#jungle gyms and playground equipment

[skrubu]

Comprehendible Quietude by Pekka Nikrus Via Flickr: In album Playgrounds & Schoolyards

[stone-cold-groove]

Ah, cracked skulls, fractured arms and broken ribs here we come...

[playgroundinchina]

Creating Fun-Filled Spaces: Indoor Playground and Trampoline Park Manufacturers

Discover top-tier indoor playground and trampoline park manufacturers at LiveJournal. Explore innovative solutions and designs to create engaging and safe recreational spaces for children and families. Find expert guidance and high-quality products for your next entertainment project.

[dunsterhouseblogs]

Fuel children's imaginations with a climbing frame. Great for developing their skills and coordination as they burn off excess energy. Healthy and active outdoor play in the safety of your own garden, for fun all year round.

[reasonsforhope]

"Helio da Silva, a retired business executive from Brazil, single-handedly planted over 41,000 trees in his hometown of Sao Paulo over the last two decades.

Flying over the Brazilian metropolis of Sao Paulo, it’s tough to miss the 3.2-kilometers-long and 100-meter-wide green strip of trees wedged between two of the city’s busiest roads. It is known as Tiquatira Linear Park, and it is the work of a single man who worked tirelessly for over 20 years in order to transform a previously dilapidated area into an actual jungle within the urban jungle that is Sao Paulo. Originally from the town of Promissao, about 500km from Sao Paulo, Helio da Silva was a successful business executive for many years, but after retiring, he took it upon himself to transform the degraded banks of the Tiquatira River into a green oasis for his community. He started planting trees there in 2003 and hasn’t stopped since.

73-year-old da Silva recently told AFP that he wanted to leave a legacy to the city that adopted him decades ago. Within the first four years of his epic project, he single-handedly planted 5,000 trees in an area that had long been abandoned and known to be frequented by drug dealers and users. His impressive feat prompted the municipality of Sao Paulo to recognize his efforts and acknowledge the area as the first linear park in Sao Paulo. This only emboldened da Silva, who continued planting native trees.

By 2020, Helio had planted more than 25,047 trees over a 3.2-km-long area, achieving a survival rate of 88 percent. For every 12 trees, he planted a fruit-bearing species in the hopes of attracting birds and animals to his green oasis. His bet paid off, as according to the municipality, 45 types of birds have been identified in the park. Today, the Tiquatira Linear Park numbers over 41,000 individual trees, and Helio da Silva doesn’t plan on stopping planting until he reaches at least 50,000 of them.

“My motivation comes from the trees themselves because trees give us flowers and fruits, absorb rainwater, attract birds and provide us with wonderful shade and fresh air,” da Silva told Common Earth.

The retired executive estimates that he spent about $7,000 per year on his tree-planting efforts since 2022, but the way he sees it, it was a worthwhile investment for himself, his family and the whole of Sao Paulo. Plus, he saved a lot of money by planting the trees himself.

Once labeled as crazy for spending most of his time planting trees in an area most people avoided, Helio da Silva is now hailed as a local hero. He sometimes receives help from like-minded nature lovers, but he is still the driving force behind this amazing project. Every Sunday, he comes to Tiquatira Park to plant more trees.

Over the years, the city gym and playground equipment, tables, benches, toilets, and Tiquatira Linear Park eventually became one of Sao Paulo’s most popular areas."

-Article via OddityCentral, October 4, 2024. Video via France24, September 26, 2024.

