It’s sure a sight how things have changed,

From when I was a boy,

But remembering the things we did,

Bring me so much joy.

Why, I was just a thinkin’,

In a lazy, mindful way,

Of things in youth that we did,

On this kind of day.

Back then things were different,

One difference I will share,

We hadn’t yet been softened,

With all this conditioned air.

Sure, it’s mighty hot out there,

As anyone can tell,

When I ‘s a lad we used to say,

“Hotter ‘n the gates o’ hell!”

But we didn’t let that stop us,

We just took the heat in stride,

And we could all be found,

Down by the creek’s side.

In cut off jeans we waded,

Or swam where it was deep,

In those days the best entertainment,

Was found on the cheap.

We hadn’t money for a cooler,

Had we even known the price,

But a nearby pool of spring fed water,

Seemed as cold as ice.

Glass bottles of soda,

And maybe a melon “borrowed” from the field,

Were laid in the cooling waters,

While we had time to kill.

After the wading and the swimming,

In the mountain glade,

We picnicked in solitude,

By the creek side neath the shade.

Braggin’ and a boastin’,

As we loitered by the creek,

Us boys never imaged,

This would become a memory we would seek.

Today it seems almost mythical,

Those days seem so sublime,

The days of youthful innocence,

Another world, another time.