Carly's Ramblings Blog - Style

Exercsie - Fun and Games

Blogging Circle of Friends - Day 4105 March 05, 2026

Did you know on this day in history in 1963 the hula hoop was patented? Have you ever used a hula hoop? Did you find it challenging to use?Did you use it for fun or to get in shape? For those of you who have never tried a hula hoop, what childhood toy did you use for fun or exercise?

I have used a hula hoop, but I cannot get it to 'work'. I am always impressed by those who can keep it going. They make it seem so effortless. I haven't managed that talent so I often used it for other things: to loop over friends and run with them like it is a 'bridle' on a horse. My imagination was key.

As a kid, my friend and I explored our backyards and let our imaginations run wild. We played 'cowboys and Indians", but for us the cowboys were the 'bad guys' and the 'Indians' were the peaceful hunters and gathers that lived off the land and cared for each other. I had a soft spot for the underdog and I was curious about Indigenous culture. My friends younger brother was the cowboy and we didn't tell him.... we just kept running away from him. Poor kid.

We also did running races. I remember outrunning a boy who thought that getting new shoes would make him run faster. He also thought boys were better than girls... that kid got crushed under the reality of me winning every race he asked for until he finally gave up and went to play with someone else. I could never abide by comments and thinking like that. I had to prove it wrong.

I am still that way, but I have become more subtle in my push back. I have learned that the male ego can be fragile and they can be violently reactive when antagonized. I learned to tread carefully... sad, but true.

But back to fun and exercise. As a kid we roamed our landscape. Climbed the back hills. Played on the train tracks behind our property. I climbed trees and hung and flipped myself around the parallel bars. Exercise for me was just getting around. Whether I was walking, running, or riding my bike, I managed to cover every inch of my small town several times over.

We had a lake so into the water I'd go. We had playgrounds with all those 'dangerous' items that were a riot to fling yourself onto and off of.... spinning and dizzy was lots of fun.

Even when we moved to southern Ontario we didn't have a car for the first 5 years so we walked most places. It always boggled my mind that my friend wouldn't go somewhere because her parents were around to drive her. I thought that was daft.

I do remember playing with some 'exercise' thing my Grandma had for wittling her waist. You stood on it and twisted yourself back and forth. It was fun, but I never once saw her use it. She never showed me what was done, but I learned by trial and error.

Oh the life of a GenXer. Freedom to explore and discover. I remember being outside much of my time. I wasn't locked out, but I was not allowed to go in and out without getting yelled at, so once out I stayed out.