In between we played hop scotch, marbles and jumped roped. We roller skated- if we could find the key that helped hook them to our hard-sole shoes- on the smoothest sidewalks in the neighborhood and built tents over the family clothesline. We played hide-and-seek and kick the can, and when day turned into dusk and we'd finished with dinner, there was spotlight to reunite us for an hour or so until it was time to return home.
We dove in piles of leaves in the fall, rode sleds down the biggest hill we could find in the winter, and played in the pool, lake or stream until we had only enough energy to peddle our Huffy or Schwinn home at the end of those long summer days. And if we couldn't go outside, we played Old Maid, Fish, Monopoly and Clue or put a stack of 45's on the RCA Victor in our room.
Growing up in the 1960's was idyllic. For most of us any way. Some, though............