So...NOW What?! Playground Prognostications, Revering Recess! 

Protecting Prized Possessions

Revel-nation: Reveling...what better place and time, especially after a big win? It's all well and good, to take time out, go out and hoot and holler, after all you accomplished, to make it this far..."We R the Champions...🎜!! You've already been conditioned after being told "Congrats, you made it out of preschool...graduation!" Another star, on your forehead. But here and now, we're talking about retrieving lost freedoms and sacred ground that has been trampled on for decades, left to fend for itself and finally turned to dust, a a result of over-grazing (as in "it's literally gone to pot...growers) -- you'd think they would have learned from their own history, as in the value of crop rotation...give me a break (if the ground could only have a voice in this)...

Revelation: The great reveal, what has un-earthed, become gradually more transparent, as to how and why THEY, the several generations that preceded us, allowed not only the ground but our rights to be trampled on...it's as if history playing out again out there on our very own play-ground...eventuating in a new push (and pull) for complete independence...but only after a bit of...

Reconstructionists: The ones that follow the deconstruction...of the old, worn out, dilapidated! stuff, They left us...At best a bit rusty, while most of it has outlived its usefulness to US. Now we are coming to understand what the history teacher was talking about, regarding the U.S. Constitution, that followed a HUGE declaration...Perhaps we should slow down just a bit, before tearing it all down. Instead, we'll simply refer this whole thing to a committee of experts among U, that we'll simply call "Building and Grounds" Seems like a good place to start...

Revisionists: While we are at it, while we can't actually replace history, what was done, out here on the play-ground -- both errors of commission and those things that are also regrettable, but represent those of omission -- we can at least revise a few simple rules regarding both the practice and use:

       Recess! Rules: There are none, anymore!

       Play-ground prohibitions: Free-for-all! 

Replay: As in the foregoing, the two new rules above, stated in simple language, terms all those coming after us can understand. The first setting us free while the second brings in the most, what did They call them in Civics class...? Oh yeh, the most stakeholders. Along with one amendment to minimize post recess! squabbles: "share and share a-like" (well you don't have to like it, but...) Ok, almost ready to door dash...to dash out the door, the moment we've all been waiting for...

Reservations: What might cause us pause when we are about to bust down the doors, sail away from the shores, to where the grass is rumored to be greener..."Before you declare your complete independence just remember to pack all you'll need, a there might not be allowance(s) there, the kind of provisions we've made for you all these years...once you shut the door it might not be quite as easy to budge, back open...and you might not even recognize your room if/when you return..."Be careful what you wish for..."

Reality..."Check!" As in when we watched what occurred, the grimace, furrowed brow, upon our parent receiving the check for all we consumed...along with the suggested gratuity...Which, as it turns out, in our case, as we resume recess! after taking back the fort (the one we made a long time back, before the playground was declared "off limits!" unless you are all grown, as in what's now referred to as a "grower" of canna-bliss) reclaimed what is "rightfully ours!" Which, as it turns out, as They vacated the property, leaving us with a whole new appreciation for the term "lien on me" -- as in unpaid property taxes going all the way back to what we on the playground experienced as the "sticks and stones..." A big as "King of the Hill" A huge pile of...which apparently resulted from several generations playing "kick the can" which we now experience a kick in the..."asinine, cockamamie idea..?!" as in who's responsible for this muddy mess we are now mired in, and whose sloppy signature appears on the bottom line of this dastardly deed for this property and mountain of debt (at least we have something left to climb)???!!! Great, within minutes of acquiring this prized piece of land and new-found old freedoms, we're already finger pointing...Maybe They were right in trying to teach us that history has a way of repeating itself...

Reappraisal: As in "perhaps today is not the day...perhaps this is not the right time or place, to start a revolution...maybe wait a day or two, until we obtain an appraisal of this property...and do some more diligence due, dude..." which eventuated in further though and reflection on whether we might instead deed this land to a public trust (isn't that what They did with the national parks?) -- we could put up a ticket booth, collect a small fare and assess the rest to the already HUGE tax base...no one will be the wiser. So, just maybe we can leave the swings, slides, and merry-go-round in their place, for all to come out and enjoy...doesn't that sound merry, after all...😀😎?

Reaffirmation: A place we always want to end up...after the Pre-ambling, Declarations, constitutional conventions (i.e., "Student Council")...at the end of our day(s), upon reflection...what have made my daze worth-while...more or less:

       If taking a time out means keeping me in, then you can count me out

       If recess! allows me let it all out, then I'm all in

Re: Play: What this (series of posts) have been all about, why I have labored day and night, jumped through hoops, kept looping back to you -- all these exercises to get you, the now well-informed reader (especially if you have become what's known around here, blogosphere, as a "follower"), a reminder of the value of play, throughout the day, as in early and often. The importance of exercising your right to free play, to play freely...however your imagination envisions it (yes, you still have one, even at your age!). Leading you as in "Simon Says" to the inexorable two-fold (which seems to be the rhythm of today's post) that: 

       While playground equipment itself stands idly (the wind swinging the swings notwithstanding), it's just waiting for every body to put it in motion (beckoning "come, fly with me!")

        Why one of the key inventors, early researchers on this subject, W.T. Harris, concluded that Recess! should be a protected class -- the first of many occasions of Harris-meant in the school yards.

End of story? "Who says?!" As now, after so much sweat equity has been put into this, you think I'm ready to give up this fun? Not in what we like to say at recess! as a "long shot!" Like a well conceptualized play (see the other mini-series on football) -- NOW it's time to put it into play, as in a "Play" Why not, it's what's expected after a societal convention has been practiced, talked about, written about, as in documented. All of which sets the stage to display it all on stage. And what's better than "Shakespeare in the (Central) Park" than setting it music on Broadway! Hence, coming to the Big Apple and then to all places "Off Broadway" comes "Recess! the Musicale!" Casting off...as in I'm now off casting a caste of characters. Should be loads of fun...come and join me -- you know where to find me...out there...where else...?