It’s hard to fathom just how many there might be this year. Last year it sounded like hundreds and I just might not have been that far off. There are small holes all over the yard and their empty shells litter the base of the trees. The South has been invaded once again, the Cicadas are here.
As they sing atop the magnolia, pine and poplar in the neighborhood and the temperature and humidity rise significantly, I can feel an afternoon thunderstorm is on its way. I’m reminded of a time in my life when I was carefree and my plans of granger did not go much further than when Mom called me in for supper. I was about 8 I’d say and it was a much simpler time, for children in particular.
My Neighborhood was nestled a few blocks from down town and the old courthouse, build circa 1890, filled with towering magnolias laced with azaleas and brick streets, a block of it still exists today. But today all but that brick street has vanished and parking garages and lots now stand in its place. Back in the 70’s it was a magnificent Southern neighborhood bustling with kids on bikes, lawn mowers whirring, an occasional barking dog and the comings and goings of court house.
I could see the old courthouse steps from my back yard, towering oaks scattered the grounds around it. In the dirt area of the parking lot between my house and it I used to climb up into their huge branches and jump my bike over the protruding roots practicing for my future as I desperately wanted to follow in Evil Knievel’s tire tracks.
Most often I remember after a busy morning of bike riding and upon hearing the noon whistle, my friends and I would retreat to our kitchens and emerge with what ever gourmet lunch and 8 year old (or our moms) could whip up. My preference in those days was white bread with bologna and catsup and a some cheese balls. Oh, and of course an aluminum tumbler full of koolaid, preferable cherry. Our pallets were extremely cultured obviously.
We’d sit under the leaning jacaranda tree in my from yard savoring our lunches while boasting of awesome jumps and epic tricks we did earlier. Planning our adventures for the second half of our busy summer day hoping the ice cream truck would bless us with its presence later.
When we wanted a soda, slurpee or some “penny candy” we’d go grab my aunt and my wagon and head for the convenience store, that was 7 blocks away. By the time we got there we usually had enough pop bottles to cash in to get them. Yes, I was usually barefoot and yes the bottoms of my little feet were practically pitch black on a daily basis in the summer time.
Even then as I walked through the neighborhood treasure hunting for pop bottles in the hot sun I could hear them singing in the trees as the sweet smell of magnolia and honey suckle wafted on the warn summer breeze, buzzing and zipping from tree to tree.
We didn’t sit in front of a video game, computer or TV, there were no cell phones or social media distractions. We rode our bikes, climbed trees and explored as far as our little world would allow us while dreaming of bigger and better things. All the while knowing that the louder the cicadas sang the shorter our summer was getting. You knew when Mom took you clothes shopping It would soon be back to school and how terrible that thought was back then, like the Sunday Scaries now.
Today I would love to go back if not for just one day, as we almost all would, and ride my bike, climb that mulberry tree and race my wagon down that sidewalk to my doom just once more. I never made that turn and have the scares still to prove it.
Today my bicycle, which is the same light banana yellow as the one I owned as a child, has been hanging in the garage for a few years collecting dust and there is a convenience store a few blocks from my house and a new 7/11 store a few miles from here. But I am positive they don’t have that penny and 5 cent candy we use to fill a little paper bag with, but it does have a slurpee machine that is calling my name. What I wouldn’t do for a banana slurpee and a banana flip right now.
I may just go get my bike down, clean it up and take it for a spin today. Well, minus those cool jumps and fantastic tricks of course. Then sit in the back yard under the magnolia tree and have lunch while the cicadas serenade me once more.
