What happened to all of the pickup ball games?, and Hose water (for Bwood)

This post is dedicated to my good friend and brother, Bwood! It was his brilliance 

that posed the thought, "Kids need to drink more hose water."

Happy Birthday Woods! (April 17th)

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Where have all of the pickup baseball games gone? When you drive around to parks this time of year, parks with baseball fields, are they full? Of course there are some little leagues that have started up, which is wonderful! Those little leagues spring the hopes and dreams of thousands of kids vying to play like their heroes: Derek Jeter, Dustin Pedroia,  Big Papi - David Ortiz, Mariano Rivera, and all of the other great players around the MLB (I'm a Red Sox fan by nature, and still, I give great respect to all truly inspiring players like the two aforementioned Yanks).  My props go to the thousands of young fathers and mothers that coach the many levels of little league baseball teams (and softball leagues), and the even more moms, grandparents, and families who come out to the games every week (several times a week) to cheer their tiny tykes on to victory. What a great American tradition!

However, what happened to those famous, or more so infamous, pickup games (as beautifully depicted in the movie "The Sandlot.") Those games where children played out their fantasies without the structure of adults. Those games where kids created everything from the first pitch to the last run. They made the rules, chose the teams, determined what was a strike and ball, and who was safe or out at the plate. Do you see those pickup games as often anymore? More times than not, when I pass a ball park it's empty.

Me & Bwood at SU (back in the day)

I suppose the empty parks beg the question, "What reasons are there for the lack of pickup games?" There are many possibilities (as life is all about possibilities, with very few factual answers). Technology has brought kids inside with the invention of the television, network programming of child centered shows, the creation of cable, followed closely by the dawn of video games. Let me say that these inventions are not evil, they are wonderful in so many ways. They provide entertainment, laughter, can stir emotions, and inspire kids to create their own video games or imaginary TV shows. They may even be the muse for future actresses and actors, or help a child realize their dream for a potential career in the development of technology. So, technology isn't bad... And, we can't blame technology.

Another part of this multisided coin (if you can imagine a coin with more than two sides, that is awesome) is parenting has changed. Many nuclear families have two parents who now work to support the family and time becomes limited for many of them. So, technology makes it easier and convenient to help them take the load off.  Now, as you read this you might be thinking "I'm parent! Just because I let me kids watch TV and play video games, doesn't mean I'm a bad parent."  I agree with you. And I never said anything about ANYONE being "bad" or "good." I'm just tossing out some perspectives and common behaviors without blame or judgment.

The simple truth might be, we have evolved as an american culture and it might ultimately come down to the choices we choose when it comes to the pickup games of life.

Top: Jim, Angie, Heather, Me, Bwood
(housemates at SU)
Bottom: Bwood and Me (pals)

Story Time (hose water- Bwood's theory):
Growing up in rural upstate New York, we never spent much time inside. Summers meant going outside at dawn (when our parents left for work), stopping in for dinner (maybe lunch) before returning to the glories of nature. Even as the blanket of night came down, closing the book on the sun, we would push the limits of our vision, and the limits of our parents, to stay out just a little longer. 

We spent our days riding bikes, building forts in trees, rock walls in the underbrush of  pines, constructing damns in creeks that flowed like Niagara Falls (so we thought), and pretended to be super heroes that we conjured up. We fought dragons, we protected the innocence of frogs and birds nests, and we created an infinite amount of games (like climbing on an iron fence in a church parking lot to avoid the Lava pit. All fun and games until my brother cut the palm of  his hand on an iron spike and said, "I saw meat". This is a separate story involving my cousins, for a future post).   

The one thing we had in common, through all of our imaginary journeys, was  we drank water from a hose. We drank hose water! 

Perhaps the lack of pickup baseball games, and sometimes the apparent lack of imagination with some kids who spend more time inside than out, is the lack of hose water. 

With hose water you create your own cup with your hand, or just let the nozzle drain into your mouth. With hose water you might play a game of tag with friends, spraying them so everyone wins! With hose water you are guaranteed to be outside and enjoying the sun. With hose water you rarely think about soda, ice cubes, juices, or anything except HOSE WATER. With hose water you appreciate the wet refreshing sensation quenching your thirst on a hot day after hours of adventures. With hose water, you are alive...Experiencing your childhood. It might be the purest childhood event one can experience. Bottom line, kids need to drink more hose water!

Again, the above theory of "kids need more hose water" is by Brendon Getter (Bwood). My friend for life. Peace Woods! I hope I did the theory some justice. Happy Birthday! Love. Bubby

With compassion and kindness,
BD Scott