I sit on my outdoor rocking glider as I write this. I've had it about a year. It's nice, for the few minutes I spend out here, now and then. It's relaxing, an invitation to step outside and do nothing. Until the mosquito-dodging, and the unending drone of the air conditioners, drives me back indoors.
Yet, my glider swing does lack something compared to the real thing, by which I mean a swing set. I suppose it's been 20-odd years since my last time. I remember how it feels, vaguely. Gripping the metal chains with my hands... Pumping my legs... Gradually propelling myself along an ever-widening arc, and the ground below appearing to rock along with me, up and then down. On and on. All cares fall away. Ah yes... that was the stuff.
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I totally agree with this! Really, I think they ought to make grown-up sized playgrounds. The problem with exercise is it's so boring -- treadmills? But if a gym had grown-up sized *fun* things -- trampolines! big slides -- people would exercise because they want to, not have to.
ReplyDeleteYes! Wouldn't that be great? They say you don't stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing.
ReplyDeleteI love to swing, and didn't realize how much I missed it until I had kids and got to start swinging with them. I hope you get your chance to swing soon.
ReplyDeleteLucky you! Parents have a built-in excuse to play.
ReplyDeleteMy 15 year old daughter loves the swing set in the backyard. Over the past few years as she's growing we've had to put in thicker chains and heavy duty bolts as the kiddie swing can't stand up to her full size motion. (She's flying, really) Soon, we won't be able to upgrade the swing anymore and she'll have to settle for a garden swing/glider. I don't know how she'll handle the change. She really relies on that swing every day - it resets her emotionally. I figure, if the neighbors think she's weird and give her funny looks, that's their problem, not hers!
ReplyDeleteWell, it's great that you could accommodate her for so long. Maybe a tire swing? That's something I've thought about, if I knew how to make one.
ReplyDeleteHey, guess what? I satisfied my craving today. I went to the park in the early morning when no one was around. It was nice, although slightly weird. I could not catch a lot of air - damn, I'm so out of practice! XD Will not be the last time...
ReplyDeleteI don't wait for my kids to be with me. If I feel like it and can, I'll swing. I've gone to the park by myself and just enjoyed a good break for myself. I really love getting to a good height so I can see over the top rail!
ReplyDeleteOh, I forgot to ask. Is it okay if I link to this blog at points. I would like to put them in future entries on my little bloggie type thing. I don't know if I'd really call it a blog. But I guess anything where you post entries would be considered a blog, right?
ReplyDeleteChris
Chris, link away!
ReplyDeleteI also have a glider rocker on my back deck, but it's got nothing on a swingset. Even better than a swing for me is a sky chair (it's like a cross between a hammock you sit upright in, a swing, and a hug but without the inconvenience of other people) - I love the thing. So, I built myself a swingset in my back yard for my 35th birthday. Since I don't have children, it's very clear to whom the swingset belongs. It has regular swings of course, but I also bought myself a sky chair to hook into it when the mood strikes. As to swinging in parks on larger swingsets, I don't care who looks. I find saying "you're just jealous" makes most onlookers smile and nod in agreement, and those who don't have the good grace to get on about their business and leave me to mine.
ReplyDelete#11, you've got the right idea. I googled sky chair - ooo, that looks fun.
ReplyDeletehttp://a7.vox.com/6a00ccff89bd7367310100a7fcfd3f000e-500pi
I used to love swings as a child and preteen, but as I got older my motion sickness problems got worse, and now I cannot swing without getting really dizzy and nauseous and needing to stop right away.
ReplyDeleteI do still run and jump, though --- that provides a similar motion-induced emotional lift without the sickness.
How to build a tire swing
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