Monday, March 8, 2010

Childhood Memories

That's my mom holding my cousin, me kissing him, and my sister wrapping her arms around both of us.
I hated growing up.  Life as a kid for me was so rich and free.  I loved being a kid.  I would spend my summers running through the yard barefoot with the water hose on.  I would play in the woods climbing trees and playing capture the flag with friends.  I would go swimming or fishing in the creek or go skinny dipping at midnight.  I remember so many wonderful things about my childhood.  I spent several weeks out of the summer in Texas with my great aunt, who was like another grandmother to me.  But I always hated the idea of growing up.  Most kids can't wait to get older.  I can't wait to be six so I can go to school.  I can't wait to be thirteen, cause I'll finally be a teen.  I can't wait to be sixteen so I can get my driver's license.  There's plenty more to fill in that list, I'm sure, and varies from kid to kid.  But, as much as I wanted all these things and more, I would have gladly given it all up to stay a kid.  I was a Peter Pan, of sorts, I suppose you could say.  Seems a bit strange, doesn't it?  No, I didn't live in a dream world.  I didn't even really have an imaginary friend.  My cousin did, and I only pretended to so we could play together.  No, I was one of those adultish sort of kids who was older than I really should have been.  Yeah, I would still so all that playing that the other kids did.  I remember staying with a friend, and we would make up crazy horror stories and record them on cassette tape.  Then we would stay up late to watch WWF (Now WWE) Wrestling, or Friday Night Videos or Nightmare on Elm Street marathon.  But the thought of becoming an adult scared me.  I was vaguely familiar with those pieces of mail called bills.  I had heard of April 15th (U.S. taxes are due then) and I had heard of the IRS.  I also remember hearing or seeing other family issues that were minor at the time, but seemed so major to me as a kid.  I enjoyed a happy childhood.  My family had a bit of money, and we traveled a lot for my dad's job.  I was wanting for very little, but that Big R was a very scary thing.  RESPONSIBILITY!
It's such an ugly word.  All the things I didn't want to deal with are now part of my everyday life.  I now have to work at a job for a minimum of five days a week.  I now have utility bills, car payment, insurance.  I get a W-2 at the end of the year so I can file taxes.  I am expected to vote (and I do) I watch the news regularly, and I pay attention to politics.  These are all the things adults deal with daily that I wanted no part of as a child.  BUT.....
I am happy.  I love my little life with Mike.  We enjoy of little chicken farm, as Mike likes to call it.  We spend our weekends enjoying ourselves at our Landlord's beach house when they invite us, at my parents' fishing, visiting, barbecuing.  We eat very good meals and have company over infrequently.  Friends are always welcomed in our home.  We have our three cats and two dogs.  I like being an adult.  I love having a place that I can paint or build on to, a yard that I can garden in, and many more freedoms I didn't enjoy as a kid.  I'm happy to be an adult.  But if I could do it with out all that responsibility....Oh, how much happier I could be. 
Don't forget the giveaway!  I'm going to announce the winner on Wednesday!  Some of you were vague about wether you wanted in, so I included you anyway!  If you haven't already commented, do it today or tomorrow!  Just make sure I have a way to get in touch with you!  If you are overseas (over borders) I'll still ship.  It just may take a little longer to get it to you.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Randy and Mike, I think that probably there is Peter Pan in us all [or in my case a Tinkerbelle] since growing up does bring with it so much responsibility which we would all rather avoid.

Your childhood sounds idyllic and your life together with the chickens, setting aside bills and taxes, does appear to be very happy. You are lucky and I do wish you both well for the future.

I do not think that I have entered for your generous giveaway, but please whatever do count me out. It would all be too complicated.

joanne said...

It sounds like you had a very happy, fun filled childhood...those are the best kind of memories. I am just learning to leave the harsh memories behind and remember the sweet ones. Glad you are happy on the farm, life is too short to be unhappy all the time..;p

Gill - That British Woman said...

I agree there is a bit of child in all of us. Have to say I am glad to be where I am in life at the moment, and don't really want to go back to my childhood......

Gill in Canada

Jimmy said...

Nop! I'd rather be a little ole man than a puny little kid(smirk). I always hated being the smallest kid in the class. Plus, I'm cat boned!
Damn genes!!!!

But, a beautiful post.

Odette Bautista Mikolai said...

when i look back on my childhood, i always look back with happiness. those days were magical! it's a very special time in our lives therefore we always look back and miss it at some stage of our life.
that's why it's good to have children because i have my childhood memories to pass on, and this way i don't have to miss them but rather relive them over and over again through my children and maybe later my grand children.
nice post, Randy!
xoxoxo

Tracey said...

Lovely post Randy. I too feel blessed to have had a happy childhood because there are so many who haven't. ;O) xxx

Callie Brady said...

I didn't want to grow up either. Thanks for bringing back a lot of good memories!
You are a very good writer!

LemonyRenee' said...

Nice post, Randy. I can relate to almost all of it. But I was one of those kids who always wanted to be grown up. I wasn't a very kidd-y kid. I would always opt to sit with the adults and listen to them talk than play tag out in the yard. And my parents fought. a lot. But when I look back at it now, it was a happy childhood.

I often -- especially this past year -- yearn for just a week or so back in my childhood. No responsibilities. No real worries. Tucked in bed at night with my parents to take care of everything. I have often wished for just one more week of that.

Thanks for such a good post. And for the kind comments you've left me.

Donna said...

I loved my childhood too...I miss the farm, chickens, cows...skunks...all of it...
Happy day Randy!
hughugs

Little Messy Missy said...

What great memories, thanks for sharing them. :0)

BadPenny said...

lovely post - I can see why you didn't want to grow up. Happy memories - I was a happy child even though my parents split - I was sixteen by then.
My son simply wants to be old enough to leave school which he hates ! He'd spend all day on his trampoline if he could !