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May 3, 2007
Geronimo!
That's me, when I was about 5, maybe 6, or even, 7. I'm not sure. What I do know, is that I loved my Big Wheels.
I grew up in a project in Brooklyn, New York. For those of you familiar with the stigma of "The Projects", let me assure you, that when I was there it wasn't quite as dangerous as they are known/thought to be now, but scary enough that my mom paid someone to walk to me school everyday. I was in ignorant bliss about my surroundings.
My parents were lower middle class, a bus driver and a secretary, and they eventually saved enough money to move us out of the projects, and directly across the street. My story is not unique. In the early 70's there were plenty of families in their position. They were hard working people tryng to raise their kids. Amidst all the dysfunction of my family, it makes me happy to know, that I could always find a reason to smile.
Way before Action Park let us break, fracture and filet our bones, the Big Wheels was my primary source of injury. The projects had one thing going for it, and that was a shared park between several buildings. Every few buildings had it's own park, and the park was, undoubtably, at the bottom of a steep, paved hill. Seriously, could life get any better than that?
Scores of children who were lucky enough to have parents able to afford the Big Wheel, zoomed down with wild abandon and pulled that back brake up at the base of the hill. Skidmarks decorated each and every park entrance, and the wide eyes of a child were never far behind.
These were glorious times to be a child. Rain was our worst enemy, and "happy" could always be found tearing down a hill, on some wheeled plastic, hoping to take the 360 to the next level.
It's no wonder that I love to rollerblade or ride a bike. It's crystal clear why I have to stop at every swingset I see, put some tunes on, and feel wind through my hair.
Childhood doesn't have to end because we're too big for Big Wheels. Take a moment, feel the breeze, find a swingset and live.
Posted by lysa at May 3, 2007 10:20 AM
Comments
That photo is priceless. Priceless, do you hear me? It looks like a little chunk of Susan fell off onto a plastic recreational vehicle that churned said chunk and transformed it into a Lysa.
HA, yours had a brake?! Now I see exactly where our brains took drastic turns in their development.
Posted by: Kbee at May 3, 2007 2:05 PM
First, that picture is fuckin adorable. The Sesame Street song starts to percolate in my mind. WOOKIT dose wittle scuffed up knees!!
I totally had a brake and tassels (!!!!) too. It aided greatly in the multiple sidewalk burnouts and many a trip to the drugstore for some bandaids and bactine. Nowadays they dont even include breaks! Modern kids (and apparently K) dont know what they're missing. GOD I WANNA BIG WHEEL RIGHT NOW.
Posted by: Booboo at May 3, 2007 2:52 PM
Amen Sister!!!
I wish I still had my Incredible Hulk green and purple Big Wheel... I'd roll down through the naval housing (the military's version of projects) with my cowboy boots and Tonka shirt chanting "By the Power of Grayskull...I HAVE THE POWER." Because that's the way I roll.
Posted by: scottie at May 3, 2007 6:32 PM
Wait-- Booboo had the tassles and Scottie had the Tonka shirt? Now I'm so confused!
Posted by: Kbee at May 4, 2007 4:13 PM
Big Wheels had brakes?!? And I never made it to Action Park, the commercials scared me.
Posted by: Melissa at May 9, 2007 11:15 AM