by Hellen Wyeth

Created on: October 29, 2008

I loved being a kid. Well, now that I'm an adult, I loved being a kid. As a kid, I desired to be a grown-up so I could do whatever I wanted. Now that I've made it here, I see it the other way around.

I remember getting together with some of my friends. It was summer time and school was out. Bored with nothing to do, we brainstorm. We don't want to play ball or go to the park. It's not dark enough yet to play night tag and it's too nice to be indoors. Talented as we were, we came up with a plan to build the coolest thing ever, a non-motorized go-cart.

The idea has been planted and we all run with it. Each of us takes turns shouting out what we need and where we could "borrow" it from. Everything from the tools to the building supplies was unknowingly donated. Someone found a couple old skateboards, another some wood and nails, and yes, there was even duct tape involved.

Building plans were in the making. The not so well designed blue print indicated that the skateboards were to be put together side by side. Duct tape was to hold them in place. This is the foundation of our non-motorized go-cart. This is where we will be sitting, cooler than all the other kids on the street. They will all want a turn for sure.

Next the lumber is to be formed around the skateboards, but resting on top. Don't ask me how, but we figured it out. What we didn't figure in but you'd think would be important, how to steer. We decide that it's not all that important. Its final destination for testing is down a hill, at the end of our street. We'll come up with something, maybe. More importantly, we want to get in and go test this baby out.

After a total of 20 minutes, we are completely done and ready for a test drive. Regardless that you cannot steer it and you cannot see out of it, all the neighbor kids want first dibs for the test run.

Now let me describe to you the hill on the street that our coolest ever, non-motorized go-cart is going to be pushed down for the test run. The hill is the closest, steepest hill to accommodate our needs. However, the cross street is a moderately busy street. On the other side of the busy street, if we make it through with out getting hit, is quite simply a ditch to stop our flight. We all knew this and didn't even question it. Man, I miss having no fear.

Our non-motorized go-cart without widows or steering is now in position. Two of us get in. Behind the go-cart is a small group of kids to give it their biggest push. Another two of us is already down the steep hill, across the busy street and next to the ditch. Their job is to watch for cars coming. When it's all clear, they give the signal. We are off!

I will not hold you in suspense. A car did come, but a little too late to hit us. We cleared the space by a hair and the ditch caught us with open arms and blackberry bushes. The thorns were a blast to crawl out of by the way. Our non-motorized go-cart was demolished and we all spent the next two days grounded.

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