Empty Courts

It was a real treat rolling up to the park’s basketball courts and finding them totally empty — just me, the sun, and a number of basketball hoops to shoot to! 🏀✨ 

The Distance

 Once we made it into the park, we still had to trek across what felt like endless fields to reach the main section. Maybe it was just our short kid legs, but crossing those fields always felt like it took forever. 😄

The Jump

Getting to the park behind our house meant clearing the drainage ditch — and if you didn’t jump far enough, you’d land right in the rainwater. Nothing like running around the park with one shoe soaked to the bone. 😅

Park

Another popular summer hangout was the neighborhood park. We were lucky to live right on its edge, so we could wander over and hang out anytime we wanted. 😎🏀

...and yes, Zack is about to walk right into the screen door...that's a fair representation of my childhood clumsiness! 😂

Movin'

I always loved that feeling after skating for hours — stepping out of those skates and back into regular shoes, but still feeling like I was gliding across the floor! 😁🛼

Time to Go

Leaving the skate rink was utter heartbreak — kids still zooming around the floor, neon lights still buzzing, music still thumping like the night wasn’t done… and you’re getting dragged out anyway. 🥺🛼

Jam

We can't talk about the skate rink without mentioning the music! 🎶

The DJ would drop that thumping bass and -BOOM- the whole place lit up. The wilder the beat, the faster we wanted to fly around that rink!

I can still hear that click‑clat rhythm the skates made as we picked up speed on the wooden floor! 😊🛼