The Way-Way Back.

Driving into work today, I caught a glimpse of a childhood pastime that I thought was long lost to the dogma of safety and law.

Once coveted by the members of my carpool, the Way Way Back was where all the fun happened. Unsuspecting motorists would pull up behind your mother's 1984 Buick station wagon and be bombarded with a barrage of facial expressions, poorly drawn signs, and seemingly taunting giggles.

The Way Way Back was an adventure. You never knew what you were going to see, or where the hell you were going. Your life was in the hands of two people at that point. The driver of your car, and the motorist behind you, for one false move, and it was kid sandwich time.

What I never understood is why parents would put their kids in this extremely dangerous seating arrangement. Back then seatbelts were a fad, and the Way Way Back seat itself was an afterthought of safety. Most of the time that seat lay hidden in the floor of the trunk.

Today, the kids I saw....no smiling....no jeering....nothing. Just well behaved kids staring back at a bleary eyed adult trying to get to work. They don't know how good they have it. Shoulda known though...it was a Volvo.

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