Sharing Memories

Penny arcades stand out in my memories of childhood as one of the greatest times in my life.
I remember hearing the buzzers and bells well out onto the sidewalk, with all the action and excitement that seemed to go on inside spilling out also. Upon entering the doorway the excitement grew, with anticipation building, the lights flashing, the noise so loud you could hardly talk above it. This made being a child with every experience being new and fresh so wonderful, the arcade was a place far above any other. Most penny arcades had become a nickel when I was a child, quickly going to a dime but what wonderful and exciting places.

 I remember going to the Laundromat with my mother and two sisters every week to do laundry. We would be there for what seemed like an eternity with nothing for a rambunctious child to do. Then I would get one single dime from my mother to play the pinball machine in the corner. Oh, how I loved playing that machine. The excitement of the wild ball, the lights, the action - I was in heaven!  I would only get one dime for the entire time we had to spend there, so you know I had to get good. I had to win the free games in order to keep playing. One of last memories of that Laundromat was my father picking us up and I still had ten free games on the machine, I didn’t want to leave.

 I believe that children today would be so much closer to there parents and siblings if they would play games together and interact together. Creating these great memories for you, as well as them, is something that can’t be replaced. Time is precious and before you know it your children will be small adults. Once this transformation happens you are either close to them or you may not ever be. 

Take your children to an arcade or game room, shoot a game of pool and play a pinball game or two with them. This sharing of memories will be something you cherish forever. A nice family walk in the evenings, playing a board game together are things worth turning the computer and television off for.

 As for my childhood memories in the arcades or local Laundromats, what I remember most is my father taking me, knowing how much I enjoyed playing and spending the time together - and he didn’t even play.       ●