Friday, January 12, 2007

Scott's Google Earth Meme


Scott, this one's for you. Thanks for the idea. *grin*

The house with the orange X on the roof had been newly built when I was born and it was where I grew up. After some years away, it is where I live again today, but with my family. The area wasn't this crowded, though, when I was very young. Back then, it was grass as far as the eye could see. Except for the trees behind the house. Those are humungous mango trees, and they've been there forever (or so it seems).

I think I was in primary school when some of the neighbors started getting their houses built. The neighbors had young kids, too. The perfect playmate age for me and my two brothers (my sister was some years older and had her own clique at school).

I was never the doll- or dollhouse-type of person when I was a very young kid. Oh no, it was always books or my brothers' toys. My older brother had this über-cool Voltes V and other die-cast metal robots, which were all the rage those days (and if we'd known better, we'd have preserved them because such things fetch a pretty price these days), while my younger brother had a huge collection of Matchbox cars--fantastic stuff--none of which survived our childhood.

But most of the time we could be found outdoors, in the street in front of the house, with our playmates, the neighbors, engaged in several street games. There was piko (something like hopscotch), patintero (something like tag, but much, much more complicated), shato (a strategic game that involved hitting sticks), and agawan ng panyo (hanky-grabbing game that favored the quick-minded and fleet-footed). I think we'd start the games after lunch, play through the early evening, stretching out the hours as long as we could before a parent could appear to summon his or her offspring from the street for dinner.

Sometimes we'd spontaneously come up with other things to do during the day. Things like holding afternoon picnics in the park near our house, or just getting on our bikes and riding throughout the subdivision. That must've been a sight here those days: a gaggle of kids cycling madly, boys and girls together, watching out for one another and laughing our heads off. Sometimes those biking expeditions would end at a local clubhouse where we'd cool off in the pool after those rides (no pics of me in a bikini, sorry. Besides, I was just a kid, you perverts). And no death-defying stunts, Scott, unless you count that incident when I was still learning to ride a bike and crashed spectacularly--earning me some very bloody elbows and knees.

Makes me compare then and now. My own kids hardly come in smelling ewwwily of sun and sweat; they have computer games (and other indoor recreation) instead of the street games I grew up with. No day-long biking expeditions for them so far. None of the über bloody elbows and knees that I wore (after the tears) as badges of honor when I was a kid. Hell, I'd probably scream bloody murder if I saw my young ones with such injuries now.

Sad, I know.

34 comments:

coach said...

WOW. Where is this ? Paranaque or somehere else ? Galeng galeng !

y.Wendy.y said...

Your childhood sounds like mine..so uncanny.

My kids spend a lot of time outdoors in summer....they get the torn clothing, bloody knees and sweaty little body smells....it's a wonderful place for them to grow up. Of course in winter they never go out...pah!

houseband00 said...

I just laughed at the way you described shato. =) Strategic ha. Rrrright!!! =)

Great reminiscences, Liz. =)

echo said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Lizza said...

Coach: Yep, this is in Parañaque. Nag-coach ka ba ng liga dito? :-) Thanks for stopping by.

Wendz: No dolls or dollhouses for you too? :-) It's great that your young ones get to play outside; mine don't want to!

HB: I didn't know how else to describe shato. There had to be a strategy to hit the stick and measure the distance, diba? :-) Haha!

Bud Weiser, WTIT said...

With my childhood it was baseball. But the story rings true. When I encouraged my children to get kids together for sports, they really tried. But they only came ove to play video games.

It is a different world. Maybe better. Maybe worse. But different!

houseband00 said...

A basic knowledge and skill in applied trajectoty physics is more like it, Liz. =)

Sidney said...

Wow! A very clear picture! Amazing! I can almost see you sitting under the mango tree!

Ah, childhood memories. I hope our kids will not regret the time spend playing computer games!

Anonymous said...

My childhood; it consisted of books, board games, and also outdoorsy stuff ... Heehee.

