Qiltytown

What is Quiltytown?  Quiltytown is a throwback to the old days.  It takes one back to a simpler time.  A time where families celebrated a nice day with friends.  A time where kids gathered en mass and entertained themselves, without a joystick, computer screen, or electricity of any kind.
     Although it all started with an email from X's better half, an invitation to a BBQ turned out to be a return to Mayberry.  The adults gathered around in Adirondack chair with beverages, while the kids (about 10 at first but close to 30 by the end) started playing football or swinging on a old tractor tire.  How many men does it take to cook hamburgers on a grill?  Apparently it takes one very great woman to cook burgers and dogs for all the kids, while about 5 guys take over after the hard part is through, to pretend they have been doing the heavy lifting all along.  Of course nothing brings men to one spot like a grill.
     After scarfing down meat, meat, and more meat, we ignored the vegetables and gathered in front of the TV to watch the Bruins lose game 5 in OT.  Fortunately we missed the low point of the Sox misery, blowing  9;0 lead to lose 15-9.  We started watching the Rangers playoff game but brownies and the fire pit called.  The children were running around, playing man hunt.  When X got the fire blazing the beer came out for the adults (again), while the sticks and marshmallows came out for the kids.  The near scaldings from fiery, melted mounds of sugar were kept to a minimum.
     X started the kids on charades next.  Movies were the popular choice.  The abilities ranged from excellent to "what the heck was that"?  But a great idea by X.  That was the rule.  All the kids had to do charades, in order to be allowed to play Kick the Can.  This version of Kick the Can was new to me.  The 30 kids running around, hiding and waiting to kick a can was normal.  But the adults trying to catch said kids, with a flashlight was new.  It was sort of flashlight tag with a can kicking to get out jail.
     These are the nights that really mean something.  The kids will remember nights like these when they get older.  I know it brought back great memories of my childhood for me.