Remember When You Were Certain There Was a Heaven?

When I was eleven, I decided I’d never grow up.  

Being a grownup is awful. I knew because I’d been watching the grownups, and I’d seen how all they got to do was work and pay bills, and take care of children and things. They never got to do fun things like tight-rope, walk along brick walls, roller skate, or watch cartoons on Saturday mornings. 

That’s why I decided I wouldn’t do it. And for some reason, I believed I could keep myself from growing up if I could just think back and memorize every single day of my life since I was little. I was pretty sure it was a stupid idea, but I tried anyway, remembering and memorizing with all my might. 

It didn’t work. I grew up. But I hung on to those memories. They prove I was right – there are so many things better about being a child, and I remember them. 

Maybe you do too. 

Remember – 

•  when you knew your mother would live forever?  
•  when you were certain there was a Heaven?  
•  when you felt absolutely certain and secure about the things you believed? (I really miss that feeling.) 
•  when nothing was impossible? 
•  when answers were simple? 

Remember – 

•  when you got over the worst things that ever, ever happened by the next day?

Remember –  

•  when mean boys could ruin your whole day and make you go home crying? 

(Okay. That one may not have changed.) 

Remember – 

•  when the things you were the very most afraid of don’t hold a candle to the things you’re afraid of today?

Remember –  

•  when there was nobody on earth as bad as a tattle-tale?

Remember –  

•  when you got sick and you knew Grandma could make you feel better? 

 And if it was too big for Grandma, Dr. Green could cure it –  even if it sometimes meant a penicillin shot.

 

Remember – 

•  when you could eat everything you wanted and you’d never heard of cholesterol?

Remember –  

•  when you knew your friends would be your friends for always and nothing would ever change?

Remember –  

•  when you knew there was nothing your Daddy couldn’t fix?

Remember –  

• when you were fashion-uninhibited and free to wear the funkiest fashions, confident that you looked terrific?
  
  

Remember (sob) –  

•  when you could count on baseball?