I was raised on a farm along with brothers and a sister. Our playground was the farm yard and the adjoining fields. We were on the go all day playing here and there. There was machinery in the yard that was an invitation for kids to play on and have accidents. Much of the machinery was abandoned and not used. There were numerous outbuildings which provided play activities. Sometimes the chickens were chased. Sometimes the rooster chased us. Every tree in the yard was climbed at some time or other by little kids. Many forts and tree houses were constructed. In the summer gardens were visited and raided.. You get the picture. Life in a farmyard provided many opportunities for playing.
Now one thing that was abandoned on the yard was an old model T Truck. It was the ancient kind with a canvas top. The frame of the cab was wood and the canvas was attached to the wood. There was a windshield but no side windows. Of course, from time to time we played in this old truck. The relic promoted lots of imagination and play.
When we were around four or five we were having fun one day. I was inside the truck standing on the seat lifting my sister. My head was sticking up in the canvas making a bump. Many times we took tools from the shop for our play activities. My brother had a heavy hammer from the shop. When he saw the bump in the canvas , he decided to smooth it out. Wham! He hit me square in the head. Of course I howled and the blood pored from a gash on the top of my head. So off I went to the house howling my head off. I think he soon did his howling as he probably go a spanking.
I was left with a scar and a bald spot. This incident became one of the family stories that was told over and over again with a fair amount of laughter. It was a complete comedy of innocent errors.
So at age four or five I received a heavy shot to the head which became one of the many nine lives I've lost.
I'm sure many of you have had incidents from your childhood which innocently turned wrong .
That is really funny. No lasting damage then.
ReplyDeleteWho knows? Maybe a genius was destroyed?
DeleteYou played the same way we did Red - we made bows and had target practice against a tree on the edge of the woods. My brother wasn't supposed to be there - he had an arrow my other brother shot in the rubber band around his sneaker - never went through the foot, or the time we played "dodge the dart" - home made little darts made from match sticks - I got my brother right in the middle of the forehead and a spanking and sent to my room for 2 days - we never played that game again. ha,ha
ReplyDeleteGreat story you told - and yes, we have all probably done many innocent incidents in the world of exploration :)
We played rough and there were accidents, but I think compared to today we were better off. The kids today have no life experience.
DeleteOh, ouch! I'll be that hurt, but it sure is a good story. It deserves to have become one of those tales told for decades. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think every family ha a few of these stories. I know ours has a lot of these stories.
Deleteoh, that must have HURT! brothers... :)
ReplyDeleteWe stuck together like glue!
DeleteOh my - Your stories are such a joy to read! But you could have crossed the great divide with that blow to the head. Fortunately, you're still here to tell the story!
ReplyDeleteWell, the hammer more or less dropped on my head because he could barely carry the thing.
DeleteOh, I can imagine how your Mother must have felt seeing your bloody head! The things children get into!!
ReplyDeleteWith four kids I think she was used to this stuff.
Deleteouch! a tough bit of playing
ReplyDeleteWe were a rough bunch and had very little supervision.
DeleteI bet it wasn't funny at the time! OUCH! Thank goodness it turned out okay and you laughed about it later on. Sounds like a fun childhood...even with all the bumps and bruises! That's the way I grew up!
ReplyDeleteYou're right. It wasn't funny at the time. Once it was looked at later on the humorous part could be seen and years later it was just a funny story.
DeleteOUCH! Those were the good, old days!
ReplyDeleteWe had many experiences that taught us about getting along and safety. Now, along the way we had a few accidents.
DeleteI'll have to think about this as nothing comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteLive dangerously! Make a comment. Go out on the limb!
DeleteA funny story Red and sounds like a very nice childhood, have you ever gave your brother a punch back?
ReplyDeleteOh Red I am sorry I laughed but I grew up in a house with nine brothers and sisters and yes things like that just sort of happened to us too:) Hug B
ReplyDeleteYou have a tough noggin! Funny story, only because you lived to tell it! ;)
ReplyDeleteSorry I laughed..what a great story:)
ReplyDelete