But kids these days are better off because of technological advancement and things have changed, so unlike before, aye.

Scott from Oregon said...

Well, you did it! So very cool!

I want to hear more about those games you played!

I would sure love to collect these blogger Google Earth photos as well as the recollections...

Since you are a gifted bloggerette, you got any ideas?

Also, feel free to challenge your friends with this meme. Imagine, a cyber world full of rooftops and remembrances...

You are number four to take up the challenge (but remember, it was for FIVE stories!) Even short ones!

Well done Lizza! Well done!

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

LIZZA...TERRIFIC meme...has also given me another idea LOL
Thanks and yes, we did so much outside and until all hours because no one thought it was not safe...

Liz Hill said...

I love this post. I will eventually get to this part of my life and I so absolutely understand this. Great job as usual.

Michael C said...

I know it's real hard to see from the photo, but I really like your family's choice of pation furniture. This satellite imagery is amazing!
;-)

Michael C said...

Man, I meant pation furniture. Sorry!!!
;-)

Unknown said...

Look what I can do: The second comment - YAY! I can access your comment-section.

Great post!
Such a neat idea - thanks a lot for sharing. An other joyful read for me =)

Kiyotoe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kiyotoe said...

Tatsu wa kimashita! (Nunu's mum taught me that)

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. You sound like you might have been cool enough to hang out with the guys in my neighborhood.

And you still are ;)

TopChamp said...

I can't help but feel sad at the way things have changed for kids now. The playing outside topic as you mention I'm sure is affected by computer games, but also by our feelings that it is not safe for kids alone.

There are so many things which have changed - Santa in the local garden centre has to be police checked and then still supervised and the kids have to sit on a stool rather than his knee. I am nervous changing a kid's hand position on the piano/trumpet because I have to touch them briefly if I can't think of another way to describe what I mean.

I had a childhood that sounds like yours but in a rainier climate. I'm glad you had a happy time - apologies for ranting (it's very early here).

lastlifeinmyuniverse said...

omg that just brought back memories lol. when i was little, i didnt have any of those electronic games either (my cousins did coz they were rich - those bastards) and so i spent a lot of my time outdoors rollerskating and walkin barefooted playing with frogs and lizards.


ahh :D

ShadowFalcon said...

I can seeee you...

Even though I learnt to ride a bike rather late its one of the main things I dislike about liking in the city. There is nothing like cycling off into a forrest for a few hours.

Schmoop said...

I wish I had similar fun things to share, but as I was raised by wolves, I spent most of my time hunting for rabbits and licking my mothers coat.

Lizza said...

Bud: Oh, yes. It's definitely a different world now.

HB: You should've seen my brothers play shato. I think they had Newton as their chief strategist!

Sidney: Yes, I hope so too. Welcome back!

Kyels: Technology is good, but it's also nice to know how to have fun the low-tech way. And I still can't open your blog! Grrrr...

Scott: Haha, thanks! Well, you can do what Mimi Lenox did: she made separate sites for memes and for Dona Nobis Pacem.

Looks like some others will be doing your meme, yay! I'll think about the next four stories, and I'll read the others' stories soon.

Bond: Oh, cool! Let's see what your idea is. :-)

Turnbaby: Thanks! Reminiscing was fun.

Michael: Man, your eyesight is amazing! Thanks.

Sanni: Thanks. Yay, you can comment again! I'll head off to yours shortly, and help my lovely German friend exercise. :-)

Kiyotoe: I'll have to get Nunu's mum to teach me some Japanese too.

Thanks! So are you. ;-)

Topchamp: No apologies needed. It's great to see you here again.

Sometimes safety and political correctness issues are such a drag. Those are the changes that are certainly unpleasant.

Deb: I totally get the walking barefoot and playing outside... but I can't stand frogs! :-D

Shadowfalcon: You make me envious. There's no forest near where I live. Grrr...

Matt-man: Hahaha! Cheers, you rabbit killer!