--

Note: ONE SINGLE PERSON CAN MAKE A SUCH A DIFFERENCE

[machveil]

I ate some ice cream a little too fast and now I have a tummy ache so have some Dad!König headcanons uugh— [explodes]

Dad!König who’s a little awkward at parent-teacher conferences. if you can’t make it and he has to go alone he feels like he sticks out. just an absolute unit of a man holding a bunch of papers about his kids classes trying to find the right rooms. if it’s the first time he’s meeting a teacher he’s low-key sweating bullets

Dad!König who clears his throat, pretends he’s at work, and voices his questions and concerns over his kids classroom experience. he doesn’t like meeting new people, but he wants to make sure his baby is getting everything they need. he isn’t afraid to schedule meetings with teachers or the principal if it’s for his kids benefit - his nerves be damned, he won’t tolerate his kid coming home teary eyed because someone said something mean to them

Dad!König who goes to the playground with his kid. he’ll watch them climb around, the occasional trip and fall has him crouching down and dusting off their pants. being a tall man means he can pick up and set down his kid nearly anywhere on any equipment. he tried to swing with his kid but got too nervous when the chains made a very audible squeak sound, the plastic seat itself bending a little under his weight

Dad!König who might as well be a jungle gym for the local kids. once all the neighbors are familiar with him, his child’s friends warmed up around König, he’ll have little kids running up to him with excited smiles, “Uhm— can we— can you lift us? Uh, please?”. he’ll let the kids hold onto his forearms while lifting them up, “Don’t fall now, it’s a long ways down.”, he chuckles, smile on his lips when they shriek and laugh. his kid always gets first dibs on dad lifting them up

[misspygmypie]

The Ex

Part of the "Meet & Greet... and more?" Universe Pairing: Lando Norris x reader, Lando Norris x Noah Words: 1076 Request: I love jealous Lando, I have a request for your series. Reader dated a person after she had Noah, but they broke up because he had moved for his job, and the reader didn't want to move Noah at such a young age. And this ex was really good to Noah, and maybe they see him while there shopping or something and Noah dose sort of recognise him and he gets excited and Lando is really jealous that another man gets along with Noah so well that was before him. Lo key love jealous Lando Masterlist

Please do not repost, thank you, and leave some feedback :)

Y/N sat on the park bench, her gaze following her five-year-old son, Noah, as he dashed across the playground with what seemed like an unlimited amount of energy. Noah was having a great time and Lando, who had become an integral part of their lives, was there to share this moment with them.

Lando was sitting casually next to Y/N, an arm wrapped around her shoulders and his eyes fixed on the boy. He had always been great with kids and it was clear Noah had taken an immediate liking to him, much to his relief. His and Y/N’s relationship was still relatively new but it was evident that he cared deeply for both her and Noah and they were slowly finding their rhythm together as both a couple and - dare I say it - a little family.

As Y/N watched Noah play, she couldn’t help but think how happy she was with Lando and how different the relationship was compared to Noah’s father - not just for her but for her son as well. There was only one other man Noah has had in his short life so far. She thought back to a time when Noah was almost three years old, when she had a brief relationship with a man named Will. The relationship had ended amicably when Will moved away for a job and Y/N had made the decision to stay in their current home for Noah’s sake, not wanting to rip him out of the familiarity of the city and his friends. She hadn’t anticipated running into Will today, especially not here, at this park.

From across the playground she spotted a familiar figure walking towards them. Her heart skipped a beat. Will was unmistakable with his casual stroll and the familiar look she hadn’t seen in years. She glanced over at Lando, noting his relaxed posture as he still just looked at Noah, not sensing what was about to happen.

Noah, who had been climbing the jungle gym, spotted Will immediately. His face lit up with recognition and excitement. “Will!” he called out, his voice filled with pure joy as he scrambled down from the equipment and ran towards the man.

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat. She got up and approached the quickly, trying to keep her composure as she watched Will kneel down, arms open wide. There was a warmth and familiarity between them and Noah’s enthusiastic response only made the moment more poignant.

“Hey there, bud,” Will greeted, lifting Noah into his arms. The affection was evident and Noah wrapped his small arms around Will, looking utterly delighted.

Lando, who had been watching the interaction from a distance, suddenly stiffened. His eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the scene. He had never felt such a sharp pang of jealousy before but seeing Noah so happily embraced by another man - someone who wasn’t him! - triggered a feeling he hadn’t anticipated. 

Y/N’s heart was racing as she tried to keep the situation under control. “Hi,” she said, trying to sound casual despite the nerves in her voice.

