelter). There was a steamshovel and a backhoe left on the small plot over the weekend. We started those suckers up and learned what all the controls did. And then we couldn't figure out how to shut the steamshovel off so we just left it running till the gas ran out. I have no idea if kids even try that kind of stuff today, but I'd imagine if a 12 year old could start up your unguarded backhoe in 2025 and give it a test drive, your construction company is getting sued, not the kid or his parents.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

The more I think about this, it's not just that technology has stifled what we olds consider imagination, it's parents and litigation that have had significant effect.

I had two friends from the block with whom we did everything together. Lots of it was normal 60s childhood stuff. Some of it would result in lawsuits today. There was a place on the other side of the tracks from the Springdale train station we used to call the "sandpits ".It was supposed to be off limits, although none of us remember any specific signage. That's where clandestine kissing often occured. It's all developed now, but back then there were several large abandoned and rusted out machines that made for great climbing spots. Sure we all got small cuts that probably could've developed into tetanus, but we didn't care. If we got hurt, it was us being stupid, not the equipment's fault. That wouldn't be the case today. Whomever left that crap there would be sued to high heaven.

There was a lot of residential construction going on in Springdale as well. And we used to play in all the construction sites. OneAn time we actually took a pile of cinder blocks, threw them all into the foundation hole and built a basement w/o mortar. That had to be aggravating for the construction crew. But the best was when a basketball court was being built across from the old civil defense building (which had our neighborhood bomb shelter). There was a steamshovel and a backhoe left on the small plot over the weekend. We started those suckers up and learned what all the controls did. And then we couldn't figure out how to shut the steamshovel off so we just left it running till the gas ran out. I have no idea if kids even try that kind of stuff today, but I'd imagine if a 12 year old could start up your unguarded backhoe in 2025 and give it a test drive, your construction company is getting sued, not the kid or his parents.

I think we were considered Glenbrook but I loved living on Hope St years ago. The wife and I bought our first condo next to the Bob’s/Shop Rite plaza. If we didn’t feel like making dinner there were about 15 places to pick from that were 2 min away. Although we usually ended up at either Jimmys Seaside or Vinny’s Backyard.

 

[UConnRock]

I miss the absence of technology. The joy and creativity of entertaining ourselves outside for hours thinking that our parents had no idea what we were doing. The simplicity of fun, laughing, and playing without a care.

 

[TerryBoyz]

Summer concerts?
lake compounce had a good 3- 4 year run with some epic summertime concerts. Steve miller band Jimmy buffet.
Then Dave Matthew’s at the meadows.
Lalalpalooza and a few more I forget.

 

[DW1361]

My mother was a day camp nurse for the summary migratory program. All day long I got to have fun playing with kids doing all sorts of camp activities and then on the evenings and weekends we had the whole camp to ourselves. Best summers of my life.

 

[storrsroars]

I think we were considered Glenbrook but I loved living on Hope St years ago. The wife and I bought our first condo next to the Bob’s/Shop Rite plaza. If we didn’t feel like making dinner there were about 15 places to pick from that were 2 min away. Although we usually ended up at either Jimmys Seaside or Vinny’s Backyard.

I don't know how long you lived in Stamford, but was wondering if you remembered the huge chemical plant fire in the late 60s where Riverbend Dr S is today. Took three years for the smell to go away. While we used to play on the train tracks regularly, we never went over there after the fire. Even as dumb kids we knew there was bad stuff percolating in there.

Now that I think about it, from late '86 to mid '88 I rented the first floor of a house on Elm Terrace, so we could've been neighbors!

 

[Gampel91]

Being 8 years old and the only rule was “when those street lights come on, you better be on your way home”.

Oh and riding our bikes to the Food Bag across town to get a 29 cent Big Gulp or whatever they were calling it.

 

[dvegas]

Since its the 4th of July and this thread is waxing nostalgic, anyone planning on losing a few fingers or blowing out an eye with some fireworks tonight?

 

[Chin Diesel]

Being 8 years old and the only rule was “when those street lights come on, you better be on your way home”.

Oh and riding our bikes to the Food Bag across town to get a 29 cent Big Gulp or whatever they were calling it.

Ah, the old GYAITMFHRNBIBYA

 

[Chin Diesel]

Since its the 4th of July and this thread is waxing nostalgic, anyone planning on losing a few fingers or blowing out an eye with some fireworks tonight?

 

[huskymedic]

Since its the 4th of July and this thread is waxing nostalgic, anyone planning on losing a few fingers or blowing out an eye with some fireworks tonight?

Old school but found memories of Roman Candle tag w/ my cousins in the side lot off our house in our early teens. Many years in the making and nobody lost a body part/life altering burn. It was the climax of the family 4th of July festivities.

