I remember it well. It was nestled perfectly under the shade of a big, old oak tree in my backyard. That rusty, squeaky swing set holds a sacred place in my memories. So sacred that it is the first image I think of when I think of the happy childhood I was blessed to have.
I remember asking my mom one night before bed, probably no more than 5 years old, “Mom, what is it like in heaven?” Oh, the questions of a 5 year old. I followed up by asking her if there would be a swing set in heaven. “There has to be!” I believed. It was, in fact, my little piece of heaven on earth.
From my swing I could reflect. I could ask questions. I could imagine. I could analyze. I could be angry. I could be sad. I could dream. I could see things from a different angle (sometimes while leaning back with the breeze in my hair- it tickles my stomach just thinking of it). I could recharge. I could be me. I could Escape.
Come Escape with me. For the past 5 plus years my husband Jason and I have been trying to Escape Adulthood. So much so, that it’s literally become our life’s work. Our “purpose.” As I work toward shaking these shackles of worries and to-do lists, I invite you to grab the swing next to me. It seems like the first logical step for me to Escape Adulthood. So, let’s swing. I bet I can go higher that you can!
You seem to be good at writing. You should have that profession, I think you’d do well.
Swingsets! Ah, the freedom! It is a wonderful place to dream, relax, and play. My children use our swingset as a fort, hiding place, and an adventure waiting to happen. They even use couches as swingsets as well. (Yes, it takes everything in me not to tell them to get off and stop putting their feet on the furniture.) The other day, my son Lukas, age 8, was putting one foot on a cough and the other foot on another cough and basically doing the splits in the air. My dad was holding his arms up and they were laughing. In the middle of the laughter, Lukas asked Grandpa, “Do you believe in God?” Grandpa responded with “Yes, I do.” Lukas, in his infinite youthful wisdom replied, “Good, then we can be together for eternity.” He then jumped off the couches and played. Wow! All that while just enjoying a “swingset.” Now that’s childhood at it’s purist.