Her ex-boyfriend looked up, surprise flashing across his face. “Oh, hey Y/N. Didn’t expect to run into you two here. Just visiting some old friends.”

“Hi, I’m Lando. Nice to meet you,” Lando approached, his smile strained but polite as he not so subtly pushed himself into the conversation. 

The two men shook hands and Lando’s grip was firm, almost possessive. He forced himself to maintain a friendly demeanor but his eyes betrayed his emotions. Yeah, nice to meet you, who are you anyway?!

Her ex-boyfriend, seemingly oblivious to the tension, continued chatting. “No need for introductions,” he said with a casual wave. “I know how it is. Just came by to see how everyone’s doing.”

Just came by, huh? Lando thought. Must be nice to stroll in and out of people’s lives like a guest star on a show.

Will and Noah continued to chat and Lando’s gaze remained fixed on them. He could barely concentrate on the small talk happening around him. Every laugh and affectionate gesture between Will and Noah felt like a jab to his heart. Seriously, Lando, get it together. It’s just a guy from the past, not some long-lost relative coming to claim his spot.

The conversation continued but Lando’s focus was solely on Noah. The sight of the boy so content and animated with Will was a reminder of what he feared most: being an outsider in Noah’s life. 

When Will finally said his goodbyes, Lando’s jaw was set tight. He looked at Y/N, trying to steady his emotions. “Didn’t think it would be so... hard,” he admitted, his voice betraying the struggle he felt inside.

Y/N placed a comforting hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know this would happen today. I should have warned you.”

Lando’s eyes were troubled as he met her gaze. It’s not just about being warned. It’s seeing Noah so happy with someone from his past, it makes me question where I fit into all of this. Am I just the ‘new guy’ in his life? 

“You’re a huge part of his life, Lando,” Y/N  said after clearly seeing the struggle in Lando’s eyes. “He loves you and he’s happy with you. I know it’s tough but you’re his family now.”

Lando’s expression softened slightly but the jealousy lingered. He glanced back at Noah, who had returned to playing as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. Alright, focus. He’s smiling. He’s happy. That’s what matters. 

Y/N took a deep breath, her gaze steady and supportive. “You stand in a very important place, Lando. Noah adores you. It’s okay to feel what you’re feeling. We’re all navigating this together.”

“I know,” Lando nodded, trying to push away the lingering feelings of jealousy, “I just need to come to terms with it.”

They both watched as Noah continued to play, his laughter mingling with the sounds of the park. The encounter had stirred up emotions Lando hadn’t expected but it also reminded him of the importance of his role in Noah’s life. Y/N squeezed Lando’s hand and softly guided him back to the playground. Lando’s gaze softened when he looked at her and then to Noah. Despite the unexpected surge of jealousy he was determined to be the best partner and father figure he could be.

________

AN: Anon, I hope you like it and if not let me know and I can rewrite 😊🫶

Taglist: @eloriis @pacifierbby @landossainz @littlegrapejuice @barcelonaloverf1life @poppyflower-22 @itsjustfranzi @vickykazuya @sltwins

[t4tails]

and for the haters

[ordinaryschmuck]

Full Family AU Part 25

It was recess time for Luz's grade, all her classmates running around on the playground equipment, screaming off the top of their lungs, pretending to eat wood chips, and being too much for the supervising teachers to keep up with. Luz, in particular was walking around, holding a notepad and a crayon she borrowed from inside. She then walked over to three boys on the jungle gym, literally hanging around.

"Hello!" Luz chirped, hiding her nerves. "I'm pretending to be a news reporter. Want to answer some questions?"

The boys all either nodded or mumbled a, "Yes." Luz smiled as she flipped open her pad to a page. At the top were the words "Having a sibling," with a line going down the middle, one side labeled as "Good" and another labeled as "Bad."

"First question," she said. "Do any of you have siblings?"

Two of the boys raised their hands.

"I don't," the third said. "But I can do this."

He then proceeded press his hands against his cheeks and blow a raspberry. It got his friends to laugh, but Luz wasn't in a laughing mood.

