J is for Jacks

Travel back in time for a moment. A small group of children are sitting in a circle, all watching one friend attempt to get the best score. No, they’re not playing some cool, addictive game on an  iPhone. A good many years ago, they may have been trying to win at…Jacks!  Remember the little game using 10 little jacks, a tiny bouncy ball, and  a hard surface?

Thinking about Jacks led me to reminisce about some of the other simple games we used to play, using very little (and inexpensive) equipment, and requiring no internet connection (!)

Remember the small bouncy red, blue, and white rubber ball, about the size of a tennis ball? We invented all sorts of games with those. Games for one or more to play. During recess, we’d run out to the cemented area at the end of the school building. We’d throw the ball against the wall and catch it, then throw it, have it bounce once or twice, turn around, clap, and catch it. Each turn would become progressively more difficult.

Then there was the bouncy ball slipped inside one of Mom’s old stockings. We’d stand against a wall, holding onto the end of the tied stocking and rhythmically swing and bounce the ball from one side of our body to the other, chanting a silly song. I keep hearing the one that started with “Hello, hello, hello, sir. Wanna cigarette, sir? No, sir. Why, sir? Because I have a cold, sir.  Where’d you get the cold, sir? From the North Pole, sir.. “ etc, etc..I’m hoping it’s not just me who remembers that little jingle!

Remember clackers? They were eventually banned because they were deemed too physically dangerous.   Apparently, they’re available again!

Reminiscing about the games we used to play makes me miss the good ol’ days of simple outdoor and indoor games. No eyestrain, no batteries, no online connections. Just plain fun. 

Mind you, I have to say Draw Something (a free app) is fabulous! ;)