WHAT I GREW UP ON (ARTICLE)

Aite people...I'm basically taking it back with this article...As you can see the title of the article is what I grew up on...I was looking for a better picture than this but I couldn't find anything better than a bunch of black kids playing...haha...It looks like I could have been part of that group especially with those weak ass outfits...Goodness...But how about homeboy with his tongue out?! Damn...Aite, I basically have headings for everything that I want to talk about, or what I can remember...There is no order, no favorite...Just thoughts people...

Beatings
Do you remember your beatings?! Goodness...I grew up on beatings...Not like child abuse or anything like that, but definitely I was a child and needed that ass whupping...I'm talking about mamadukes calls the house in the afternoon to see what's going on...My sister picks up the phone and somehow tells on me...Telling equals snitching...and she would say "Mommy wants to talk to you." I would get on the phone thinking everything was gravy, nope...My mom would say "Watch when I get home." What?! That fucked up my whole day right there...I may have even pissed or shitted on myself right then and there...Later on, here the keys in the door...I ran to help out, thinking she would forget...Nope...Beating...I grew up on beatings...I'm proud I did...Everyone deserves a good beating...

Suicide
No not like the death suicide...But the game...Yall might call it wall ball or something like that...But basically throw the rubber ball against the wall and people would try to catch it. If they dropped it then you would have to touch the wall before someone hit you with the ball...But in my great school we had the rule that if you touched the ball and dropped it then along the way to the wall, you would get beat down. Goodness...Bunch of savages...I never tried to get in there...Only when they threw the ball up and people jumped to see who had the most ups...

Taps
Throw the basketball around, can't touch the ground...Do tricks...The person who thought of this game was great...And he or she also had a basketball with no basket trying to figure out what to do with just the basketball..And he or she created taps...I love it...

Punch Buggy
I GOT MY LICENSE!!! See a Buggy...an old one..and you were liable to get rocked...get punched...You had to scream "Punch Buggy, License." How did someone think of that? I don't know..

House Phone
Do people even have house phones even more?!! I know that when I get my own apartment I'll probably not have one...But damn...That house phone meant that at least 4 people were sharing that phone..Mother, father, sister, and me...I never really used unless I was giving out numbers to girls in middle school and elementary..Which I did...But I never talked on that joint with anyone present...Under the table, whisper...Because anyone could pick up the other line and start dialing and you'll be like "Ma, I'm on the phone." And she'll say something like "Well get off the phone, it's time to put on your jammies!" All the coolness that I was building up with the girl on the other line just disappeared after that...Shit...Also house phone meant that you had to respect other households...When I called I was on my best behavior since anyone was liable to pick up that phone...

Dr. Seuss
Dude had the best books on the planet...My favorite one was "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish."

Fruit Loops
Everyday at 7:00 PM, when I was growing up, that was my supper time...Just something to eat before I went to sleep. I love Fruit Loops...I still love them...Used to watch The Simpsons from 7 to 8 and then get on that primetime move...

Going Outside
"Mom, can I go outside?" That was my favorite question when I was growing up...Going outside was the best thing in the world..Especially for kids when it's all about that 1 PM to whenever the street lights came on...Once I was done with breakfast and showered, I would look outside and see who was coming outside...Sometimes I would go be the trendsetter and go out there by myself...Rule was never to leave the block...But I used to leave later when I was older to go play some basketball in the projects...But going outside was great...

Neighbors
My neighbors, back in the day, were allowed to whup my ass...It was just a rule..Every kid was looked out for but at the same time we had to respect everyone...Scary ass shit...

Mister Softee
That's the ice cream man right there...I mean...this dude SHUT DOWN THE BLOCK!! I don't care what the case was, but everyone knew when Mr. Softy was coming because he had that jingle!!



Oh boy..I used to hear that a block away..then run to my mom and yell to her "MOM!!!" I don't know how she was the only one to hear my name because there are so many moms but oh well.. "Can I get a dollar please?" Yup...Vanilla Cone...And even if you didn't have money, someone always came through in the clutch and got the whole block some ice cream...Love it

Freeze Tag, Man Hunt
Best games to play...simple...Run away from people...Don't get caught...Man Hunt was on some team shit but still hot...Capture the flag was cool too but people kept on babysitting by the tree where the flag was...HAHA..remember that shit after you tagged someone, "NO BABYSITTING!" Goodness...

Doggy Doggy Diamond
That's how you chose who was IT for tag...Doggy Doggy diamond, step right out. Simple...But what was fucked up sometimes was when everyone would be outside and we would lock the game. All the kids put their fingers into a circle and said "Tick tock the game is lock and no one else can play, and if they do, I'll take my shoe and knock them on the head." Damn...I felt sorry for homeboy that came after that...We really stuck by it...

The Box
TV show...music videos...call them up...numbered codes for the videos...Very simple..I never called in because I know the phone bill would be ridiculous..Just waited to see if my favorite video would get played...Hotness...

Family Shows
There are none left now...I miss them..We had the best ones..Family Matters and Full House just to name a few...

Payless
I rocked Payless sneakers for a while..for a long while..haha...I didn't know what was going on with sneakes until I saw someone get made fun of..Shit...I wasn't ready to be made fun of...Plus them joints were so comfortable...If Payless didn't make kids get beat up then it would be great..

Walkman/CD Player
I had cassettes!! I know some of yall old heads had the record player...But damn...Just saying cassettes makes me feel old as hell...Me and my sister had mad albums...Side A and Side B...Shit would get tangled in the player and then you would be pissed as shit...haha...I miss that...I also miss making my own mixtapes..literally...When something on the radio came on and it was nice then you press record...Radio DJ and all...You had to be smooth to have a good cassette...CD players are still in but not seen a lot...And the compact disc is getting old right now...30 years old...

I'm done...I have more but I want yall to mention what yall grew up on...An event, shows, games, ANYTHING!! I want to hear it...Even if you post anonomously I would appreciate it...Don't be scared...I come in peace...Thanks for reading...