"For you two, would you say it's good or bad to have a sibling?"

"Bad," both said, making Luz look up from her notepad in shock.

"Really? You both think that?"

"Yeah," one said. "My little brother gets more toys than me on Christmas. I barely got everything on my list last year while he got literally everything."

"And I have an older brother," the other boy claimed. "He's always so mean to me. Sitting on top of me, farting in my face, calling me a 'Buttwipe.' I don't even know why, he just does it."

"That's...interesting to know," Luz told them. "Thank you for your time."

She walked away from them, adding two notches to the bad side of her paper.

'So, it's not good to have a young or older sibling,' Luz thought. 'Is Vee older than me? Or am I older? Does that mean I have to be mean? But I don't want to be mean...'

Luz eventually made her way over to a girl sitting in a patch of dirt, drawing circles with a stick.

"Hello," Luz said, getting her attention. "What'cha doing?"

"Drawing circles," Bobbi responded. "What are you doing?"

"Playing reporter. Can I ask you what having a sibling's like?"

"Oh."

"But my cousins do," the girl spoke up, more attentive. "They're twins."

"Oh!" Luz held up her notepad in anticipation. "They have to get along, right?"

"Not really," the girl said with a shrug, causing Luz to frown. "They fight a lot. Every time I see them, in fact."

"Oh...good to know..." Luz trudged off, adding two extra notches in the "Bad" side.

'There has to be someone who has good siblings...'

So, she set out to talk to everyone in her playground, hoping to find at least one notch in the good side of her paper.

Only to be met with a similar pattern of answers.

"My sister got an ice cream for getting hurt, but I couldn't get any! Even though I cried a lot for one!"

"My brother won't stop screaming when Mommy tries to feed him. How is it so hard to eat?"

"I can't even play with my brother without Mom saying I'm being too rough. Kevin was rough with me, why can't I be rough with Dylan?"

"She won't stop crying!"

"I wish I was an only child..."

Kid after kid after kid had the same thing about how awful it is having a sibling. Each answer was worse than the other, with Luz sitting up against the monkey bars, staring at the several notches she made on the bad side. The only ones that were on the good side were just notches that carried over from the bad because Luz ran out of room. Tears started to fill in Luz's eyes as worry began to grow in her heart.

'If having a sibling is this bad...what are me and Vee going to be like...?'

[certified-door-posts]

You're a (door) Knob.

(this is not hatemail)

why thank you. when I was a child on the playground my friend and I would sometimes roleplay being doors to jungle gym equipment.

[everydayfrimmel]

December 7th: “Playground”

1,000 words, modern AU, fluff

Frieren is babysitting.

This is not the kind of thing that logically ought to happen. Frieren is not the kind of person who logically ought to be trusted with anybody’s children. But Heiter is grading papers, and Eisen offered Stark to socialize his ward, so now, after a meeting with her advisor, Frieren must babysit, and Himmel, who has never had anything better to do in his life, tags along.

Frieren’s version of babysitting, though, unsurprisingly consists mostly of making it as far as a park with a playground and then turning Fern and Stark loose.

Then she sits on the nearest bench and pulls out her laptop and Himmel can’t help but ask, “really?”

“I have work to do.”

“You’re not going to play with them?”

“My job is to supervise, not participate.”

Himmel gently flicks her ear, which twitches in response. “You’re missing out, you know.”

“Hardly.”

“You are.”

He gives up, though. It’s only when five minutes pass and she’s still buried in her work that Himmel realizes that she doesn’t intend to stop.

He pokes her cheek to get her attention, then gently closes the lid of her laptop, stashes it in its plain black sleeve. Then, while she looks at him as if she cannot believe this betrayal, he slips the whole thing into her backpack, zips it, and stands, offering his hand.

“Really,” he tells her. “You’re missing out.”

They find a safe place to set her backpack - by the jungle gym, where Stark and Fern are trying to climb the wrong way up the slide and where they will be able to see it from any vantage point on the playground - and then he directs her to the seesaw.

