07/24/2023
I lived in West Philly on 59th & Jefferson St. I went to St. Rose of Lima Elementary and West Catholic High school. In our neighborhood there were a ton of kids living on our Block. ALL parents were OUR parents. When we went outside to play, we got dirty. We ate bologna (cold or fried), peanut butter & jelly, grilled cheese sandwiches all on white bread, pork-n-beans & hot dogs, Frosted Flakes & milk and we all drank kool-aid. We had home cooked dinners every night. Our parents or grand parents called out the window when they wanted us to come home which meant we were never far off. We watched Action News with Jim O’Brien (rip). We were up on Saturday morning to watch cartoons like the Popeye, Thunder Cats, Tom and Jerry and others with Schoolhouse Rock in between shows. You took your school clothes off as soon as you got home and put on your play clothes. I took Septa to school with friends. We played Cheers, Red light green light, jacks, catch one catch all, and other games in the street. We would go to any penny candy store to buy penny candy and $0.25 hugs. Yes I said, "penny". That's how much it cost then. MaryJane's, Now & Laters, squirrel nuts, fire balls, Candy lips, Candy Necklaces, etc. We played sports every chance we could Hot Butter Beans, Freeze Tag, Red Light Green Light, Hop Scotch, Hide & Seek, Double Dutch, Jacks, Wallball, Kickball, Dodge Ball, Hop Scotch, Spin the bottle and rode bikes all over the neighborhood. We also went skating every week at Elmwood Skating Rink. We literally would line up and race in the street. Staying in the house was a punishment, and the only thing we knew about "bored", was board games. There was no bottled water. We drank from the tap and the water hose. We watched cartoons, Soul Train, Three Stooges and cleaned the house on Saturday morning before going outside to play. We went to church on Sunday. Your neighborhood was a city within the city. Someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again the next day if not sooner. The street lights were your curfew. You had to be home or on your steps, not on your way, when they came on!! School was MANDATORY and teachers and police were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of your NEIGHBORS were your parents, and you didn't want them telling your parents if you misbehaved. Yes, everyone RESPECTED elders! Re-post if you're proud that you came from a close knit community and will never forget where you came from! Copy & Paste with an edit of where you grew up. These were the good ole days. Kids today will never know how it feels to be a real kid. I loved growing up when we did. It was a great time!!!
Let's Spread Peace... these kids these days will never understand how we grew up if we don't let them know.💯💯💯💯💯❤❤❤❤❤