I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of a 6 year old again.

I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant.

I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make ripples with rocks.

I want to think M&Ms are better than money, because you can eat them.

I want to play kickball during recess and paint with watercolors in art.

I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summers day.

I want to return to a time when life was simple.When all you knew were colors, addition tables and simple nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care.

When all you knew was to be happy because you didn't know all the things that should make you worried and upset.

I want to think that the world is fair. That everyone in it is honest and good.

I want to believe that anything is possible.

Somewhere in my youth...I matured and I learned too much.

I learned of nuclear weapons, war, prejudice, starvation and abused children.

I learned of lies, unhappy marriages, suffering, illness, pain and death.

I learned of a world where men left their families to go and fight for our country, and returned only to end up living on the streets...begging for their next meal.

I learned of a world where children knew how to kill...and did!!

What happened to the time when we thought that everyone would live forever, because we didn't grasp the concept of death?

When we thought the worst thing in the world was if someone took the jump rope from you or picked you last for kickball.

I want to be oblivious to the complexity of life and be overly excited by little things once again.

I want to return to the days when reading was fun and music was clean.When television was used to report the news or for family entertainment and not to promote sex, violence and deceit.

I remember being naive and thinking that everyone was happy because I was.

I would walk on the beach and only think of the sand between my toes and the prettiest seashell I could find.

I would spend my afternoons climbing trees and riding my bike. I didn't worry about time, bills or where I was going to find the money to fix my car.

I used to wonder what I was going to do or be when I grew up, not worry about what I'll do if this doesn't work out.

I want to live simple again.

I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness and loss of loved ones.

I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth,justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind and making angels in the snow. I want to be 6 again.

Th' act o' engagin' in play is the way children lairn an' explore what it means tae become fully human. Th' mair adults follow their lead an' return tae playfu'ness, th' mair we'll RE-discover oor ain humanity.

--Cuilionn, whae takes a study break ev'ry hour-an'-a-hauf tae jump up frae th' computer-desk an' play twa or three rollickin' tunes on her dulcimer

Come to think of it, I could probably get up the one in my font yard. (If no one hears from me in a couple days, send help.)

For some reason, I'm trying to remember a song my Mom sang about "I Don't Wanna Play in Your Back Yard," but that, and something about sliding down a drain spout is all I can remember.

Margarita

Living in the UK, I'm not too sure you are right about not having to wear the silly costumes to be considered a 'folkie'.

As for one's partner throwing things. Mine, who is usually a bit of a 'sobersides', does like the look on family members faces, when she throws a fresh egg, for them to catch, with no warning.

It can be a bit messy at times. but does have it's moments.

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.CFM?threadID=585

My day of reckoning came one rainy day when I was sad for no reason and I wanted desperately to disappear by curling up on my daddy's lap, then realized I couldn't do that any more.

... I still like to play in the mud, though

katlaughing

kat

Sheesh - you married people have all the fun!

I LIKE you method of determining age, dividing by 10 is brilliant!

I still play chase with my cats, chase the ball with my dog, and I never fail to marvel at the natural beauty which everyday brings with it. Squirt bottle acn be a lot of fun, too!

kat, capering in the catnip

I'm working on it! Hwyl, Bron.

I'm working on it! Hwyl, Bron.

There must be something about supermarkets. We were waiting in the queue and for no good reason that I can think of, other than boredom, I said to my wife, in the loudest voice I could muster, "And I want sex tonight".

She has never forgiven me and I didn't get sex that night.

Bron, have you see the Music Therapy I and II threads? I think you would find them interesting. Many people posted to them, but in particular Night Owl's postings were very interesting, in his use of music in working with developmentally challenged adults.

Eventually, we find we cannot save everyone and that in order to help those we can and take care of ourselves, we have to let go, to let the weight off the shoulders, as you say, concentrating on ourselves and our health first, so that we can care for others.

Here's to a deep, cleansing breath, a blowing out of all troubles and cares and a deep, deep letting go, shoulders dropping to a relaxed position, all tension gone, a deep abiding feeling of warmth and peace filling our hearts and spreading throughout to our hands and feet.

Lovingly,

katlaughing

My friends and I used to talk about how great it was to be four all the time, but I'll take six too.

My father used to stand behind mothers who were scolding their children in grocery stores--perfect strangers, mind you--and lean in and say "YEAH!" at a strategic moment. Certainly diffused the situation, and shocked the hell out of people too.

I was really stressed out the otherday--called in to work on my day off, lost my keys, picked a fight with my roommate, no one to play with--and I took a time-out to read my book at an outdoor cafe. As I was sitting there, with the late afternoon sunlight coming down and a bunch of happy people milling about, making plans for Saturday night and preening in their newly unearthed summer clothes, I noticed a scene taking place at the next little patio area over, which was a Vietnamese restaurant. An older woman, dining alone, was having trouble using her chopsticks, and the waiter spent about 10-15 minutes tutoring her. She was so happy about the attention, and he was so sweet and unhurried...it was a very nice tableau. And then someone across the street by the metro started playing the guitar, very mellow and sort of meandering, playing snathes of tunes. Anyway, it made my bad mood evaporate(and my bad moods are nothing to sneeze at).

Just thought I'd share

Cara

kat

Carol will ALWAYS try to blow the paper straw wrapper across the table at me no matter how fancy the eatery is.

Going up in an elavator I'll mumble something to Carol like, "How long did they say the body had been laying there?"

It's all grist for the mill. As I've said, If ya don't have a sense o' humor, it isn't funny! (Now, if only I can listen to my own advice.)

Art

Then there's the cat who revs his engine with his hind feet on the kitchen linoleum, front ones firmly gripping the hall carpet. He stands there with the high rearend of a hot rod and scratches with his hind legs, exactly like a bull does with its front legs when getting ready to charge, for all the world like a race car driver revving up the engine, playing with the brakes and clutch all at the same time. How can I get down when I see that?!

This is the same cat, who when I was sick and had to sleep sitting up, when I first went on oxygen, would come in every night, mee-uu a question, as in "may I get up there", then ensconse himself on my chest from my chin to my lap (big cat) and purr me to sleep. I was healing my heart and could feel his little heart with its strong and steady beat up against mine. This was a time of great anxiety and stress and that cat knew just what to do to calm me and allay my fears.

PennyS....you could always putll up a good cat and cuppa.

love ya,

katlaughing