Is it just me, or does it seem like nobody past age 12 plays Tag anymore?
I cant speak for anyone else's childhood, but when me and my friends played tag, it was'nt just a game to us.
We were in training, we would do anything, go anywhere, just to escape the clutches of the one named "It". It was'nt just you and your friends having fun anymore, It was the Ultimate test of survival.
Think about this if you will, you and a few of your friends meet at a previously decided place. greetings are exchanged, respect and comradery are presented in the form of various bows or hand to hand collaborations. Strecthes are done, breathing is reassured, you look every one of "the present" in their eyes, and wait... Then, there is a voice, "one two three..." Not It! Voices boom all around you, everyone of them struggling to be louder, and swifter, than the other.
All eyes suddenly fixate on the owner of the last voice to emerge. you've seen this familiar person dozens of times before today, yet, the look in their eyes, is'nt familiar at all. This person, is different somehow, determined, focused, tactful, unyeilding, desperate, fearless and...He's coming after you. He lunges toward you, your close friends disperse from the group, trying their hardest to distance themselves from him, and the person he's targeted.. You. Terror grips you momentarily, then suddenly ..adrenaline kicks in, dropkicking terror from the shadows, and subduing fear when she resists. Adrenaline has your back now, he's conquered fear and made her his partner, her job is to keep the ego surrounding his raw power, fueled all the while reminding him of things he cannot do, In turn, keeping you safe without hampering your ability. Having both in employ of you, you just grew wings.
You take off in the opposite direction as fast as you can. the ground, seems to resonate with every footstep. You hear his breath looming behind you, his heavy stomps into the undeserving ground, you catch glimpses of his desperate attempts at catching you, ever so often gaining speed and momentum, threatening to usurp your own, allowing him to take you. You refuse to give up that easily, determined to escape the clutches of your foe, you set a plan in motion. Using your keen eyesight and observation skills, you spot a low hanging roof covering the public bathroom. You deepen your breathing, widen your stride, and set your sights on geting to that roof. A park table litters your way, you leap forward headfirst, planting your hands onto the middle of the obstacle, and allow the rest of your body to glide through your arms effortlessly. You've cleared the obstacle, paving a clear path to your next point of escape. You look back to see whether your opponent has slowed in his efforts, just in time to see him, land mere feet away from you, stand, regain his balance and continue the hunt. Un deterred from your goal, you maintain course, straight ahead to the roof.
Suddenly, a red ball bounces across your path, you think nothing of it, and cotinue running for your life. Just then, a little boy dashes in front of you, in pursuit of his little red ball. You have no time to change course, and abruptly stopping will only endanger you and the child. With all options played out in your head, you decide your next course of action. You Leap into the air, as if wings were attached to your feet, which of course happen to be trailing directly over carefree little Joshua's skull. You land on the harsh concrete a few inches away form where the child just was, you look over your shoulder to discover the hand of your foe, wavering dangerously close to capturing proximity. You take off yet again, hoping that "all the forward trajectory, you can muster" is enough to get you to that roof. You come within stepping distance of the takeoff point, mere feet from where you need to be. You leap, yet again as if propelled by a phantom pair of wings, Connect with the frail edge of the roof sidings, and prepare to top out. Your feet lag behind you, You curse yourself, silently wishing you had put forth more effort to improve your ability to pull yourself up, and onto ledges. Your pursuer's hand's narrowly miss your feet. Now, you've gained a bit of time, to decide your next move. You're not the hunted ..for now, your attacker has caught up to one of the other hunted. Turning him from fleeing prey into a fearless hunter. Where there were one, now there's two, both of them, coming after you. One is climbing his way onto the roof, the other waiting for you to get off. you know that they'll catch you if you stay, and trap you if you go. Desperately searching your ever dwindling options, you spot a not too far off tree, then a branch. With a hunter in tow, you take off in the direction of the tree, and soar toward it, as if the very foundation were crumbling beneath you.
Your hands grapple with the slender branch, bark and sap stick to your hands, absorbing the sweat and improving your traction. You swing your body, then let go. "Landing is gonna hurt like 8 bitches on a bitch boat" you think to yourself. After spotting your landing, Your toes and feet connect with the ground, you raise your arms in front of you and prepare to roll forward, you spring from the toes, and tumble. All the pain and negative energy that associates itself with landing from height, dissapate and flow away from you, as if it is warded off somehow, by your immaculate technique. The hunter's look on in amazement as you regulate your breathing, and spot your next plan of action.
Some time later, the game ends, all who were friends before, resume comradery, sing the successful escapist's praises, and agree to meet again. You've just increased in your ability to escape from a dangerous situation, that is grounded in reality. Not to mention your stamina, endurance, ability to think on your toes, and daring.
Now, I ask the question, why dont more of us older guys/girls play tag? Is it that we think that were too old to "play" have a little fun, and advance in survival skill? Im 20 going on 21 and I dont think that we have to stop "child-like" things because we age in years.
All it really means is that were all, that much more closer to leaving this place. I personally dont want to spend all my time here worrying about what people think they know of me. Do you?
If so, f#ck it, sit back on the couch and finish your goddamn nacho's. Then when you're done reading this, you can get back to leaving clever comments on people's Myspace pages.
If not, I propose all Traceurs, Escapists, Crosstrainer's, Riskbreakers, Natural Method Practictioners, people interested in being able to save their own ass, and anybody looking to have some good old fashioned, uncomplicated fun, seriously consider this. Get together with friends every once in a while and play some motherf#cking Tag. Or, you can go for a walk, run, explore, go outside and do something. You know, like a Human Being?
"Be strong, to be useful, not only unto yourself, but unto other's as well." - V
If anyone local is interested, Catch me at: Versus592@Yahoo/Hotmail/AIM
"Vi Veri Veneversum Vivus Vici" - V
