Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Monday, July 22, 2013

Getting Dirty


Old Garage. Magical play area around the end to the right . . .

New garage. Boring.
Just in front of the Old Garage was a magical place.
Okay, yes, it was technically part of the driveway.
Probably, in a normal world, not the best place to play.
But the Old Garage was really just a work room.
And seldom, if ever, used for actual . . . vehicles.
That was what the New Garage was for.
So the driveway in front was probably the safest place on the ranch.
Moving on . . .
The garage formed a wall along one side of our little play area.
With trees and/or bushes on two other sides.
And the winding driveway leading in.
Nestled among the bushes was the great propane tank, which supplied much-needed gas to the ranch houses.
And ensured that the immediate air would always have that little ‘tang’.
And sometimes substituted as a ‘horse’ when the need arose.
The dust/sand was deep in that particular spot.
And warmed by the sun.
Perfect for creating roads and castles and towns.
And just generally whiling away the hours in sunlit bliss.
Okay, yes, our ‘whiling’ was usually followed by, “Diane! What were you doing? Rolling in the dirt?!”
But it was worth it.
Moving ahead 50-plus years . . .
We have a sand box in our back yard.
I was watching some of the grandkids . . . playing.
They were digging and creating and generally having a great time.
One of them lay down on her tummy and proceeded to make a close inspection of the ditch she was digging.
Her mother looked over at her. “Bronwyn! Stop rolling in the dirt!”
And suddenly, I was four years old again.
Digging in the dirt with my brothers.
The occasional whiff of propane in the air.
And the sun warm on my back.
Full circle.
 
Three little girls - full circle.


21 comments:

  1. Sand is the bestest.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Everything comes full circle. Great post!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Having grandchildren allows us to live life over again.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That was lovely.

    And now I have the urge to roll in the dirt. :-)

    Pearl

    ReplyDelete
  5. Which time was that? I think I tell her that EVERY time...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Let the girl roll and dig! We just spent 4 days & nights with our own gr-daughters. At the beach, we look for shells...seeing them through their eyes...wow.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, you took me back, too ...

    What fun to have little grandchildren to remind you of being a child again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I find myself trying to do the things they do. Just FYI: Now, when I curl up in the sandbox with them, it takes two grown men to stand me up straight again...

      Delete
  8. "stop rolling in the dirt"
    But...isn't that what dirt is for?

    ReplyDelete

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