Tonight I’m a swinging 56
I have a confession: this evening I went swinging.
Photo Credit: http://www.glogster.com
I’ve no excuses and I’m not sorry..
They’d put in a new swing set in the park, one big enough for a small adult to use.
It’s probably not allowed. And no sane adult would try it during the day, when all the kids are about.
But at nine in the evening, the kids are all in bed. There was me, there was the tall Indian teenager with his little Chinese girl-friend, there was a career woman in her thirties, and three chatting grandmas, And there was the swing set, waiting ….
I did my usual brisk-walk around the edges of the park, sneaking a peek at the Indian boy and the Chinese girl, side by side, feet moving up then down, heads flung back. Young love, I thought enviously before soldiering on with lap three.
After lap five I noticed the young couple were gone. It was just one pair of pumping legs and arms now, reaching towards the overhanging tree branches, touching earth, pushing off again. It was the career lady in her thirties, her white sneakers pointing up, then down, then up again.
When I’ve finished my tenth lap, I told myself. When no one’s watching.
But of course, the grandmas were still out. I circled the park once more, hoping they’d go home. They didn’t. And suddenly the temptation was just too much.
I don’t give a damn what those old biddies think, I told myself.
I stepped up onto the rubberized play area and clanked the chain of one of the swings. I sat on the other one. I pushed off. And I was in heaven!
I must have pushed and flown and kicked and floated up at least a hundred times before I stopped. No, it didn’t feel like I was five again or even fifteen. But I did feel easy. I did feel free. As if all my burdens were lifted off me, if only for a few minutes.
I can’t remember when I was last on a swing. I won’t forget to get on one regularly now. Now we’ve a new swing set in the park.
When did you last swing free? What did it feel like?
Reader and Writer - Praying Woman - Gardener - Foodie 
Someone after my own heart! I will be 56 soon and love to swing! Don’t stop being young, even if it is only young at heart!
Thanks for dropping by snowfox66. I went to your blog but can’t see a way to follow. Can you send me a link please.
Usually it is right under the name it says either following or not. I know I am following your blogs. Will have to see, not sure how most work. I just find someone or some story I like and I click the word “follow” under the name. Some I just click “like” Under Notifications if you click on the spot which says X likes your story, and you click on that box if the name doesn’t list “follow” by the name you are probably already following them. I do hope this makes sense. I know I am following your blogs!
I do the random swing every now and then too and certainly appreciated the free and breezy feelings more than I ever did when I was a kid on the swing. 🙂
I’m going to make it more than random Borneo Girl. I’m going to try for regular. It was such fun.
I’m jealous. I love to swing. As I read, I couldn’t help but think of that movie Cocoon where the folks from the retirement home all went outside at night in their pajamas to play, including swinging. There’s nothing wrong with unleashing a bit of our youth to keep us from getting stale. Love it.
Do you swing at the park Shelley. I haven’t seen the movie Cocoon but that’s a beautiful image you’ve painted;)
When it first came out, I couldn’t relate. My perspective has changed with age (as with so many other things).
Isn’t that odd, we both wrote about childhood related things at the same time? At the fairground on Saturday there were swing-boats and I soooo wanted to get in but they were so tiny – designed for small persons, no way we could have got in. The last time I had a really good swing was in Canyon, Texas when we went to see where Georgia O’Keefe worked – they were big long swings and adults were fully allowed on them – fantastic. It’s such an uplifting feeling isn’t it? Maybe it should become a therapy tool and they should be everywhere!
There must’ve been something in the air Mary… a youth potion? You’re right, it should be a therapy tool.
Audrey I love this, even my 79 year old mum still gets on the swing, she believes you are tired of life if you do not enjoy a good swing. Every once and awhile when Im with the kids, either my husband or I will swing high and giggle at the kids who laugh back at us for being so silly.
Do you guys have a swing on the farm Kath? I can imagine the cows staring as you guys fly.
Yep Audrey, and the cows watch my son swing high into the sky with his eyes closed.
We should never be so old that we can’t be children again! At a disrespectful 42 I still act the big kid and I’m not ashamed to admit it! And swings are definitely cool 🙂
Yup Ken, only kids inherit the kingdom. Is it warm enough out to swing in UK yet?
ha ha – only if you wear a coat! It is getting there though. I miss Bangladesh where it was always warm enough to swing 🙂
By the way Audrey – did you get my email about my book Sonali? 🙂
Did you mean the email about spreading the word? If so, yes and I have.
Ok great! Just checking as these things can go astray sometimes… 🙂
Love this! We have a tire swing in our yard and I’ve been known to try it out from time to time.
😉