[Editor's Note: Jimmy's sister, Gloria Fallon, is back again with another installment of Growing Up Fallon! This time we get to know the storied history behind the Fallon backyard. Also make sure to check out our complete gallery!]
When Jimmy and I were growing up in Saugerties, NY, we spent a lot of time in our backyard, playing just about any sport you can think of. Not because we were good at sports or because we loved the backyard - we just weren’t allowed to go anywhere else. And since we had no idea that we were missing out on the world at large, we had a pretty great time.
As soon as the last patch of snow was melted, me and Jimmy would be outside playing catch. Here’s an action shot of Jimmy getting ready for T-ball practice. He’s throwing the ball and getting ready to catch it at the same time - Dad taught us well.
Here we are with our friend Chris, all wearing bad jeans and hats that are way too big for our heads. Right behind us is the tree that Dad decided to plant right in the middle of the lawn without asking anyone’s opinion. Also, see the bicyclists through the chain-link fence? They saw us too, and probably laughed.
Jimmy: “Hey, wanna play catch in front of the volleyball net?”
Gloria: “Sure, I’ll put on all my catcher’s gear, and why don’t you put on an all-white outfit?”
Jimmy: “Yeah, I’m thinking tight white jeans and that T-shirt that wants to be a wife-beater.”
Gloria: “Perfect! See ya out there in five!”
Along with horseshoes and 'Jarts' (metal lawn darts of death that were banned in the ‘80s), one of the most dangerous toys to grace our backyard was the Pitch Back. You’d throw the baseball at the net and it would be propelled back into your face at warp speed. We developed some quick reflexes thanks to the Pitch Back. And yes, that is faux fur I’m wearing.
Ooh, it’s kite-flying time in the backyard!!
If you’re thinking, “Hey wait, you’re not supposed to fly kites in your backyard! Kites should be flown in fields and parks!!”, you are correct. (Did I mention we weren’t allowed to go anywhere else?)
And then came the basketball net. Jimmy asked for one for Christmas, thinking he could hang it from our garage like everyone else. But Dad thought the hoop would be too heavy for the garage, and so he offered to put it…“in the backyard.” (That cool guy with Jimmy is our Grandpa. He lived in a small house in our backyard…how awesome can one yard be, right?!)
I mean, this is clearly a no-win situation. Why our Dad thought that putting a basketball hoop in a grassy backyard was a good idea is anyone’s guess. You can’t dribble on grass, you can’t scrimmage on grass, but you can slam-dunk a ball into the net. And you can do that while you’re wearing acid-washed jeans.
The Fallon house in Saugerties is up for sale now and the yard will soon belong to another family, but me and Jimmy learned a lot from playing in our backyard day after day, year after year:
- •If kids are making fun of you, it’s probably just because they’re jealous they don’t have a nice yard to play in.
- •Just because the other kids ride their bikes on the street doesn’t mean you have to. Be the engine, not the caboose.
- •When you’re a kid, just play and have fun. Play like you’re not dribbling on grass. Play like you have cool clothes on. Play like the entire neighborhood can’t see you.
