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Ford's Cellar Door
by PamFord Davis Children frequently meet in structured playgrounds, conveniently located at schools, local parks and housing developments. I have seen large elaborate play areas and some housing only a swing set and adventurous long slides. Apprehensive, small children climb up the stairs, peering down a shimmering slide. 'It's a long way down, I could fall.' Less fearful children have vivid imaginations and frolic from play activity-to-play activity. I grew up in the small rural neighborhood of Mycenae, NY. Parental restrictions were few: *Look before crossing the road. [Twice if it was Route 5] *Stay out of the crick. *Watch for poison ivy! We owned a simple swing set. Our outside cellar door was the slide. It did not measure very long but it served area children well. As I remember, no one in the family opened the outside door often. We went to the cellar from the inside entrance hallway, having little reason for the outside entry. That outside door likely served as the entrance for coal delivery, used in our early heating system. Later, my parents were able to install a central gas furnace. As I look back through the years, I'd be on target thinking Dad did open the outside door during the harvest time of summers. A man of great strength, he lifted crates of freshly dug potatoes through the opened cellar door and lumbered his way down the descending stairs. I don't recall any of the mentioned practical uses, only our affording the door for play. As neighborhood girlfriends matured, we adapted the door into our sunbathing back yard spot. We simply tossed a quilt or blanket onto the door and made ourselves comfortable. I moved out of state over forty-seven years ago. Yet, I do still drive through Mycenae during visits with family and friends. My parents sold the Ford family home in the early 1970's. Spring is nearly here; snows of Central NY State will be melting; I wonder if a new generation of neighborhood children will slide down the cellar door this summer... "My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places (Isaiah 32:18 NKJ)." Published articles in Mature Living Magazine, Devotions for the Deaf, The Secret Place, Coosa Journal, Mary Hollingsworth's The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter, Jo Krueger's Every Day in God's Word. http://www.pamforddavis.com http://www.faithwriters.com/member-profile.php? Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |