What ever happened to being free and safe?

What memories they are! My favorite thing to do when I was in high school was to wait for my parents to fall asleep, push the car to the end of the block so they wouldn't hear it start, and go to South Beach. It wasn't the costly party place it is now; the majority of its residents werre elderly and on welfare. The huge shift in the ocean's floor here in southern Florida hadn't happened yet, so I would surf until sunrise, then sneak back home and get ready for school. Nobody else was around. There weren't even any lights in the area. I was not the least bit worried, because I knew Miami was a safe place. Eventually, I really couldn't take the abuse anymore, so I ran away. I stuck out my thumb and hitched rides until I got to New York City. Nobody ever bothered me and I never felt the least bit vulnerable. It was a while until I was old enough to get a job, so I lived on the subway, and nobody ever bothered me there, either. We desperately need that security back!

I am probably not as old as a lot of the people here on mylot, but I will say I do remember a few of those things that you had said. I remember walking up to the gas station not too far from my mom and dads house with my brother when we were younger to go get some milk or bread. I remember going outside to play in the yard while my mom was in the kitchen doing dishes. Going trick or treating with friends and family, walking around town with my younger brother and sister, doing so many things without a care in the world. Today, things seem to be very different. You can not allow your children to even cross the road anymore without you for fear that someone will try to pick them up. You can't allow a child to go out in the yard and play without an adult there with them. No offense, but there seem to be a great deal of pervs who pray on young children. I do not know why they all started coming around all at once. Back in the day, you would hear about missing children very rarely, but anymore its almost a daily event. The same thing goes about people and businesses becoming robbed. This world is nothing like it use to be and I don't believe it will get better. Either people will change or things will just keep getting worse.

I remember those things. I still watch lightening. I remember going miles and miles trick or treating with my friends and no adults. I also remember eating the candy, apples and homemade popcorn balls.