THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley


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Play

Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you? – A kind of upbeat question from the daily writing prompt.

I had to think for a second about if I play in daily life. But only for a second or two and then I smiled about the little things I do that would be considered play. Like sneaking up behind my better half. Trading barbs with friends. Taking a few minutes to look at some cartoons from artist I follow or a comedian and laugh.

Sometimes I’ll play at being a plumber, electrician, carpenter, landscaper, mechanic. Sometimes successful but most of the time I come to my senses and call a professional.

Many might say I play at my hobbies all day. I play little games with myself to keep me motivated.

What says “Playtime” to me, is my grandchildren. When they come running to me and grab my hand and take off running saying “play with me” I almost lose my mind with happiness. My grandson wants to ride the tractor each time he visits. He’ll grab me as he gets out of the car and lead me right to the shed.

My granddaughter gets so excited with the sprinkler and splashpads when it’s warm. And of course, one of her favorites is playing Diner with us. She makes up signs and sets up a restaurant and announces her opening and we have a meal. Or she’ll run down the hallway yelling “draw with me” as she ducks into my son’s old room which is “the drawing room” to her.

Ah, play, yeah, I play. But I still think back to when I was very young, and we could play all day outside. That was play. Sports, building forts from woods, riding bikes, skateboards, sleds, tag, ping pong, and every board game known to man.

Those days were cut short for me. Maybe that is why I’m so happy to be part of my grandkids play and fun.

Beach Volleyball in Ocean City MD. Photo by Mike Hartley


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Just playing

Remember being young and having time to play? My generation grew up outside pretty much. Because that is where your friends are. Not on a computer screen, not on a smartphone screen, they were right in front of you. You could hear the inflection in their voices, see stress or happiness on their faces, laughter from their bellies. Looks from their eyes that gave approval or disapproval.

It’s funny, even when I see groups of friends together now half or all of them have their faces in their phones or video game controllers in their hands.

I wish I had continued to incorporate play in my schedule as I got older. As they say though its never too late to change. And now that I’m getting into the senior years I can become a big kid again.

This is a weekend I just feel like playing. Playing with my crafts, maybe moving the cars and shooting some hoops which I haven’t done in a few years in my own driveway. Seeing some friends (Face to Face) not on Facetime or Zoom but in real life. And if I’m lucky seeing some family and the little ones that make me smile so. Maybe that is why I’m so excited when I get to spend time with grandchildren. They love to play. It’s probably them that reminded me that this has been a missing element in my life.

Just playing. Photo by Mike Hartley

Playing with guys I grew up with is few and far between. We used to play ball together for decades. There are a precious few days we get together for a day and play. Usually at one of my best friends home on the shore. A day of being young at heart again. A day when 5-6 of us might gather, ride bikes, kayaks, hit the beach, swim and cook and then eat like kings and sit around a fire pit till people start falling out of chairs or are unable to move from a chair.

Usually its hard for even my two best friends and I to get together for a few hours a week to unwind. We are all busy with professional lives, have children and grandchildren and of course better halves to take care of. But we do a damn good job of making it a priority each week, to the benefit of all of us.

So here is to adding more play to my agenda in the future. I’m quickly filling up my schedule so when work stops I won’t be bored.


Random Thoughts of the Day

  • There is a lot of pollen still falling. Which means I need to wash my car tomorrow.
  • This home and property is really getting some needed attention and I really like how it’s coming together.
  • There are a lot of assumptions out there. The less I hear of them the happier I am.
  • I could do without that chill in the air tonight.