*Sigh*

  They're tearing down the old basketball court.  It's on the high school grounds but anyone could use it.  Come to think of it I've never seen anybody using it in years, and years.  On a beautiful day like this, back in the day, we'd most definately hook-up and play some hoops down there.  We still do, occasionally.  Last time we went the backboards were rotting, the nets were long gone and the weeds were taking over...

  Nobody uses it.  Apart from the occasional skater, I don't see kids outside playing.  Riding bikes.  Playing hoops.  Girls doing hopscotch or jump rope.  Playing catch.  Playing tag.  We've got a park with all kinds of monkeybars, had a basketball court, and a lush, green wide open field (one at each school) and nobody freakin' uses them.  No touch football or wiffle ball or smear the queer.  What the heck are you kids doing on the weekends and summer vacation?  You're nowhere to be seen...

  So, they're tearing down the basketball court.  Ah well...

 

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1193336/BasketballCourtcopy.jpg

I feel your pain, The ball fields I spent my childhood on playing everything from baseball to roller ball on were plowed
over and a 100 unit housing development went up in it's place. Kids today have no time for outdoor activity and if
they can't hit send they want nothing to do with it, a sad day indeed.

I know what you mean too...it's like, kids just don't do this kind of stuff anymore. I am lucky to live in a small town with tons of younger kids...so the playgrounds are still very crowded, especially on a nice sunny day....but sadly, most kids are plopped in front of their TV or computer for the most part.

The roller rink I used to frequent when I was a kid was torn down back in the 90s and I was very sad.  I spent many fond memories at that place in my youth, and now still to this day, when I drive past the open lot, it still brings a tear to my eye.

They put a parking lot on a piece of land
When the supermarket used to stand.
Before that they put up a bowling alley
On the site that used to be the local palais.
Thats where the big bands used to come and play.
My sister went there on a saturday.

Come dancing,
All her boyfriends used to come and call.
Why not come dancing, its only natural?

The day they knocked down the palais
My sister stood and cried.
The day they knocked down the palais
Part of my childhood died, just died.

Now Im grown up and playing in a band,
And theres a car park
where the palais used to stand.
My sisters married
and she lives on an estate.
Her daughters go out, now its her turn to wait.
She knows they get away with things she never could,
But if I asked her I wonder if she would,

Come dancing,


Came for Joni Mitchell / Bob Dylan, but I forgot about The Kinks.  Leaving satisfied!

Leaving satisfied!


My job here is done.  :)  ;D