“It won’t work,” she tells him. “The weight is too imbalanced.”

But this only means he can send Frieren close to flying each time his side of the seesaw comes down, and her indignant protests soon turn to dogged efforts to do the same that more often than not only result in her slamming into the ground hard enough to jam and ankle. Still, Himmel does not make it nearly as high up, and this disappoints her.

She is not particularly gifted on the monkey bars, either. Spending recess reading a book in the corner of the yard every day of elementary school probably did it. But Himmel, who has yet to find an athletic activity he doesn’t take to famously, finds them delightful. Frieren watches him walk himself across, back and forth, probably five or six times before she decides she’s had enough and goes to fetch her backpack.

Stupid fun-loving boyfriend, distracting her from her work. Some people don’t have the time or the inclination to-

“One more,” Himmel calls after her as she goes for her backpack. “Just one, I promise!”

-play.

As if they are children, not babysitters and phD candidates old enough to have some of their own. As if there is nothing better in all the world to do on an open afternoon than mess about with playground equipment.

Frieren narrows her eyes. “Which?”

And it’s only because he gestures to the carousel that she agrees.

She remembers being little, reading her book peacefully in the grass at a park much like this one until Flamme forced her to stand up and find something to do for fear she’d “never get socialized.” She had chosen, naturally, to sit down cross-legged in the middle of the carousel with her book and wait for the other children to start spinning it. This plan worked so marvelously that Flamme gave up on the idea that taking her reclusive adopted daughter to the park would make her any more social and signed her up for swim lessons instead.

Those self-same swimming lessons where she had met the little boy with fat cheeks and blue eyes and boundless energy who had been just too late to catch her carousel phase but was nevertheless waving her over now.

She doesn’t sit in the middle this time, though. She has no book to read, and anyway, she’s too old now for that not to make her sick. So she braces herself against the metal bars and prepares, because if anybody is going to get the carousel going fast enough to make you vomit, it’s Himmel.

And he does. But the wind catches Frieren’s pigtails, and he takes a flying leap onto the platform with a whoop of joy that would not befit a man of his age unless it were Himmel, and-

She leans back, feet planted wide, pulled from the center by the force of the turning table, and tips her head back, and she thinks - how nice this is, this playing. Even if it is a waste of time.

“Everyone needs a little carousel in their life!” Himmel crows over the scratchy din of the turning carousel. “Don’tcha think?”

But Frieren doesn’t answer, barely hears him. They are turning, turning, slowing, and when they finally start to slow enough that she can make out the real shapes of things around her, she finds herself hopping down from the table and gripping the bar and then breaking into a dizzy, stumbling run.

She does not want it to end. She doesn’t understand why, but she cannot stand the thought that the table will stop spinning and everything will come to an end.

And after, when they are lying face-up in the center, inside hands joined, outside hands resting on their aching stomachs, Himmel laughs and turns to kiss her cheek and says, “I told you, darling.”

She swats his hand away, but after a moment she thinks better of it and rolls over to lay her cheek against his chest.

This is a known quantity, a dance to which they both know the steps. He drapes his arm around her shoulder and kisses her head. She squirms closer.

And the work and the backpack and the children? They are long forgotten.

[skrubu]

Abandoned Playground Dreams 17 by Pekka Nikrus Via Flickr: In album Playgrounds & Schoolyards>

[after-witch]

Jungle Gym [Kidnapped Reader + True Knot]

Title: Jungle Gym [Kidnapped Reader + True Knot]

Synopsis: You were supposed to get tortured tonight. Instead, you hid. Companion piece to Pasteurized.

Word count: 1171

notes: kidnapped reader, descriptions of past torture, reader is afab; combination of movie and book canon

At 9 PM, an hour when the sun had set and the sky was deep blue-black and all dotted with stars, you were supposed to head down to the clearing and sit nice and pretty and wait for Rose the Hat to strike the first blow.

