Thursday, August 13, 2009

Games Kids Play

There are two things I remember specifically doing everyday during the summer when I was a adolescent. One was riding bikes with the other kids on the block. The other was playing games together on someone's front porch. The days were hot, but the floors of our cement porches were nice and cool. We played Jacks, Parcheesi, Life, and Monopoly. My favorite was Jacks. I recently bought a old fashioned set of metal jacks at Cracker Barrel. If only I could sit Indian style on the floor as easily as I did on those hot summer days. I bet I could still tear the game up.

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18 comments:

  1. ZuzanaAugust 14, 2009 at 2:10 AM

    Ok, would you believe that I have no idea what kind of game Jacks is? The picture of the metal thingies is completely alien to me. So, now I am off to google in search of knowledge.;))
    In any case, it sounds and "looks" intriguing!;)
    xo

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  2. Sarah AnneAugust 14, 2009 at 2:42 AM

    I haven't ridden a bike in so long. And I've only ever read about Parcheesi in books. What is it?

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  3. Lisa at GreenbowAugust 14, 2009 at 5:59 AM

    Isn't it amazing the memories that a little bag of jax can conjur up.
    I remember those days of sitting on the porch too. Onesies, twosies... The sweet smell of honeysuckle growing on the porch post... Scooting back closer to the house when it started pouring rain. FUN FUN...

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  4. ChaChaneenAugust 14, 2009 at 6:13 AM

    I remember riding my bike until bedtime and then watching tv shows like.... The Gong Show, Emergency, Fantasy Island, the Love Boat, the Hardy Boys. Sigh.... Sweet times!

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  5. RachelAugust 14, 2009 at 7:15 AM

    I bet you could still teach me a thing or two about the game.

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  6. UnknownAugust 14, 2009 at 7:36 AM

    I LOVE jacks! I may have to stop into a Cracker Barrel and pick up a set! Great nostalgic photo...

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  7. Betsy BrockAugust 14, 2009 at 7:37 AM

    I loved jacks and riding bikes, too...both great childhood memories....oh, and don't forget hopscotch! :)

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  8. Lora @ my blessed lifeAugust 14, 2009 at 10:22 AM

    I loved playing jacks, too. My daughter has just recently learned the game this summer~taught to her by her Nana, who was a great jacks player when she was a girl.

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  9. Elizabeth BradleyAugust 14, 2009 at 2:00 PM

    We rode are bikes all over hell and gone, kids don't do that anymore. (So sad.) And we played Jacks and we played marbles. Fun memories.

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  10. CharAugust 14, 2009 at 5:30 PM

    love the imagines - both written and taken. beautiful shot.

    my favorite was parcheesi

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  11. Tess KincaidAugust 14, 2009 at 11:27 PM

    I adored jacks! I kept mine in a little drawstring pouch. We all brought them to school and would play at recess. I haven't thought of jacks in ages. Thanks for the fun trip down memory lane!

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  12. julie kingAugust 15, 2009 at 6:31 AM

    our big family games as kids were life and old maid. i've never played jacks. we also spent a lot of time outside playing kick the can.

    delightful photo!

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  13. soulbrushAugust 15, 2009 at 8:13 AM

    oh yes monopoly, and then canasta for years and years. those were the days sigh...

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  14. ArtPropelledAugust 15, 2009 at 12:18 PM

    I loved playing jacks too, and riding bikes around the neighbourhood. Those were the days...sigh..

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  15. HilaryAugust 15, 2009 at 8:27 PM

    I remember it well. Jacks were a standard in every kids summer way back when. Fun stuff.

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  16. Nana Trish is Living the DreamAugust 16, 2009 at 8:58 PM

    I loved thinking about the cool porch playing jacks. Oh, to be carefree again!

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  17. Pat @ Mille Fiori FavoritiAugust 16, 2009 at 9:55 PM

    Ah yes --- and another summer pleasure was swinging on the swings in the park! I could do that for hours!

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  18. GailOAugust 18, 2009 at 3:25 PM

    I would love to play jacks with you...even if we needed cushions to sit on:) We all had our special favorite sets of Jacks...and our favorite balls...and we liked some peoples smooth cement porches better than others...Thanks for setting me off memory lane! I bought jacks for my daughters when they were young but they were never interested.

    Jacks, jump-rope, hop-scotch, riding bikes, Parcheesi, Life, Monopoly, Hearts...I bet we would have been best friends!

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I'm glad you stopped by and I look forward to your comments. As Dr. Fraser Crane would say, "Hello, I'm listening."

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