Odat said...

wow! I guess the building is going on everywhere...We used to have woods behind our house, now we have 10 houses! I too, had an older brother and was sort of a tomboy growing up....all the outside games played, the stitches from falling...ah the memories...
Thanks Lizza!
Peace

Steven said...

Why go biking when you can roll the streets of Vegas and shoot hookers int he videogame world? ;)

Steve~

Foofa said...

It truly is sad how some things that were so important to us as children aren't going to be for our children. Jumping rope, playing tag or dodgeball are just not things that happen as much. I think I'll force my kids to go play outside when i have them. Which will of course depend on where we live and how paranoid of a parent I am but now, I say go play!

Mimi Lenox said...

When I was a kid, climbing trees, playing tag and catching fireflies was great fun. We didn't have a lot of toys or games and had to make our own fun. But I'm glad I was in that environment. I do think our kids miss a lot these days. And by the way....you're a GREAT mom.

the not so "new" mom on the blog said...

It is just so ironic because my kids will never be able to play outside in the street or go for a ride on their bikes to the local cafe - Times have changed so and it is just to dangerous for them to experience what we experienced as children!!! Thanks for sharing this with us!! Take Care!

Angel Feathers Tickle Me said...

You will find me near the shores of dreaming. I stand here watching over the cliffs of humanity. The view here is forever perfectly clear, I see nothing but confusion and chaos looking down from this column of jagged stone. This is where our hearts are forged, souls are cast and made. This is where you will return, though in life you have never seen this place, for you have stood upon this mighty stone and stared...

Dream of Gods, dream of memories gone by, inhale the scent of love and heartache. You know this place exists. Feel it in the pit of your being. You know the lonely feeling found atop the stone and the frustration of never seeing enough. We have all leaned forward that one hair too far as if to dare the tempt of fate, as we were grabbed by the sea beneath us where we get tossed and turned, just another lost soul trying to swim desperately for shore. Fore it is here on the shores of dreaming that battered souls finally gain wisdom. Here we see the miracle in just being alive. We will dance skipping down the beach of dreaming singing a song, flinging the notes in the air. Maybe we will laugh at teardrops or cry in the wind, but at least we are free from that jagged stone until we come searching again for something more...

CS said...

Such a clear picture of your childhood neighborhood, and nice memories. When I use Google Earth on my old neighborhoods, I only get far-away views - the roads, at best. What am I doing wrong?

Lizza said...

Odat: Haha! Sounds like you were an awesome playmate when you were a kid. Cheers!

Steve: Haha! I love videogames too, but no shooting games for me. Except maybe those where I get to shoot zombies (not hookers!).

Natalie: My kids still play outside, but not to the extent that I did when I was a kid. I agree with you, though, go play!

Mimi: Catching fireflies...ooohh, I'd almost forgotten about that. Not too many fireflies here now, sadly. But still lots of them in the provinces.

NMOTB: Thanks! Your boys look like they have so much fun, and so do you. :-)

Angel feathers: Thanks for posting your post. ;-) Have a good weekend.

CSL: Hmmm... some areas here still aren't too clear on Google Earth even when I zoom in. Maybe they're still updating their images or something? I'm not really sure. Have a great weekend!

H said...

What is it with me and being SLOW.

Loved this one.

reminded my of my childhood too. those grazed knees. I still wear my scars like badges. And I know that I will insist that my kids [if they ever be] get off their butts and get some real blood and gore on themselves.

this took me back to very very happy days in Calcutta and bombay. Lovely. My ideal age is nine. 9. 9ine. one year under your ideal age.

We should go back there sometimes.

Lizza said...

Haha! It's great to imagine you as a little girl running about, tripping, and getting her knees and elbows all bloody. Ahhh, childhood.

R said...

Sigh... good for you. I have been living in my second floor apartment in super congested Mumbai for 17 of my 20 years! And I’ve no memory of the house located in another part of the city where we lived for the first three years of my life.

Lizza said...

That's okay, Julia. Make new memories, then. :-)