Literally, the first blow. This was not some metaphorical musing or purple prose. She usually started your torture sessions (they were, of course, the True Knot’s feeding sessions) with a solid kick to the ribs or the side, to knock you down, and get you in a nice prone position for whatever was coming next.

The sharp pain, she said, was a bit like dropping a steak onto a sizzling hot pain. It gave your flavor a nice crust. 

You had done this dutifully for some years now. When you were a child, they dragged you there or Crow Daddy took your hand and led you there without giving you room to struggle; you had no choice. As you got older, it became something of a chore marked on a calendar. 

Friday: Make bed, wash dishes, head down to the bonfire to get tortured for hours.

It was something you did because you were supposed to, because the alternative was worse. Because some sick part of you wanted them to like you, and not making them work hard for their food seemed to do just that.

Tonight, though, you didn’t brace yourself and walk down to the clearing. You snuck out of the little camper where you lived with Silent Sarey and crawled, silent as you please, to the creaky old playground set up away from camp. A public playground where anyone staying at the campground could go.

It was a stupid move, in all respects. They would find you. They would hurt you more for giving them trouble. Especially when they treated you so well; that was always the line when you were younger. You should be grateful that they didn’t chain you up like a dog in the dark.

And you were grateful, most of the time. Really. Truly. You were grateful every time you got a birthday cake or Rose the Hat had a civil conversation instead of sneering at you like a smart-mouthed roast dinner. You were grateful for your bed and your notebooks and your magazines. 

You were grateful for Crow Daddy--your daddy--who made sure you got schooling and took you to the movies and always treated you with care, so long as you acted right.

But there was only so much pain you could take. And tonight, you could take no more.

Not that it mattered what you could take.

It’s Crow Daddy who finds you. And you know that it was probably on purpose, because he’s the only one whose presence wouldn’t immediately make you want to bolt. To convince you to come willingly, so there wouldn’t be a scene. If they were fine with you screaming and kicking, they might have sent Barry to drag you by your armpits or heaven forbid, Rose, all simmering anger to draw you out with threats.

But instead it’s Crow Daddy who kneels in front of the jungle gym. It was the only piece of equipment big enough for you to fit under. Woodchips dig into your thighs, and you shift uncomfortably on the ground. 

“Hey, there,” he says. Casual as you please. Like you weren’t tucked under a piece of playground equipment at night, hiding from your tormentors. 

You bite down hard on the inside of your cheek and keep your eyes staring down at your lap. If you don’t talk, you can stay here longer. Delay the inevitable. 

He sighs, a slow, soft sound in the night. Crickets sing behind his breath. 

“Well. Didn’t think you hated me so much, honey.”

Something lurches in your chest, and you look up. The moonlight plays on Crow Daddy’s face. He looks serious and sad and Christ, worst of all, disappointed in you. 

“What? No, I don’t hate you, I-”

Crow Daddy shakes his head, cutting you off. “You want me to starve, is that it? Me and Miss Rose? And Grandpa Flick, too? You saw he’s been using a cane lately. But I guess you want him to go on hurtin’.” 

Tears prick at your eyes. Grandpa Flick had been walking stiffly the past few weeks. Rose had been helping him up and down. He didn’t have the skip in his step that he got right after, well--right after he fed on your tortured, nourishing steam. 

Was it wrong, to feel bad for him? He was one of the people who kidnapped you, but he wasn’t so bad when he was in a good mood. He got you presents and patted your head and told you old, old, old stories.

And Crow Daddy, of course, of course you didn’t want him to hurt.

“I don’t want you to starve, daddy. Or Miss Rose or anyone. I would never…”  You would never what, you think? Never run away? It wasn’t a possibility. Never deny them food? You didn’t have a choice. 

He gestures for you to come closer, and you obey. The wood chips dig into your knees as you crawl out from underneath the jungle gym and sit in front of Crow Daddy, who gives you a once over.

“Then why are you hiding when you know it’s supper, hm?”

There are a million things you could say. 

All you do is whimper stupidly. The ghosts of pains past ripple through your memory. The knives, the beatings. The crowbars. The hornets. 

