Playground fun back in the day

I was looking through the late Patricia C. McKissack's book, "Let's Clap, Jump, Sing and Shout; Dance, Spin and Turn it Out!" Games, Songs and Stories from an African American Childhood and was at once transported back in time to the playground and playing outside.  A good part of our childhood was spent outside creating things, building screen houses, having mud pie teas and making up games. Songs, chants, jump rope rhymes and hand claps were a huge part of childhood play. I often wondered why after the Doctor and the Nurse were unable to heal you why they called on The Lady with the alligator purse.  Who was she?  What training did she have?  No matter the situation when in doubt, call for The Lady with the Alligator purse.  I have fond memories of our neighborhood playground in walking distance of our first home. I didn't realize it at the time but Handy park, in St. Louis, was named after a famous African American.  On June 22, 1960 W.C. Handy Park was dedicated in honor of William Christopher  Handy (1873-1958), the world famous composer of the "St. Louis Blues."  At Handy park I learned to swing and mastered pumping my legs to make the swing go higher, we climbed on the jungle gym and  spent endless spins on the metal merry-go-round.  We conquered fears of going on the high metal slide and hanging on the arch shaped monkey bars.  We'd walk home from the park feeling tired and very proud of our accomplishments.  If you get a moment, check out Patrica McKissack's book, it's a treasure trove of childhood memories.