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.