In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Life’s a Candy Store.” You are a 6 year old again How would you plan a perfect day?

Version 2My dad and I at the Deer Huts when I was about 3.

Black Hills Reverie

My dad is coming with us–he doesn’t have to work.
Corn muffins in the oven, and coffee on the perk.
It’s orange juice for sis and me.  I take a little sip.
We woke up really early to start out on a trip.
We’re going to the Black Hills where we will spend the night.
We’ll start out just as soon as we have had a little bite.
We’ll stop to pick up my best friend who will go along
They’ve let me plan the whole long day, so nothing will go wrong.
En route we’ll stop at Wall Drug and have an ice cream cone,
then drive on through the Badlands, as dry as any bone.
My dad will sing a song for us–“Lonesome Mountain Bill”–
and let up on the gas petal as we crest the hill
to give our stomachs all a lurch and a little flutter.
My mom will say “Oh Ben!” and then my older sis will mutter.
But Rita and I love  this trick and we will urge another–
an action nixed first by my sis and then by my mother.

We’ll stop at Petrified Gardens and see the fossils there,
buy rose quartz and mica and other rock chips rare.
Then on to Reptile Gardens where they wrestle crocodiles,
to ride on giant turtles and view other reptiles.
We stop next at the Cosmos where gravity’s gone amuck.
We’re doing everything I wish. I can’t believe my luck!
On to old Rockerville Ghost town where we have our dinner.
If I resisted cherry pie I know I would be thinner,
but with a scoop of ice cream it really is delicious.
Just try to keep it from me–I’m likely to turn vicious!
Next we drive the pigtails, where the road just curls and curls
passing over and over and thrilling three small girls.
We’re going to see Mt. Rushmore–those giant perfect faces.
Perhaps we’ll buy a souvenir if we’re in Dad’s good graces.
Then on to drive Custer State park with the begging burros.
We’ve saved some treats from Rushmore–some peanuts and some churros.

Back to Rockerville we go for supper and a show.
The “Mellerdrammer” (sic) is the place where we’re going to go
to hiss the villain from the crowd, throw peanuts at his back
as he ties the heroine to the railroad track.
Then drive the seven miles to my favorite sleeping place,
though mother doesn’t like it, and she makes a funny face.
“The Deer Huts” are just cabins right up in the trees
and we have to use the outhouse to take our bedtime pees.
We get to walk with flashlights and pick our way with care,
through the ponderosas, where perchance we’ll meet a bear!
I love the moonlit shadows and the night bird calls,
being extra careful to avoid stumbles and falls.
Sometimes we fake the need to pee to take another walk,
and on the way my friend and I walk slowly as we talk
of all the things my parents have let us do today.
We both agree that this has been a perfect sort of day.

 daily life color076 (4)My sister Patti and I in the Black Hills, age 7 and 11.

 In South Dakota, lunch was dinner and dinner was supper.  For the sake of authenticity, I’ve maintained the custom in this description of a child’s perfect day.

17 thoughts on “Black Hills Reverie”

    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      I don’t think we ever did all those things in one day, but we did do them all. I loved all those tourist traps and Reptile Gardens was not a trap..It was really cool. Had a big screened dome full of birds and harmless snakes and other reptiles–that you could walk through. Snake milkers and alligator wrestlers and the huge turtles big enough so a kid could ride them. Can’t remember if we rode them, though.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Hi Lauren. I’ve always wanted to write songs but I am not creative in thinking up new melodies. I need a collaborator! Ha. I did have one rhymed children’s book set to music but never did more with it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
      1. Lauren's avatarLauren

        that sounds great I would love to illustrate children books, but i have only gone so far as to make coloring books, coming up with words is hard, especially songs.

        Like

        Reply ↓
        1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

          Show us some of your coloring books? I almost made my first children’s book into a coloring book, but when I saw the cover, the illustrator was so wonderful in his color sense that I had him do all of the illustrations in color! Again, would love to see some of your illustrations…Judy

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply ↓

Leave a comment