This One is a Thinker

He's been formulating some declarations lately. With his arms crossed and a broad stance he recites them aloud.

"This sounds serious, shall I write them down you think?"

"Absolutely." He runs off to get paper and a pencil.

In no particular order here are his proclamations (trumpets trumping in unison) with much pomp and circumstance:

1. No more haircuts.
2. No more brushing of thy teeth.
3. No more spaghetti.  Seeeeya.
4. His broccoli days are over. Behind him now completely.
5. No more bedtime. Not needed anymore. He's passed it.

Oh, and while we've got the pencil and paper handy, we add that: free dress at school everyday has been officially declared in 9 year old land as well as unlimited PS3 time.

I thought you might like to know.

I really did write them down but I'm not sure why. You did want to know, right?

And so the plot thickens. I am a thinker, too.

As I reviewed his declarations, I tried to think like a 9 yr. old. It was nearly impossible at first. But in thinking back, waaay back to when I was a nine year old I am sure I would have liked to declare a few changes as well. Who wouldn't?

I mean we do have the paper and pencil handy, right?

So I began a list of my own in my head. It's a battle in itself thinking back that far. That was a long long time ago!

But henceforth and forthwith, I present my list of declarations as a nine year old. What I can recall that is.

I declare (trumpets trumping in unison):

1. More Beverly Cleary reading time afternoon. Bring it on Beezus and Ramona, too.
2. More "I Love Lucy" and "Bewitched" episodes on the TV even, when Dad is around.
3. Marathon candy bars every afternoon at 3:00.  They were only 15 cents! I can swing that.
4. I get my own room. No more sharing with that pesky sister. Doesn't she look pesky in that photo?
5. More Pepsi with peanuts dropped in the bottle. Funnest game ever trying to get that last peanut.
6. Big wheel races at 10:00 am, sharp.
7. No more quishy peas.
8. More secret hideouts to be built beneath the lilac bushes in the backyard.
9. No more tomato sandwiches. Ever.

I am quite pleased with the new law of the land. Mine anyway. What did you declare as a 9 year old? It's fun to pretend once in a while. I'd love to hear your declarations. I've got a pencil and paper handy...think away...

Comments

[Mary]

What a TREASURE!
Both of the lists :)

I would have declared:
No homework
Art ONLY at school..hehehe, how many of us would want that one :) : ) :)
more time with my big brother (me, the annoying little sister)
even more Sunday drives and picnics and lake Michigan with my family

Thanks Teresa! I love this post!

Hugs,
Mary

[kas]

I loved Marathon candy bars too ~ wish thye were still around!

[natalie]

1. I will collect and read every Nancy Drew book
printed.
2. Abba Zabba's are a must everyday at the
neighborhood pool.
3. Mrs. Stevens is the best teacher ever, and Cathy,
Tanya and I will always be her "little pepper
pots".
4. Camp Fire Girls Rule! I WILL sell the most mints!

[Kathy]

Oh, what FUN! Just the chance to be nine years old for a moment. (only a moment, I do NOT wish to go through puberty AFTER that moment, thank you)

ahem - my list...

1. To stay outside and play AFTER the street lights come on.

2. Permission to hike through the woods on my grandparents farm over to where the gypsies lived. Honest. They told us gypsies lived there! (more than likely to keep a rambunctious bunch of cousins in check)

3. No more math. EVER!

4. To leave all my craft projects out without cleaning them up! (oh - wait. I do that now)

5. To climb the great, giant blue spruce all the way to the top with my friend Becky and stay up there as long we wanted! I will NOT fall out and break my neck. So there!

Ahh... nine years old. Walking home in the evening, barefoot on warm cement during the end of a long summer day spent playing in the sun.

(channeling Bob Hope) Thanks for the memories!

Kathy

[Leah C.]

Omigosh...loved, loved Marathon bars! And Beverly Cleary books. What a challenge trying to remember life as a 9 yr old....hmmmm...1)spend more of my allowance on Archie comic books and taffy 2)I do not want to clean my room every Saturday 3)I will never eat scalloped potatoes again, blech! 4)just a few more minutes please: to ride my bike, to catch fireflies, to finish reading this book 5) Ms. Renshaw is the best 4th grade teacher...thanks, Teresa! That was so much fun:)

[jenny holiday]

I love this to bits!! Really really great!! :)

Big Hello from Jenny and Aaron!!

xoxo

[suzi finer]

I need to stay up to watch Hogan's Heroes. I love him truly.

I will check out every pay phone return slot that I pass, because I always find money. Don't stop me!

I will not give my sister all of my money. (this one never really worked out.)

I will live in San Diego and be a veterinarian. (blast those allergies!)

Oh...what a vivid time for memories. Just set me off on a crying jag!
Love ya!

[Jill Green]

But I love tomato sandwiches!!! I crave them with basil pesto spread on toasted English muffins all summer long when the tomatoes are best. Ok - I'm a geek.

But... when I was 9? Definitely catching THE last firefly before coming in for the night, baseball or tag way past dark, lots of sparklers on the 4th of July along with my turn churning the homemade ice cream, no time limits on Saturday morning cartoons, and absolutely no more housecleaning (especially my pesky brother's room!) on Saturday mornings!! Amen

[Cookie Sunshine]

All I ever wanted was MORE ART, MORE COLORS, MORE PAINTS, MORE MUSIC, MORE RECORDS, AND NO NAPS

Thanks for always making blogs such fun.

