Rediscover summer through eyes of child
Alison James, Columnists, COLUMNS--FEATURE SPOT, Opinion, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Alison James Published 
11:19 am Friday, July 8, 2022

Rediscover summer through eyes of child

When was the last time you had a water gun fight in the front yard?

When was the last time you chased lighting bugs through the summer darkness?

Had a dinosaur battle in the living room floor?

Raced down the slide at a neighborhood park?

For me, it all happened Saturday.

After spending most of the day with a friend’s almost-5-year-old, I was beyond exhausted – but also cheerfully content. My young friend has boundless energy and enthusiasm, and getting down on his level for a few hours was good for the soul.

Never mind that I lost every dinosaur battle and definitely came off worse in the water gun shootout.

Never mind that the park was boiling hot with little shade to speak of.

Never mind that we only caught two lightning bugs in the jar I managed to scrounge up, despite hunting them all across both our yard and the neighbors’ yard.

We had fun – wholesome, clean, pure fun – and without a screen in set. It felt pretty much like the summers of my own childhood. Maybe it sounds like your childhood, too.

If you haven’t taken the time to enjoy some simple fun, some time to rediscover the joys in a summer Saturday through the eyes of a child … may I recommend it?

Also on Franklin County Times
Wife, 65, admits she shot, killed husband
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
May 13, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – A 65-year-old woman is facing a murder charge after she admitted to shooting her husband Sunday evening inside their residence on Dunca...
3 firefighters receive Lifesaver Awards
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 13, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — More than two months after city firefighters responded to a cardiac arrest call that left Steven Bledsoe without a pulse for 27 minutes...
FBLA students earn honors at state
News, Phil Campbell, Records
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 13, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Members of the Phil Campbell High School Future Business Leaders of America chapter earned honors during the Alabama FBLA State Leader...
Obituaries
Obituaries
May 13, 2026
Ruth E. Spooner May 7, 2026   Ruth E. Spooner, 90, of Beloit, Wis., passed away on Thursday morning, May 7, at Cedar Crest, in Janesville, Wis. She wa...
The protection system you’ve never heard of
Columnists, Opinion
May 13, 2026
When you visit a doctor, you might notice the framed medical license on the wall. For most patients, that document is simply reassurance that their ph...
Retired educators hear state updates
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
May 13, 2026
Retired educators met at the Russellville First Methodist Church Ministry Center for the last meeting for the Franklin County Retired Educators Associ...
Students get life lessons with hatching classes
News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 13, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Students at Phil Campbell Elementary School and Phil Campbell High School recently got some handson lessons about animal life cycles a...
STEAM expo highlights student projects
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 13, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Middle school students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade presented the findings of their STEAM Expo projects last week. From testing w...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *