I am a fire truck.

Topic: I am a fire truck. (Read 745 times) previous topic - next topic

I am a fire truck.

July 07, 2009, 02:45:47 PM

At my construction job we're working on a residential dead-end street. The homeowner is a friend of a friend and has three children, two boys and a girl. There are maybe 15 homes on this street and about half of the households have kids. All the neighborhood kids play together quite well.

Directly across the street from the jobsite lives a 3-year-old boy named Noah. He has an older brother and sister, way older in fact, so he's almost an only child in that respect.

From the time he goes outside in the morning until the sun goes down, Noah does nothing but play outside. In his front yard is a giant trampoline. He also has a toy 4WD John Deere lawnmower that is almost an exact replica of the one I use on my own lawn. He even has the trailer for it, too. Noah "cuts the grass" pretty much all day without making a peep. He also has a bubble push mower on top of which sits his toy monkey (because, you know, even pretend lawns need push mower care sometimes).

Around noon Noah's mother calls gently to him, "Noah...would you like a sandwich?" And this is almost a quiet statement, no yelling, just a simple question. Noah runs to the house to get his lunch, again without a sound made.

The neighborhood kids like to play at Noah's house. They congregate there in and out all day long. What's amazing is how he doesn't mind one bit if another kid rides the toy John Deere mower or the pushmower. In fact, he doesn't scream, doesn't shout, doesn't cry, doesn't take a tantrum, doesn't pout that someone else is using all his toys.

He doesn't mind this at all. Because he can become a fire truck at any time.

Other kids play with his toys, and Noah marches around his yard, saying "WOOOoooo! WOOoooo! WOOoooo!". And not in an obnoxious manner either. This is an "I'm-ignoring-the-rest-of-the-world" kind of tone. If someone asks him a question or tries talking to him, it doesn't matter.

He can't hear them because he is a fire truck right now. (Fire trucks have important things to do, you know).

Noah has no worries, no bills, no problems. He plays all day. His mommy makes him lunch. He has awesome toys. He doesn't mind sharing them one bit. And at any time, whenever he feels the need, he can ignore the outside world by becoming a fire truck.

I SO want to be this kid.

I am a fire truck.

Reply #1 – July 07, 2009, 03:04:32 PM

All too soon they have to grow up and take the weight of the world on their young shoulders...

I always took it for granted till I became a father myself.
God almighty, what I wouldn't give to be young and carefree again, even if only for a day...:(

That's a touching story Eric...thanks for sharing. :D

I am a fire truck.

Reply #2 – July 07, 2009, 09:41:41 PM

I thought you already had your GO at that it was CHILDHOOD! Just wait you'll have that part of life one more time its called OLD AGE! You even get to shiznit your pants again like when you were a baby! It does sound like the life though. How about this build a time machine go back to your self as a child and help your self make the right choices to end ou where you want to be by now in life. NAW no thanks then I wouldn't be the Me that I am.

Stuckman

I am a fire truck.

Reply #3 – July 09, 2009, 10:16:02 AM

I wouldn't change things...well, except one thing, but other than that, I wouldn't change anything.... I have my kids and my husband all because of decisions I made.... I'm happy with that.

I do enjoy seeing little kids be little kids though... and I encourage them to be kids.... even my teens get to enjoy being teens..... they might as well enjoy every step of their lives... they only get to live it once.

I am a fire truck.

Reply #4 – July 09, 2009, 10:06:31 PM

Sometimes I'm still a fire truck.

I am a fire truck.

Reply #5 – July 10, 2009, 08:14:09 AM

I have a firetruck. That's as close as I'm going to get, I'm afraid. It's all about living through the munchkins now.