The true pleasures of childhood were:

Climbing out of the chlorine rich swimming pool, shrivelled like a California raisin, only to plaster one's body on the cement sidewalk...scorched from the mid day sun. From ground level, one could watch the ants detour around the unexpected drops of water.

Grocery stores hadn't implented the 'no shirt/no shoes/no service' policy. Shoes were optional - three months out of the year. Pink feet getting burned on black asphalt, only to delight in the smooth cold tile of the freezer section of the local Mark-N-Pak.

Drinking an Orange Crush in the back of the Jeep truck as it cruised down the highway. Didn't matter where we were going.

Gazing up at the stars from the makeshift bed in the front yard made of an air mattress and sleeping bag.