Spontaneity

“Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game.”

Michael Jordan

When I was a kid, we had a whole lot of fun. I lived on a cul-de-sac street, with fourteen homes and twenty-five kids, which meant there was always someone ready to play, swim, or ride bikes. My best friend, Billy, lived next door, and we spent hours riding bikes, climbing trees, or having orange fights with the other boys, and sometimes girls.

And to top that, my cousins, who had lived across the street in our previous neighborhood, now lived just a mile away, which was an easy walk, bike ride, or plaintive “Please Mom, take me.”

On a Saturday morning, we would head out the door, and as long as we were back by dinner, we were free to roam. It must still be that way somewhere, but I don’t know where.

Several years ago, we were invited to revisit my aunt and uncle’s old house while one of my cousins was in town. Our good friends live there now, and they are about the kindest and most gracious people you would ever want to meet. My kids and I jumped at the chance and knew exactly what we would do.

They let us invade their house and run all over their large property, just like we did as kids. But what makes it extra sweet and special now is that I am doing it with my kids.

The house is a two-story house, and part of the second-story balcony is directly above the pool. It doesn’t take a lot to guess what happens from there, over and over and over again, just like when I was a boy.

Besides having a blissful afternoon with our friends and family, I came away grateful and resolved to have more spontaneous fun with my children.

Spontaneous fun, such as saying “Let’s go to the beach,” when it’s four o’clock in the afternoon on a Sunday. We all pile in the car, drive over, and jump in and out of the surf for a while, and then grab dinner, creating a memory in the process.

And to our dear friends, N and G, thank you again! We especially appreciate your kindness.

P.S.: To see a video of the next generation making the jump, click here.

-Hank