Hosted by Long and Short Reviews.
Click here to read everyone else’s replies to this week’s question and here to see the full list of topics for the year.
I’d forgotten this, but it turns out that WWBC had this same prompt last year! I talked about eating apples that were still attached to the apple tree in our front yard then, so I’ll talk about our tire swing this time.
Baby Lydia in a tire swing.
If you’re unfamiliar with this sort of toy, know that they’re made from old tires that are no longer fit for traditional things like driving. My thrifty, environmentally-conscious uncle made the one you’ll see in these photographs!
A tire swing meant for young children is cut open lengthwise to create a safe pouch for little ones to sit in.
If you’re small enough to fit into it, you may still need a grownup or older child to push you.
I have such happy memories of gently being pushed back and forth as I sat in it. The specific adults in question are hazy but always warm and attentive. Sometimes my parents no doubt did it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if other relatives took turns as well.
I was the first grandchild on one side of the family, so there were lots of older kids and grownups around who relished playing with a little one again.
Swinging by myself like a big kid.
Those early experiences gave me a lifelong love of swings. There’s nothing like the sensation of riding in one. It almost feels like you’re flying if you go fast and high enough!
This memory probably formed when I was a tad older than the age I was when I took tiny bites out of apples that I couldn’t quite manage to pull off of the tree.
My family moved away from that house when I was about four, so this was a very early memory no matter which one technically formed first.
I’ll end this post with one final tire swing photo so that you will all know there was a time when my first brother and I were small enough to fit into a tire swing together. (Someday I’ll gush about my other sibling and other relatives in their own special posts, too. Everyone is equally loved in our family. 🙂 )
Tire swing cuddles
This sibling of mine is about six feel tall now and has his own kids to chase around! It’s a joy to see him make his wife and kids laugh. He can find the humour in anything.
He also gives the biggest, nicest bearhugs you can possibly imagine.
Looking at this photo makes me yearn for the day when I can hug him and everyone else in the family again. Someday the U.S. and Canadian borders will reopen and that will happen.
I’ll leave it up to him to reveal his identity or remain anonymous depending on what he prefers.
But look at those little munchkins. What a sweet moment in time.
This is so awesome! And incidentally, the apple tree you mention is the same tree that the tire swing is hanging from. Both early memories happened right there …
Aww, I had no idea. That’s wonderful.
Such cute pictures. When my kids were little there was a big cottonwood tree in front of the house. We bought a plastic tire and rope. It wasn’t big enough for them to get inside it, but they loved jumping on it and swinging around on it. https://pmprescott.blogspot.com/2020/10/wc-102120.html
Thank you. It sounds like your kids really loved that.
We had a tire swing at my grandparents house and one at ours, but ours was just a tire tied to a rope. You sat in the hole of the tire and held on for dear life. It was so much fun and the tree that had the swing at my grandparents was struck by lightning, so it’s gone. Thanks for reminding me of that time. I’m glad you liked yours, too. They were fun!
You’re welcome. I’m glad you had a tire swing, too. They’re so much fun.
And, wow, what a dramatic way to lose it! I hope no one was hurt
Aww, so sweet. We didn’t have a tire swing, but had a metal swingset that lifted off the ground when we went too high, it had a teetor-totter as well. The best thing about this post is the memories and sweet feelings it evokes in you and the reader.
Thank you very much. Your swingset sounds amazing.
Look at your curly hair and your brothers chubby arms. You still have those curls but he outgrew his baby chunky physique quite quickly. Great memories!
Thank you, dad. 🙂
I love swings, Lydia! My 60+ age transforms to a 10 year old whenever I see any swing! A few years ago, my mom gave me a bench swing for my birthday. During the “shelter at home” order in my state earlier this year, I spent every day outback on my swing. It help a lot, lol! Great post!
That’s wonderful. I’m glad you had that quiet spot out in nature.
Swings are my favorite for all the reasons that you listed. Closest thing to flying without wings. LOL What wonderful memories and pictures. I love looking at pictures. Thanks for sharing! Here’s mine. https://www.tenastetler.com/my-earliest-memory-lsrs-wednesday-weekly-blogging-challenge/
You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed my post. I’ll come read yours now.
Great memory. Now that you mention it (amusingly, I’d forgotten) I did write on the same memory for this same prompt from last year! So if you want to see how memories are malleable, here are both posts together.
Oh, funny! Yeah, I thought it sounded familiar.
I always wanted a tyre swing, but we had a slide instead. Wonderful memories.
Thank you. Slides are a great deal of fun, too!