Dateline Dayton — During the summer months of my youth, it was not uncommon to find my buddies and me in our backyard, building something. In our yard, we already had what today would be called storage building. A clubhouse by day, we used it at night to store our bicycles and scooters.
We constantly made modifications to the structure, additions to the back or the side. I spent hundreds of hours in the building. It remained in our yard until a year before Dad decided to build a garage, long after all four of us were on our own. Mom was always on a termite kick. She was convinced that the “shed” (my family’s term for the building) had termites. Soon, she had it torn down. End of an era!
Since we didn’t have a suitable tree in our yard for a tree house, we built one at my buddy’s home, up the street. Although it didn’t look anything like the tree house in the peanut butter commercial, currently airing on television, it was great. The tree house didn’t last long however. My buddy’s grandfather, who could not hear or talk but sure could make you understand what he meant, felt it could be hurting the tree. Therefore, we had to take it down. He was a farmer, probably an early environmentalist. In its short life, we spent many enjoyable hours in that tree house.
No Need for a Weather Forecast
Those were the days, my friend, when hour upon hour was spent outside, in the fresh air, long before we knew about the heat index, ultra violet rays or for that matter even what the temperature was. As far we were concerned, there were only two temperatures, hot and cold.
During this period, I always was looking for ways to raise money. Money was needed for supplies to improve (using the term loosely) the clubhouse as well as for candy and ice cream from one of the neighborhood grocery stores. An even better use of the money earned was a trip to the pool. We didn’t know the concept of allowance. So my most successful method of raising spending money was collecting old newspapers. Today it would be call recycling. Back then I had never heard the word. With my wagon, prior to the wheels being taken for a go-cart, or after they had been replaced, I would walk the neighborhood, stopping at every house to ask if they had any old newspapers they were willing to part with.
When Grass Was Good Business
Two of what were called junkyards or scrap yards — forerunner of today’s recycling centers — were within six blocks of our house. You would find me pulling my wagon down the street – so I wouldn’t have to deal with the curbs because the papers were always falling off the wagon. Along the way, people would stop and ask if I wanted their newspapers. Usually I had all that I could handle, so I would get them on another trip. On a good day, I would get a penny a pound, which could amount to over a dollar for the load. Big money for me back then.
Sometimes Dad would allow me to put the papers in the trunk of the car at night. The next morning, Mom or Dad would take me to the junkyard. This was helpful, not having to pull the wagon or pick up the falling papers. I used this method of making money until I went into the grasscutting business. When I started, I used a push mower, powered by me, not a gasoline motor. After a year, my customer list was growing. Dad purchased a gas powered push mower for me, and I paid him back from my earnings.
My grass cutting business grew by word of mouth. Before long, I had a number of lawns to cut on a regular basis. Occasionally, I would work in an extra lawn. When the weather cooperated, it was great. But when it rained for a couple of days, every customer would call as soon as the rain stopped. All expected me to cut their yard the next day. Ah, the pressures of being self-employed.
I didn’t know the word back then, but I was an entrepreneur. Here I thought I was just a hard working kid.
Today’s kids today should be required to earn money for the items they want. They should not be handed a cell phone, I-pod or some other device just because they want it, or because their friends have one. Opportunities do exist. However, you must look for them. A reminder to parents and child: By all means, use good judgment.
If only kids today could live in a small town environment, as if it were the 1950s again, but with today’s technology!
Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net
