You know, I was in a McDonald's for the first time in about a couple of years for a sociology project, and my attention as somewhat drawn to the playpen that was located outside of the store. And I notice how amazingly different it was from the one I grew up with. There were no ball pits anymore; those bright, colorful pool of plastic balls that glided off your hands and spilled into the tubes connected to it had been replaced by a little area where you could go inside and jump in a tiny trampoline. And all of the tubes you could go there like a tunnel and get static shock from now have steps that kids climb up on. Those purple nets that dangled at least a foot over the ground and scared the crap out of me regardless are gone.

       Not that I'm complaining, ball pits are pretty freaking dangerous to kids and who knows what could be thrown into there on accident, and those tubes were pretty scary to six-year old me. But I kind of remember when I got too big to play there and how sad and forlorn I was that I couldn't entertain myself after I finished eating. I see the little kids scampering around and wonder what it will feel like when they grow to be too big for the play pen. What kind of world they'll be in.

      I think what I'm trying to say is that I wish I was still small enough to play in there sometimes. What nostalgia brings you to when you're procrastinating. ;;