 

[Gampel91]

Ah, the old GYAITMFHRNBIBYA

I’m very proud that I got that right off the bat.

 

[prankster]

I grew up in a family that was very loving and though we didn't have a ton of money, summers were always a blast.

One thing I miss a lot was playing Jarts or lawn darts. I remember having to wait until I was old enough and then loved it. I would play with my parents, brother, uncles and cousins.

I know they are banned in the U.S. now. I wish they would unban them. Is there anyone who can explain to my why they are banned, but I can drive 20 minutes and go to a place and drink and throw axes in a public venue?

 

[UCTitleTown]

Those fireworks you lit and they turned into long black snakes. I was easily entertained.

 

[dennismenace]

Depending on how old you are, rivers and some lakes were much more polluted back then than they are now.

Agree. We had so much pollution from industrial waste. Back around 50 years or so the Pequabuck river which runs through Plymouth, Bristol and Plainville would regularly turn green from plating discharge as it ran through the towns. Now it is stocked with trout and salmon. (Yes, salmon!) Trout unlimited started stocking it first trout and then salmon as the river cleaned up. Mallard ducks and other wildlife are frequently seen as well.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Junior memberships to the neighborhood golf course. Parents gladly paid the inexpensive cost. Allowed to play during the week and after 2pm on weekends. Often played 27-36 holes. Stopped for a dog and fries at their restaurant paid with the money from mowing the neighbos' lawns. Went back out for another 9 or 18.

.

 

[Travelman6]

I grew up in the 1990s. I was 6, until 16 for that decade. It was a simpler time for the most part. Riding bikes to rogers lake, getting junk food at Coffees local store and renting videos at the place next door, swimming, playing snes and psx games during rainy days or at night, back yard baseball, basketball games, going out to lunch or dinner, trips to funcoland, white sands beach and hawks nest, riding the bike to the public library in the mid 90s to check videogames cheats on their internet (lol), rollerblading, random wrestling matches that somewhat resembled sumo but not quite. I loved Uncas pond. There was an ice cream place a few towns over that had amazing ice cream. Also going to another ice cream shop to collect those mini plastic baseball caps, nearly had them all and collecting baseball cards. Illianos Pizza. Park and rec summer camp and boyscouts in the mid 90s.

Mini golfing in old saybrook with my buddy at the time, who was a nutcase, lol during summers from 2001 to 2003 and stopping by the nearby music store in OS to get cds or the book barn in, I think East Lyme. burning and ripping cds on the computer, kayaking in OS and Clinton. Working at beach donuts in soundview for three summers (02, 03, 04) maybe even a 4th, don't recall. Summers at UNI and early 20s in Portland Maine were awesome, 05 to 08, maybe some of my best Years ever.

Edit: I also remember getting into eBay around 1999 or 2000 and remember running home to see the newest package, tons of cds and videogames, some posters for UNI dorm in 2003 and 2004 (pink Floyd posters mostly).

 

[shizzle787]

Tour de Farmington: we had our own 5-mile course and about 6-10 of us would race on bikes. Some of us (me) used BMX bikes.

It ended after some brutal injuries over a few year period. Usually, at least one person didn't finish the race.

Neighborhood ping pong and FIFA league.

Backyard football against teams from other parts of town.

 

[BrysonDeMan]

2 weeks every summer at my uncle’s house in Montauk. He and his sons built it themselves in the early 80’s. We wouldn’t have been able to afford a yearly vacation otherwise.

Sadly, they sold in 2002 while I was in law school. None of their kids were interested in buying it. Had it been 2 years later I would have borrowed the money to keep it, and it would have been the best investment I ever made.

our family did the same
just loved Montauk
John's Drive-In
Gosman's Dock
getting bounced around in big waves
falling asleep to breaking waves with the windows open

 

[Mr. French]

I grew up in the 1990s. I was 6, until 16 for that decade. It was a simpler time for the most part. Riding bikes to rogers lake, getting junk food at Coffees local store and renting videos at the place next door, swimming, playing snes and psx games during rainy days or at night, back yard baseball, basketball games, going out to lunch or dinner, trips to funcoland, white sands beach and hawks nest, riding the bike to the public library in the mid 90s to check videogames cheats on their internet (lol), rollerblading, random wrestling matches that somewhat resembled sumo but not quite. I loved Uncas pond. There was an ice cream place a few towns over that had amazing ice cream. Also going to another ice cream shop to collect those mini plastic baseball caps, nearly had them all and collecting baseball cards. Illianos Pizza. Park and rec summer camp and boyscouts in the mid 90s.

