Here's something completely different, a lane that isn't in the historic old town part of Key West. Seidenberg Lane is a kind of alleyway that runs parallel to Seidenberg Avenue, which in turn parallels the main cross town street called Flagler, and while all these streets are paralleling themselves across New Town, little Seidenberg Lane goes almost unnoticed, not surprising when it starts off this busy street, imaginatively called First:
From the hustle and bustle of homeward bound commuters to the little lane was a complete transformation, old world Key West in full force:
Imagine that,kids just hanging out in the street (the lane actually) playing like we used to when I was small decades ago. There were adults keeping an eye on them from open doors (this is winter and thus considered not steaming hot) and I rolled very slowly through their midst. But such is the all pervasive influence of the pernicious television that I am sure I'd be taken for a pervert were I to stop and talk so I took a couple of surreptitious pictures and left them to it. I mean do they do this in your neighborhood streets, even in summer?
Well, maybe they do this sort of outdoor playing Up North but all I hear is the lamentation that streets aren't safe for children anymore which seems a shame to me. Being outside was the best part of my unhappy youth. Be that as it may Seidenberg Lane gets very interesting (to a nerd like me) after it crosses Second Street:
It becomes a grassy alley, and considering the shortage of lawns in the Keys I'm surprised some enterprising Conch hasn't set up a goat to graze on a chain down here. As it was the grass was mown and I had the alley to myself, me and tall fences of various sorts:
Looking back the lane was bathed in a sort of light that brings to mind the long summer evenings of northern latitudes, especially with those kids playing in the alley. I couldn't believe it when one of them started twirling a hula hoop, like she thought it was 1950!
Not all of the lane was fenced in and I got to peak a little bit and even though this isn't the fashionable old town neighborhood beloved of the trolley tours I enjoy the views:
And then we have the eternal side yard projects:
Eventually the lane dead ends unceremoniously into Fourth Street, no signs, not even any clear markings of any kind. If you didn't know it was there you wouldn't find out by looking:
And after I had walked in a small circle to see if indeed the lane continued through someone's yard to a more natural conclusion on Fifth Street, which is a main artery, I turned around and strolled back. The kids were still playing in the light of the setting sun:
And all was right with the world. As long as you don't read the financial pages...
10 comments:
Street play is alive and well for kids in my small part of Texas. Ripstiks and electric scooters are the current outdoor toy of choice.
It will be 71 here today, so not all of your readers are frozen.
I wonder which part of Texas that is, and what a ripstick is. I wish it would be 71 here today but it is chilling again after a honking thunderstrom in the night.Sigh.
Dear Sir:
It is the rule to find children at play in the cul de sac that constitutes the WASPish neighborhood here. Any warm day will fnd them jumping rope, riding bikes, tossing a football, or attempting to master skateboards. They all stop and stare whe I ride by on my K75 because I am so fat it is not evident that I am riding a motorcycle.
They then scream and flee as I give the impression of being the Baron Harkonnen from "Dune." The boldest of them may reach for a stone, however.
I was thrilled to learn the mercury topped 80º(F) in your neighborhood today. What made me feel even better was the knowledge that when it is 60º(F) here, it will be hotter than the fires of hell where you live.
Fondest regards,
Jack
Conroe, TX would be where children still play in the great outdoors. A Ripstik is like a skateboard but is self propelled by weaving one's body back and forth. That sounds ridiculous, so check out Wikipedia's page on ripstiks or castor boards and discover an interesting form of locomotion.
Today's post made us reminisce of our own childhoods when playing outdoors was the highlight of our lives. We were free to roam and indulge in our fantasies. Unfortunately those are "Days Gone By".
Who knows when malls close and electrons become expensive we will all be out rip sticking again.
I hate to disappoint but it rarely gets over 95 in the Keys and I like the heat and humidity )and air conditioning) of summer! A friend of mine (rides an R100RT) says its too hot to ride in the summer but Jan's a wuss and he knows it.
Growing up in suburban Buffalo,i remember as a kid leaving the house in the morning,with the knowledge to come home for dinner when the street lights came on.Can you imagine any parent allowing their child that kind of freedom now ??,kind of sad really...Also, knowing that your a nerd...isnt that the first step in nerd recovery? After looking at the pictures of the kids,has your picture taking ever be mistaken for something more sinister?
Buffalo Bill
Aaah,memories. I wish the kids around here would quit playing outside. Or at least find the volume control for their mouths.
There sure seems to be a lot of greenish Bonnevilles around there. I mean, there's one in about every third photo you take.
I have never been accused of being a pervert though too many people watch tv an dseem to think there'sone lurking everywhere. And no, I have no idea why that moldy green Bonneville keeps appearing in my pictures.
"Growing up in suburban Buffalo,i remember as a kid leaving the house in the morning,with the knowledge to come home for dinner when the street lights came on.Can you imagine any parent allowing their child that kind of freedom now ??"
That's like it is in the town near my home in the Texas Panhandle.
My sister was up here a couple of years ago with her 9 year old grandson. For the first time in her grandson's life, he didn't have to be accompanied by an adult. If he wanted to go to the park and play, he'd just go. If he wanted to walk down to the Dairy Queen, he'd just walk down there. He has never had such freedom in his home town.
When I was a kid, we had it even better when it was too wet to be working in the fields. Sometimes we'd take off on horseback in the morning carrying our lunch, eat lunch sitting on the ground next to a windmill in a neighbor's pasture miles away, and make it back home in time for supper.
In our community, we could ride through nearly every pasture in the area even if we did not personally know the owner very well. When we'd run across them, we'd each just wave at each other and continue on.
Post a Comment