Memories of youth

As a kid growing up here in the 60's and 70's the place to be in the summer was Municipal Park. That place was always abuzz with activity. I spent hours and hours at the pool there, I learned how to skate at the roller rink, I loved that big ass slide that is no longer there, I rode the rides at Kiwanis's Kiddie Land, I looked forward every year to the carnival that would accompany the County Fair and most of all I spent many a glorious evening at the ball fields.

You see...back in the day baseball was king in Carthage. Those four fields and stands would be packed all the time in the summer. There was farm league, girl's softball, little league and Babe Ruth. Ah...but little league was the king. Carthage produced many really good teams in that era. I remember how devastated the whole town was when two of it's stars drown in Spring River. One trying to save the other. It was my first experience with children my age dying and it was quite the wake up call.

Folks would flock to the fields in the evenings. You could park by the outer fences and watch from your cars or you could sit in the bleachers. You could make endless trips to the concession stand. It was a family affair. Everyone would turn out to watch the games. Kids could run around and play catch with their friends and no one had to worry about being abducted. It was such a "free" time.

I would go to watch my friends play. My friend Michael always played and I was quite the devotee of his. I would always be there cheering him on waiting for him to get done and then we would hang out and go and play in the creek. I remember one wonderful 4th of July hanging out in the cattle barns and seeing how high we could fly empty pop cans with firecrackers. I can still remember the sound and the smell. He was my adventure buddy.

The point I am trying to make here is that it is so sad to see the park basically deserted on a Saturday night. I drove around the park absorbed in the memories that came flooding back to me. All the sounds and the smells. I drove all around the fields that are just sitting there unused. The fences are down. The concession stand has been demolished. There's not much left. They have all moved on to greener pastures across town where they can sit in the bleachers and stare at their phones.

But I still have my memories. I can see the kids in the uniforms wearing them so proudly and all the parents and grandparents and everyone else cheering them all on. I can see Michael's lopsided grin and feel the love he had for the game. I can see my parents parked out by the fence watching all the kids play even though they had no relation to any of them. They just liked to watch. It was a magical time that I will treasure in my heart forever.