Childhood and the Elements #life in the 50's, #memories from the past

Childhood was a period when you spent a lot of time out in the elements. Walking to school, rain or shine, you stuck out your tongue to taste the rain, felt the splash of water on your face, smelled the moisture in the air, and delighted in stepping into the puddles, not around them. The yellow slickers with their clip buttons and the fireman hat were our uniforms for a wet day.
All your free time was spent outdoors so you became very familiar with the different hues of a single day. The sunny days offered you warmth or light, depending on the season. In summer you could smell the grass and the wild flowers that lined the roads and woods. You could feel the sun on your back when you played in the yard, or in the woods like we so often did. There were places that were considerably cooler because of a gurgling brook camouflaged with many trees, and then it went warm again in the open fields where the trees were sparsely scattered. You took that all in, but not in a conscious way, you felt it. It made you happy. It was childhood unencumbered by intellect.
Fall offered us as many sights and smells as the rest of the seasons. We would kick the leaves that fell lazily from the oak and maple trees. We would rake our big yard and make piles; then we would run at a fast clip and jump in. Laughing, rolling, picking leaves and twigs from our hair and mouth, we were always smiling.
My fondest memories were the winters. The arrival of a coming snow is announced with the wet smell of the air. You take big gulps willing the snow to appear then and now. It does. Big fat flakes, falling from the sky, from the big bucket above, coating everything white. It's all you can do to contain your excitement. Snow means snowmen, snow angels, forts and igloos, it means snowball fights with your brothers, and big footsteps in the snow from your boots. It means hats and scarfs and mittens. It means frozen toes, and wet socks, and red cheeks and noses. Your oblivious to the discomfort because you have not yet entered the world of element resistance. It's all there for you to enjoy, and taste and feel. When you finally come in, it's hot cocoa, mittens on the radiators, and tired bodies. We worked very hard at our play.
Childhood was magical no matter what the season. Our minds were uncluttered. We lived in the elements and loved every minute of it.