tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post1754605127165521438..comments2023-12-31T20:43:08.499-05:00Comments on THE STILETTO GANG: Earlier TimesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-43137958665099405432009-07-07T21:51:16.198-04:002009-07-07T21:51:16.198-04:00What a neat post. I often walked a block or two to...What a neat post. I often walked a block or two to go play with friends, and I remember this starting around the age of 4-5! My oldest is 8 now and I'd never let her walk around the block without me. The neighborhood is safe enough but I'm too worried about the aberrant freak that could drive by at exactly the wrong time. I think kids these days still have fun because they don't have a point of comparison. I used to ride in the front seat of the car, too, but nowadays no kids in the front seat until they're what? Twelve? My kids think it's incredible that "when mom was little, kids rode up front."Rachel Bradyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10543659454210547858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-40366845131735605652009-07-07T18:01:56.697-04:002009-07-07T18:01:56.697-04:00When I threatened to run away I was in the tub and...When I threatened to run away I was in the tub and mom was close by. She told me go like I was because everything I had she'd bought. I didn't leave.<br /><br />We now live in a dinky town, still in California, but my great-grandkids live on a road where each house is on at least an acre, they roam all over the hills, ride ATVs, have a large above ground pool, always have a zillion friends over, and now that it's summer the teen age boys take turns helping their dad with the family's pool cleaning business and the 11 year old daughter answers the phone and does paper work for her mom. And yes they have a Wii too.<br /><br />Still glad I grew up when I did even though I'm now an ancient great-grandma.<br /><br />MarilynMarilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-7858799318544916292009-07-07T17:30:20.711-04:002009-07-07T17:30:20.711-04:00Marilyn, it's hard to imagine L.A. ever being ...Marilyn, it's hard to imagine L.A. ever being anything but large, smoggy, and impersonal! So your memories of your childhood days were wonderful to read.<br /><br />I grew up all over the place since we moved every two or three years (my dad worked for IBM, aka I've Been Moved). Wherever we lived throughout the '70s and '80s, I remember playing with neighborhood kids, staying out until Mom called us in for dinner, and then going back out in the dark to play flash-light tag. One time when I got pissed at my mother, I said, "I'm running away." "Good," she replied. I took off for hours, climbing a tree in a nearby park until I got tired of it and went home. In high school, we had tons of freedom, often staying out past curfew (as long as I called Mom and told her where I was). I can't imagine growing up now with all the craziness out there. No wonder parents are thankful for video games and Wii sports that keep kids indoors. Something really precious has been lost, and I am grateful to have spent my kid years in less frightening times. <br /><br />Cheers,<br />Susan<br />http://SusanMcBrideSusan McBridehttp://susanmcbride.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-25907817822274212062009-07-07T09:03:08.326-04:002009-07-07T09:03:08.326-04:00Everything is very organized now and unfortunately...Everything is very organized now and unfortunately, I think that's the way it has to be. I'm still a little uncomfortable with the kids walking around, even in groups, but I'm getting better. I find that there is someone I know always driving through town or right where my kids are, always happy to report back on what they were seen doing (which is usually cramming multiple slices of pizza into their mouths...no harm there). I, too, wish for a simpler time. We grew up on a block where the smallest family--ours--had four kids and there was always someone to play with outside. Other families had five, six, seven, and even nine kids. We didn't come in unless we were hungry or the street lights came on. Your stories of growing up in LA are fascinating, Marilyn. MaggieDea, Kia, Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01343657178001614404noreply@blogger.com