Mini golfing in old saybrook with my buddy at the time, who was a nutcase, lol during summers from 2001 to 2003 and stopping by the nearby music store in OS to get cds or the book barn in, I think East Lyme. burning and ripping cds on the computer, kayaking in OS and Clinton. Working at beach donuts in soundview for three summers (02, 03, 04) maybe even a 4th, don't recall. Summers at UNI and early 20s in Portland Maine were awesome, 05 to 08, maybe some of my best Years ever.

You hit on a lot of sweet spots for me too - I was 7 in 1990 and graduated HS in 2001 so I'm about the same age as you.

Backyard baseball, football and basketball are the first things that come to mind. Then getting the newest Jordan's by cutting class and having my aunt or a friend's mom drive me to the mall to get first in line; Getting the newest Eastbay in the mail; Getting the newest video games each year (when NBA Jam moved from arcade mythical being to available in retail SEGA game, my life for that week really changed).

Life is funny - you don't think you'll be pining away for those moments while they're happening. But man, those summers esp were the good stuff.

 

[Travelman6]

You hit on a lot of sweet spots for me too - I was 7 in 1990 and graduated HS in 2001 so I'm about the same age as you.

Backyard baseball, football and basketball are the first things that come to mind. Then getting the newest Jordan's by cutting class and having my aunt or a friend's mom drive me to the mall to get first in line; Getting the newest Eastbay in the mail; Getting the newest video games each year (when NBA Jam moved from arcade mythical being to available in retail SEGA game, my life for that week really changed).

Life is funny - you don't think you'll be pining away for those moments while they're happening. But man, those summers esp were the good stuff.

I forgot about backyard football. Used to do that with a group of friends starting around freshmen or sophomore year in HS and we did it for a year or two after everyone went off to UNI during Xmas breaks. We had UConn watch parties for many years, I remember heartbreaking losses to Texas, Maryland, and GTech during break.

This was also when eBay went big, got into it around 1998 and remember running home to see the newest package, tons of cds and videogames, some posters for UNI dorm in 2003 and 2004 (pink Floyd posters mostly). Sold stuff too and had like 137 positive feedback. Internet forums were big back then too, so many different ones I'd waste part of my summers on.

 

[Chasm64]

Good knees.

 

[CL82]

The Good Humor man. Everybody on the street would come out buy ann ice cream and then hang out and eat it. I remember rocket pops and toasted almond as being favorites.

Yeah, they're still ice cream trucks, but they're privately owned and sometimes seem a little sketchy. And it doesn't seem like as big an event where everyone would pour out of the house and then just hang out and eat them.

 

[Lafayette]

Mix tapes
Pranking the operator
Being invited to stay for dinner at any house after playing sports with their kids
That morning when school was cancelled bc of a squirrel biting a lead line to the power generator in East Hartford.
The April blizzard of 77

 

[Waquoit]

I loved summer keg parties in high school. I get nostalgic every now and then about pumping cheap beer into a red solo cup on someone’s deck as the sun went down and the heat was breaking. They were just fun.

You were on a deck? Luxury! We had to go in the woods. One night all of a sudden we hear bull horns from the top of the hill "This is the Manchester Police! We know you have kegs, we're comin' down!" That sucked. I only had a couple and didn't have a back-up plan.

 

[CL82]

You were on a deck? Luxury! We had to go in the woods. One night all of a sudden we hear bull horns from the top of the hill "This is the Manchester Police! We know you have kegs, we're comin' down!" That sucked. I only had a couple and didn't have a back-up plan.

Please tell me that you yelled back "get your own damn beer!" before scattering like roaches.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

You were on a deck? Luxury! We had to go in the woods. One night all of a sudden we hear bull horns from the top of the hill "This is the Manchester Police! We know you have kegs, we're comin' down!" That sucked. I only had a couple and didn't have a back-up plan.

I don’t know about Manchester’s cops, but there aren’t any times I recall my town’s cops catching anyone running from a keg party. If you couldn’t outrun that crew, it was time to get in shape.

 

[Horatio]

I miss going to Winnsboro, South Carolina, every summer, from June to August, and ruining my white canvas high tops in the red clay dirt. We would run around on the family farm and chase the hogs back into the pen. 70’s and early 80’s. Priceless

 

[JakeTheDog]

Agree. We had so much pollution from industrial waste. Back around 50 years or so the Pequabuck river which runs through Plymouth, Bristol and Plainville would regularly turn green from plating discharge as it ran through the towns. Now it is stocked with trout and salmon. (Yes, salmon!) Trout unlimited started stocking it first trout and then salmon as the river cleaned up. Mallard ducks and other wildlife are frequently seen as well.

The Pequabuck is an amazing example of river cleanup and transformation. There’s a wild trout population pretty well established which absolutely blows my mind.