JUST WAIT TILL I'M A GROWNUP

Do you remember when you were a kid and were being forbidden to do something you thought was fun but your parents had other ideas?

I saw a child's arm out a car window the other day as he surfed the wind with his
hand. Suddenly the child's arm jerked back inside. I could easily imagine the conversation in that car.

When I was young, we moved a lot so we did spend many hours a year on the road. Without the distractions kids have today, we had to amuse ourselves as best as possible.

We played games. They boys would guess the make of car approaching us and I would look for farm animals and wildlife.  But the game I loved was to stick my hand out the window while holding a piece of paper and listen to it as it rattled in the wind.   A sound similar to when you put a playing card in the spokes of your bicycle. A cool racket.

Well that never lasted long  for the noise would drive the driver nuts and we would soon be forbidden to do it any longer.

In my mind only--for I was not a smart mouthed child--I would think--"Boy, just wait till I'm a grownup. I will do this all I want."

Yes, I became a grownup and no, I have never driven down the road holding paper in the wind.

No, I have never eaten ice cream only for every meal. No, I have never gone unwashed for days on end voluntarily.  No I don't leave a messy bed in the morning.

Ok, I did bring home every stray animal I saw. That might be the only thing I wished for that I actually did.

Hum, maybe I will try the paper thing one time just for kicks on my way to town tomorrow. It was kind of fun.  If you hear about an old lady getting her arm torn off by a passing car, you will know that didn't go well and my Mom was right.

Do you remember thinking you couldn't wait do all the things your parents forbid you to do once you became a grownup?  And did you?