My Childhood Kingdom_The Old WACO Recreatoin Dept. ball fields

I spent a good portion of my early childhood growing up in a small, rented house across the street from the old Washington County public swimming pool and Recreation Departement baseball fields in Sandersville, Georgia.  The woods, pool, ball fields, and rail road tracks surrounding that area were my own little kingdom.  Thomas Kay and I roamed and ravaged that kingdom with two wild and  glorious
imaginations.  We would build forts, play war (with bb guns and heavy coats), stomp in puddles, break into the sports field power box to turn on the lights for a late night game of tackle football, and ride our bikes over every hill and stretch of dirt or grass in our Kingdom.  I met most of my childhood friends on those ball fields for long, hot summer practices and games.  It was a place of firsts.  I learned more than i care to explain at the city pool.  I spent every single day there in the summer eating corn chips and drinking grape soda.  I made friends there I would have never met any place else in my community.  I smoked my first cigarette when a much older girl I had a crush on rode by my house in her red camaro and threw out a lipstick smeared cigarette butt.  It hit the road still smoking a bit, so when she was out of site I ran out into the road, put that thing to my lips and took a puff.  That was my first cigarette. I also got my first concussion on the tennis courts, my first kiss, and my first heart break somewhere along the way during my adventures in that Kingdom and in that place.

I go back there almost every time I am home.  I park my car next to the lot where our house once stood since it burned down a number of years back.  I like being there and walking along the paths and baseball fields that were the setting of my childhood.  I can still smell the fresh cut baseball field grass spread along the road in tall, narrow piles.  I can feel that sharp, crisp, winter air that seemed to be the life blood of my youth.  when I am there or when I think of that place I will always hear the shouts of young boys and girls in all their youthful glory...

I snatched a few images of "my childhood kingdom" to share.(click on indiv. images for larger view: click back button to return)

The city pool pump house.  The pool has been filled in, but you can still see the pool edges.

These footprints remind me of my favore pair of red, brooks baseball cleats.  I wore them everywhere.

I hit my first home run on this field.  It was just me and my dad.  He pitched it just right and I will never forget that swing, and the "THWWWAAAK" sound of the ball connecting with the bat.  My dad stood silent and proud on the pitchers mound and watched me circle the bases waving to the imaginary crowd. 

The red clay surrounding these rail road tracks stained every article of clothing I had.  I wore those stains proudly.  The red clay cliffs around the rail road tracks were at least 15 to 20 ft. high on each side of the tracks when I was a kid.  Thomas and I would climb and scale those cliffs with a carefree style and grace only a young boy could possess.  Those Cliff walls held the secrets of our youth, and represent a sense of freedom that I have rarely experienced since those days.

Almost every one of my friend's parents has spent some time in these bleachers.  Gossiping, yelling, watching and conversing.  Being a part of a community.....
This place also reminds me of Joe May and the Whole May family.  Mr. Allen and Sammy May were the best damn youth baseball coaches EVER!!!!!! They coached me throughout my childhood.  One love to team GK....  and one love to JOE MAY... I miss you brotha

Here is to "THE GLORY DAYS"!!!!!
               cheers
           j.r. ward II