“It’ll hurt.”

Crow Daddy puts one firm hand on your shoulder.

“I know, sweetheart. It’s gotta hurt, though. Don’t you want us to stay nice and strong?”

You nod. There’s only one answer he wants. He’s kind enough to take your hand and lead you right to it. 

“Yes, daddy.”

His serious frown breaks into a smile, and you smile, too. Not because you’re happy but because when he smiles it means he’s not disappointed in you and in this big fucked up world, that’s all you have. 

He chucks your chin with his fingers.

“That’s my girl.” 

He stands, and extends his hand, and you take it. He grips it tight as he leads you away from the playground and towards the flickering light of the bonfire in the distance. You try not to fight against what’s coming, which will surely be worse than whatever they had planned originally. Instead you just accept it. Accept that you’re going to walk straight into a den of creatures that are going to hurt you until your throat is bleeding raw from the screams.

You wonder: will your bittersweet acceptance tonight add a new flavor to the taste of your steam? 

And did it matter? What truly mattered was the pain. It was the pain that purified your steam and made it filling and nourishing, like ultra-concentrated vitamins that they inhaled in the darkness of the night.

After all--

It’s gotta hurt.

[playgroundinchina]

Unleashing Imagination: The World of Custom Indoor Playgrounds and Jungle Gym Equipment

Custom Indoor Playgrounds and Indoor Jungle Gym Equipment are instrumental in creating immersive and engaging play environments that foster creativity, physical development, and social interaction for children of all ages.

[chartreuxcatz]

Friends! We're at the park.

It's a pleasantly warm day. I take a deep breath, wondering if you feel the lush green in your lungs the way I do.

It's late morning. Most kids are in school, and the playground is empty. We take advantage of the lack-of-children and play. We climb and swing as high as we can. We duck and weave around equipment that was made for people much smaller than us. I trap you at the top of the seesaw. You bounce on the seat to no avail until I finally let you down.

Our pants are soiled with woodchips and dirt as we watch bugs crawl across the ground. I pick up a wood louse and let it crawl from one hand to the other.

We climb inside of the jungle gym and pretend to be prisoners. Years (minutes) go by as we reveal bits of our pasts to each other, forming a bond that only we could share. Unbreakable. We carve a plan to escape in the dirt. In hindsight, perhaps one of us should have been a guard. But we run regardless, hiding behind a tree, watching the imaginary squad cars race past.

Exausted from our grand escape, we find a bench on which to rest.

Together, we watch over the park. We give voices to the crows, narrating a fierce battle for honor, glory, and a discarded chicken nugget.

Mm. Chicken nuggets...

Hey, friend. Are you getting hungry?

[trivialbob]

My class picture, school year 1974-1975

This is the combined 3rd and 4th grade class. The K-6 school was small. All students walked to and from the small, red brick building (even in Minnesota winters, but it was only uphill coming home).

There were outdoor ice rinks behind the school. Students brought skates, sticks, and pucks to school in the winter. During recess we could play hockey. Several times a week a rink attendant flooded the ice with a fire hose. We loved watching that.

Playground equipment was firmly anchored in and surrounded by blacktop, the kind with all the rounded, colored rocks mixed in with it. No one graduated without a least one skinned knee or elbow. My glass-walled Thermos broke when I dropped my lunchbox while climbing a jungle gym before class started.

Mothers took turns doing lunch room duty, assisting the regular staff. There was even a high chair in case a mom brought along a toddler for the fun. Les the janitor didn't like us wasting milk. When lunch ended if we tried to pour any into the big galvanized tub he kindly suggested in his deep voice that we sit back down and finish the moo juice. I think he just didn't want to lift a heavy, full tub.

Someone posted this picture on Facebook and included all the names. I was surprised I could name a third of these kids before I saw all the names. Two are now deceased. None are terribly famous. I've only had contact with one of them in the last 20 years, and that was via Facebook.

None of the faces are blurred because I am certain everyone back then signed a waiver allowing the free use of this image on the Internet.