Cookie

[Kathy Lowry]

YIKES _ TERESA Gotta go WAAAAAAY back - 60 here -- let's see George wash . was Pres == sorry love being silly sometimes -
1. I will be a prima ballerina - mind you the shortest in history -5 ft . HA !
2 I will read everybook within
reach --had none at home -- but boy the library was a treasure
I was always in a nook somewhere reading -- i went to far exotic places - NOw I have hundreds - not kidding -- God has blessed -- I do love words
3. was also gonna be a singer -yep me and Teresa Brewer -- ya know __ Kathy _GA the child prodigy lol - my brothers &sis were not impressed (then )
4. I will create everyday -- clay people -paperdolls - oh how i loved them -- have a few antique ones now -- God blessed me and gave my Grandaughter(11 in May ) the love of art and reading and who knew - paperdolls --she was cutting them out of magazines so had to find others for her too - but she still creates them also - my boys God bless them do read their Bibles -- and Fishing mags lol -- They are fishers of men -my guys -- so I have the best . my dtr& HUb loves books also .
5. Last but notleast -- A COKE FLOAT A DAY -- ya know scoops of vanilla icecream -- with the coke poured just so -- and the foamy stuff on top -- yumm -gotta get a snack -NOW !
THANKS for the Memories -KATHY -_GA

[Kim Caldwell]

You're such a sentimental peach Miss T. What does it mean that I can't remember a thing? I better go get out those pictures and see if I can jog some memories!

Hugs, Kim

[Jill]

Oh darlin'! I live with 9 year olds everyday... I must dig deep to try to remember.... What a great post...
Ah yes.... check my blog later!

[calamity kim]

no more Lima beans or Okra!
Love the peanuts in coke. You are so cute- and so is he! serious thinkers, think alike!

[KW]

I loved those Ramona Quimby books! Those and I read all of the Wizard of Oz books, Ozma, etc...

I used to have huge (and thick) glasses, so I figured I'd better become a brainiac because nobody would ever marry me. Oh, and thank God my teeth grew together. I used to have a huge gap between my two front teeth....

I used to love Ice Cubes. Did you ever have one of those? They were a lot like the little Dove squares but so much better, seriously. Mallo Cups are yummy too. I find them at Cracker Barrel now....

I wanted to be a gymnast. My Mom took me out, bought me the leotard-paid for the class. Then, a week later, I fell off the top parallel bar and just about died of embarrassment. I refused to go back because I thought I'd wind up breaking my neck.

[KW]

I'll ask my boys about their lists. I'll scrapbook them, great idea-thanks!!!!

[tonya]

THis is one of the bestest posts I've read in a long time from all over blogland! I don't think I can remember 9....oh wait, figuring out the year helped, 1976, of course the bicentennial, so now...yes, my green denim watermelon bellbottom jeans. I should get to where those every single day. Which leads to the green faux fur coat. Hate it. Don't want to wear it ever again. Let's go to grandma's house more often. Either one, both are great and fun and awesome adventures. But at Grandma Shirley's house, more ice cream from the downstairs "extra" freezer and no more cream soda. ever. ewww. Sandwiches and chips though, bring it on! ANd Lagoon roller coasters till my legs are wobbly.
Love it. thanks, T!

Oh my gosh 9? Can I remember that far back, let's see 1972.
1. Cannot get enough of Laura Ingalls!
2. I want my own record player with Elton John's new 45 Rocket Man.
3. I expect my foil wrapped Hoste ss Ding Dong's at 3:00 so I am ready to sit and eat my snack and watch Gilligan's Island.
4. Never ever make me eat a Spam/Avacado sandwich!
5. But I will eat a fried bologna sandwich everyday.

Thanks Teresa, it was fun going back in time, but for some reason mine is all about food! :)

Teresa
xo

[Angie]

1. "Too many Barbies" banished from my mom's vocabulary.
2. Everyday - Mayonnaise and bologna sandwiches for lunch.
3. No haircuts from mom
4. Bike rides and swimming EVERY.SINGLE.DAY
5. Unlimited time on the swings
6. No mean boys with worms in their hands
7. Farrah Fawcett perfect hair at all times
8. No Egg Salad or Chicken ala King
9. Enough money to buy every Trixie Beldon book

[princess lasertron]

some declarations from a different generation........

1. let me use the computer as long as I want.

2. give me a wet 'n wild makeup allowance

3. dont make me clean up my craft projects from the dinner table. (can't we just eat on the floor? or better, on mom and dad's bed in front of the tv?) besides, I was still working on that....

4. let me ride my bike to the library and grocery store ALONE

5. no more trying new foods

6. and let me go into chat rooms (scary)

[Danielle Muller]

love this!

here is my list:

1. spend all my allowance on the ice cream truck...especially the fun dip
2. wear tube tops and sundresses all year long, even in the winter
3. save every type of seed possible and make little packets to store them in...try to grow each one in a dixie cup
4. build that second level on my tree house using the wood i found in the dumpster
5. dumpster dive nights...make them an official holiday
6. paint each one of my fingernails a different color
7. try to be nadia comanechi on the jungle gym...just don't fall again and scar my face
8. have as many cats as i want to
9. eat only cheese, peeps and pb and j sandwiches for dinner
10. have enough money to continue my piano lessons
11. feed the ducks every day at the pond
12. own the most smelly stickers on the block
13. have the entire collection of lisa frank accessories
14. wear moon boots whenever i feel like it
15. never wear a turtleneck and brown cordury pants in a school picture again

this was such fun! thanks for sharing the idea and bringing us back to some happy times!

blessings,
danielle
www.thevintagedragonfly.typepad.com