There's nothing quite like growing up in the suburbs. If you were lucky enough to live in a cul-de-sac, you knew these things to be true...
1. Your doorbell was constantly ringing.
Whether it was Saturday morning or late-afternoon on a school day, the cul-de-sac kids were constantly ringing your doorbell hollering, "Can so-and-so come out to play?" And every so often behind that closed door was your next-door neighbor asking to borrow a cup of flour or the man across the street asking to borrow the ladder from your garage - but you didn't mind because you did the same thing to them...
2. The pavement provided countless hours of kickball and bike riding all year round.
You played with the cul-de-sac kids from the second you got home from school until the second your mom called you inside for dinner. On the weekends you were told to come in before dark - and often got yelled at when your mom had to come outside and get you because you decided not to listen. Games often ended early when someone fell and scraped up their knees or elbows - and then ran home crying.
3. When you asked to go play outside, your parents didn't have to think twice before giving you the go-ahead.
The only cars that turned down your street were the ones that your neighbors drove. But don't worry... when they did, someone always made sure to yell "CARRRRR!!!" to warn the rest of the gang.
4. Your play space extended far beyond your own backyard.
No pool? No trampoline? No swing set? No problem - chances are one of your neighbors had one. You spent more time in other peoples backyards than you did your own!
5. MANHUNT.
Your parents' worst nightmare. They hated when you asked to go out at night but every once in a while you knew just how to convince them. Every yard in the cul-de-sac was fair game. And you didn't really follow the rules so it was more just like a big game of tag.
6. When you had big family gatherings, cars covered the entire perimeter of the street.
Whether it was your party or your neighbors', you loved looking out the window and seeing the street fill up with parked cars - although it did get very overwhelming.
7. Everyone knew everything about each other.
The amount of sidewalk chats were infinite. You knew everything that was going on in your neighbors' lives and they knew everything about yours. When your windows were open, your neighbors could hear you fighting with your siblings. You had to be on your best behavior in the neighborhood because someone was always watching - and chances are that someone was good friends with your parents.
