Teenagerism

I have to laugh, there's a teenage boy that lives across the street from me. You can just tell he's going thru that awkward stage of his life. He really likes to skateboard, and has been doing it religiously for about the past 4 or 5 years. It's been rather amusing because he just doesn't seem to get any better. There are a few moves and tricks he's picked up, but overall, he still hasn't mastered the stuff he was attempting 3 years ago. Once in awhile, I catch myself watching him, because I grew up with a skateboard. I'm really not one to criticize, the tricks the kids are pulling off now, were not even in existence when I was in my boarding years. Lately, his friends come over, and we'll have about 4 or 5 awkward, zit faced, smelly feet, voice cracking, teenage boys, in front of our house all practicing the same moves, and failing miserably. It's fun to watch, and I don't have the heart to go out there and tell them they shouldn't quit their day job. They don't cause any trouble, and they seem to be respectful of others property. Occasionally, one them will tackle another in the grass and give him a kidney shot, but that's just that male bonding thing going on, in its early formative stages. Well, just this year, the boy across the street has acquired a drum set. So his little group of merry skateboarders will come over, he'll open up the garage door, and bang on the drums for awhile, before they all take their positions in the street. (Remember, a teenage boy's attention span is only about as long as this sentence.) Once again, no harm, he's actually a better drummer than he is a skater. Every once in awhile, you here him break out into "angry white boy" lyrics, screaming unintelligible words into a cheap microphone. It's all rather amusing, and who knows, someday he could be in a famous band. It's just rather refreshing to see young boys outside moving around, goofing around, getting some sunshine, figuring out the pecking order within the pack, and not holed up in their basement for 20 hours a day, playing video games, and the only interaction they have is with their computer with someone else online. So, if you have this scenario in your neighborhood, cut the boys some slack if they're being a little loud, or if they accidently step on the grass. They could be gang bangin' or lighting your grass on fire! These years are fleeting, and it'll all pass quickly until the next generation of young men take that step towards manhood.