If you are a new subscriber, welcome–I’m so glad you’re here! A place for sharing family stories and memories.
I’d like to welcome guest blogger Jill Chapman. I think you’ll enjoy her family memories of water shenanigans back in the day.
Growing up in Southern Indiana in the late 1960s and early 1970s was filled with fun. We lived out in the country in an old white house with peeling paint and a screened-in porch. Since we didn’t have a lot of extra money, my dad loved to liven things up for my brother and me in many ways. He made our days joyful and fun. He and my brother had a constant prank war going on, much to the chagrin of our mom. They would prop plastic glasses, half-filled with water, on a slightly open door. The person who came in would have water dumped on their head along with a slight bonk from the cup. I would sit on the couch, barely able to contain my excitement as I waited for the person who was going to get soaked to come through the door.
When my dad was the victim of a dousing, he would jump around and yell. Looking back, I wonder if he was as surprised as he always acted. My brother would yell, “I got you!” while I giggled wildly. Meanwhile, my mom would fuss about the water on the floor and demand that they leave her plastic glasses in the kitchen. They never listened. Sometimes, they would go for several days without pulling any pranks. Then, one of them would sneak a glass, and the game was on again.
Since we didn’t have air conditioning, the hot summer days made it a perfect time for water fights. Many times, a water fight would break out when someone, usually my dad, would flick some water on my brother or me in the kitchen. Handfuls, then a cupful, and by the end, it would be dishpans filled with water as we chased each other around the yard. Even Mom got in on these water battles sometimes to help me out when it became two against one.
Another joke the humid days sparked was the ice cube prank. One of us would decide to put an ice cube down the back of someone’s shirt. When you’re hot and sweaty, an ice cube brings out a primal scream of surprise that you can’t contain. It never failed to bring laughter. Sometimes, this prank led to a water battle. The shouts and cries of delight made those humid days cherished memories for my family and me.
The time seems simpler to me when I look back, yet I know my parents were working hard to provide for us. If they struggled, my brother and I never really knew. We laughed more than we complained. Most of the time, anyway. We moved to town when I was in middle school and said goodbye to the old white house with peeling paint. Our lives changed, but the laughter and pranks were still part of the joy that was our family.
Have any of you experienced these kinds of summer water fun? I’d love to know. I defnitely remember ice cubes down the back of my shirt! Open in your browser and scroll down to leave a comment. I reply to all comments. As always, feel free to forward to a friend. Let me know if you have your own family story to share. Contact me at beckyvanvleet9@gmail.com, and I can give you more information.
Jill’s Bio:
Jill lives in Southern Indiana with her husband of forty-six years. They enjoy their country lifestyle and visits with their children and grandchildren. She writes for her own blog, Quips from My Quill, while also guest blogging. Her books for children are filled with family-friendly adventures.
The Bomb Squad is a middle-grade adventure/mystery story filled with excitement that tweens love. In book one of The Bomb Squad series, Bryan and his three friends begin their adventures with a bang on the Fourth of July. Then things really heat up when Bryan’s mysterious new neighbor moves in, and the boys decide to keep an eye on him. After a fire at the park, Max, Bryan’s yellow lab, digs up a key to a lock box, and the mystery takes a scary turn. Can the boys discover the neighbor’s secret before more trouble explodes?
Purchase link
https://www.amazon.com/Bomb-Squad-Jill-Chapman/dp/1649493967
Social media links
https://www.instagram.com/author_jill_chapman/
https://www.facebook.com/authorjillchapman
https://authorjillchapman.com/blogquips-from-my-quill/
