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debm55

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16. Thank you , Clouds Passing I loved the lightening bugs. too. But when it was dark, I stayed in the yard or in the alley

Reply to Clouds Passing (Reply #15)

Tue Aug 12, 2025, 10:40 AM

Aug 12

behind my house. Too scared to go out free ranging in the dark.

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Clouds Passing

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Thank you Midnight Rider for the suggestion. As a kid, were you a "free range kid" out of the house and doing whatever [View all] debm55 Aug 12 OP

Free range until age 18. no_hypocrisy Aug 12 #1

Oh wow, thank you very much for sharing, no_hypocrisy. That seems different. debm55 Aug 12 #6

semi. mom had free reighn though. AllaN01Bear Aug 12 #2

Thank you very much, Bear. debm55 Aug 12 #7

Definitely free range. Glorfindel Aug 12 #3

True, Glorfindel,, When the sun was directly overhead I knew it was noon, time for lunch and when the Steel Mill whistle debm55 Aug 12 #10

I was free range. Out after breakfast, home for lunch, gone again, then home for dinner. Polly Hennessey Aug 12 #4

Thank you very much, Polly Hennessey. That was my schedule too. debm55 Aug 12 #11

Free range, nature was my savior! Clouds Passing Aug 12 #5

Same here, Clouds! SheltieLover Aug 12 #9

Woods, crick, bike, wild berries, fruit trees, treehouse, fort, sleds, snowpeople, tree climbing, swimming..... Clouds Passing Aug 12 #13

Mine too, Clouds Passing, Mine too. Thank you. debm55 Aug 12 #12

Especially in the PA country.....millions of lightening bugs in the meadow Clouds Passing Aug 12 #15

Thank you , Clouds Passing I loved the lightening bugs. too. But when it was dark, I stayed in the yard or in the alley debm55 Aug 12 #16

Free ranger... SheltieLover Aug 12 #8

Thank you, my fellow free ranger, SheltieLover. debm55 Aug 12 #14

Free range, totally. catbyte Aug 12 #17

HAHAHHAHAHAH. Oh yes, I remember. Thank you very much catbyte. debm55 Aug 12 #20

Yes, we all were..late 60s/ early 70s. The whole family had no contact all day Demovictory9 Aug 12 #18

That's is so right. Thank you Demovictory9 debm55 Aug 12 #19

I think I had a pretty good combo .. FirstLight Aug 12 #21

Thank you very much, FirstLight. You did have a wonderful childhood. debm55 Aug 12 #27

downright feral. mopinko Aug 12 #22

Thank you very much, mopinko. I can remember neighbors watching out for other kids that got hurt or one was bullying the debm55 Aug 12 #28

btw, my kids were pretty free range, too. mopinko Aug 12 #42

Thank you, mopinko. I'm afraid that my son was not free range. debm55 Aug 12 #45

well, i have a son who def wasnt. mopinko Aug 12 #53

Thank you mopinko, debm55 Aug 12 #54

Free range. MIButterfly Aug 12 #23

You are so right, I was never asked "what did you do today" I was nothing really dangerous and it was skates, bikes, debm55 Aug 12 #29

Free Range and happy in Philadelphia Oppaloopa Aug 12 #24

Thank you very much, Oppaloopa, I bet that was fun. debm55 Aug 12 #30

Free range with some MuseRider Aug 12 #25

That sounds like a wondeerful neighborhood to grow up in. Thank you so much for sharing with us.MuseRider. debm55 Aug 12 #35

Definitely free range Cloudhopper Aug 12 #26

Thank you very much, Cloudhopper. Bikes were magic and could take you anyplace. even if it was in your own Neighborhood. debm55 Aug 12 #36

Farm Topomi Aug 12 #31

Thank you very much. You did a lot of work. I bet you really enjoyed the time of being free range. Welcome to DU debm55 Aug 12 #37

Totally free range genxlib Aug 12 #32

I did have my Keds shoes, But I understand completely what you mean. For me, it was the slag pit from the Steel Mill. debm55 Aug 12 #38

Free range nuxvomica Aug 12 #33

Thank you nuxvomica. It sounds like you had a wonderful childhood, debm55 Aug 12 #40

Free range LogDog75 Aug 12 #34

That's very interesting. Thank you LogDog75 for sharing with us. It sounds like fun. debm55 Aug 12 #39

Completely feral, but with accurate and explicit instruction on how not to die. hunter Aug 12 #41

Thank you hunter, Yes, you were beyond free range. debm55 Aug 12 #46

Sort Of ProfessorGAC Aug 12 #43

Yep , ProfessorGAC, You were free range. debm55 Aug 12 #47

Free range and latchkey, especially during the summer. mwmisses4289 Aug 12 #44

Thank you mwmisses4289 for your free range memories. debm55 Aug 12 #48

Free range within limits, depending on where we lived. When we lived in base housing, I was young enough I was pretty Dorothy V Aug 12 #49

Yes, Dorothy V, times have changed. I agree debm55 Aug 12 #50

Mostly free range... WestMichRad Aug 12 #51

hahahaha, thank you, WestMichRad debm55 Aug 12 #55

we were totally free range mike_c Aug 12 #52

I love it, You are mike_c a true free ranger. debm55 Aug 12 #56

FER CHRIS'SAKES HAVEN'T YOU KIDS GOT ANYTHING TO DO OUTSIDE?!? NBachers Aug 12 #57

Hahaha Thank you, NBachers, debm55 Aug 13 #60

I was raised in a farm. When not doing chores, I was parented with a system Ziggysmom Aug 12 #58

Thank you very much for your post, Ziggysmom. I hope you didn't get hurt with no one watching you. debm55 Aug 13 #61

'Free Range' doesn't even begin to describe my childhood. OldBaldy1701E Aug 13 #59

Thank you OldBaldy1701E. I agree the absolute feeling that one had on a bike was great as a child. I too miss it. debm55 Aug 13 #62