Safety First

Hats for sun protection. Life preservers for water safety 

Happy first Thursday in June day school is out for summer, yeah! Things are gonna go your way all day I just know it.  My parents were always and forever safety conscious which as a kid I felt to be inconvenient, annoying even embarrassing at times.  Now I am ever so grateful.
Simple things like always wear boots and long pants to mow the yard.  I used to hate peeling off my sweat soaked jeans and boots so hot and heavy.  Until the day I was playing down the street and this barefoot boy missing three toes walked up.  One of us finally asked what happened to his toes and he said the lawn mower ran over his barefoot.  We all just starred at his foot for a few minutes-you know how kids are!

Young people today may not realize that in prehistoric times, before 1980 AE(After Elvis) safety belts were not required by law and most cars had them in the front seats only.  Getting thrown around the back was considered 'normal' and there was even a game called "Corners" where every one exaggerated the usual slipping and sliding when the car turned or stopped suddenly.  I heard stories around campfires of this game.
My parents required all car passengers to wear safety belts long before it was the law.  My Dad even purchased safety belts for the back seat of the family Rambler and installed them himself.  Possibly as a result of a bunch of kids in the back seat trying to play "Corners".

Remember having fire drills at school? I thought they were great because we got to go outside. Except for 4th grade cause I was in Mrs. Harrellson's class and we got yelled at for being the last class out. She never heard the bells-but that is another story.  One year my Dad decided to have an Avery family fire drill in the middle of winter after we had gone to bed. (while this would be totally random and unthinkable for most families I do not think us kids even questioned it)   Crawling out our bedroom windows in the dark of night was a little exciting and fun but standing in the front yard in my flannel feet pajamas and winter coat, our family lined up while Mom and Dad discussed where in the yard would be the best meeting place or should we all run to the neighbors house?  was just a little over the top embarrassing-'Please God let the Wilkeys be asleep. Please don't let any cars drive by right now. '

No longer mortified I am thankful for those memories and hope I thoroughly inconvenienced, annoyed and embarrassed my children. Have a fun in the sun summer and remember safety first! kisses