Just swinging | Teen Ink

Just swinging

September 12, 2009
By 9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments

There’s something strange and magical about a swing set. As a child, I always loved to swing. Nothing on the playground ever compared to the swings. Sometimes I would close my eyes and let the cool breeze be my friend, seemingly helping me rise off the ground. And when I opened my eyes, I would see that the swing had carried me far beyond the playground, far beyond the grove of trees along the edge of the field, but I was never afraid. It was the only thing that could truly make me forget life and simultaneously make me alive.

With time, though, I outgrew elementary school and moved on. By then swinging was a mere ghost of a memory and was almost forgotten. Almost. The summer before high school, I revisited my old playground. Like an abandoned house, it had all the nostalgic memories of a previous home, and yet, I was drawn to only the swings. If there’s something strange and magical about a swing set, it’s because it’s never empty for long. The air was still as I got on, the metal chains never made a sound. Slowly, as I swung, I remembered, no, embraced. I embraced the cool wind on my face, the thrill of being weightless, the knowledge of being too high for any trouble to reach. And I embraced what it was like to be a child again. Sometimes I can still see that teenage girl on the deserted playground. Just swinging.


The author's comments:
The author was inspired to write this piece when she realized that she was still very much a kid at heart.

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This article has 51 comments.


on Jan. 20 2010 at 6:43 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
i appreciate your advice

on Jan. 20 2010 at 6:43 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
thanks! :)

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 20 2010 at 6:12 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
I'm just a girl swinging.

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 20 2010 at 11:05 am
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
I completely understand. When I'm swinging, I also feel like I'm flyin.

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 19 2010 at 9:39 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
this is really good. keep it up!

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 19 2010 at 6:43 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
you have no idea how well you write.

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 19 2010 at 6:42 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
i feel like a kid again!

on Jan. 8 2010 at 6:27 am
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
I hope she will!

on Jan. 8 2010 at 6:27 am
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
Lol thanks :)

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 8 2010 at 6:12 am
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
Wow...

That's all I can say.

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 7 2010 at 10:15 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
this is pretty good.

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 7 2010 at 10:13 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
my friend would love this, im going to send it to her

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 7 2010 at 10:10 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
Nice topic. It's not everyday we read about swinging. 2 thumbs up!

on Jan. 7 2010 at 10:08 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
Thanks! And I will ;]

on Jan. 7 2010 at 10:08 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
If only people could realize that swinging is like getting high...lol.

on Jan. 7 2010 at 10:06 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
Haha I definitely know the feeling.

on Jan. 7 2010 at 10:05 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
That's great! I would highly recommend it ;)

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 7 2010 at 10:03 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
i can't believe i found someone who actually likes swinging as much as i do! you just gotta <3 the feeling

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 7 2010 at 10:01 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
I love love love love love this. And i think it's best short and sweet. :)

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 7 2010 at 9:59 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
Not too bad. I feel like it could be longer but overall good job.