Child's Play

Let's talk about hide and seek.
When was the last time you played a game of hide and seek?
For me, it's been years, probably closer to a decade than I care to admit.
But think about the simplicity of the game. The majority runs and hides from the one "it" person. IN order to win, the "hider" must seize the oppoprtunity to make a break for it and reach home. Simple as it comes, but beyond beauty. Why? Because of it's purity.
When one plays this game, all the problems of the world melt away. Nothing matters when the last safe haven on Earth is fifty feet in front of you. Taxes? No. Work? Nope. Responsibilities? Not even close.
What happened to the days as kids when all we cared about was hide and seek, or toys, or trying to escapes Mom's wrath having induced it by not cleaning our rooms?
Some will say "growing up" is inevitable. Some will say that eventually we lose the foolishness of our childish ways.
I for one refuse to believe this. Somewhere deep down in all of us is our inner child, waiting to get out. You know it's true. When you're walking down the toy aisle Wal-Mart and you see something particularly shiny, that's when your inner child screams out for attention. And yet we walk on by, thinking we're too grown up for such toys. Instead, we go home, watch the news, lament over the fate of the world, and in essence, fade away into the gray doldrums of maturity.
People have mocked me for getting excited over trivial things. I'm sorry I still get excited over rainbows and still wonder if there's a leprechaun at the end with my promised gold. I'm sorry I still like to believe that there is magic in this world.
I'm not saying go out and fill your rooms with Beanie Babies. Don't go t.p.'ing peoples' houses (unless they really deserve it). And for good sake, don't tie a firecracker to your cat's tail! I'm just saying, when you feel the urge to be amused by something that is targeted for a younger age, don't restrain yourself. Instead, buy that toy. Play that game of hide and seek. Just remember, no peeking!

Today's song is "Kids," by MGMT.