Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The Wander Years

 
My mom, me and grandma.  And, yes, I was a big beaver fan.

 


As promised, the return to the story of my boyhood.  For part one and two, check out The Early Nerd and Memoires Love Company.
 
2 memories, a few years apart, I have held all these years that best describe what life could be like in my home.  One night, me sound asleep, my father came in and roused me awake.  He then had me get up and we went for a drive.  I didn't see mum anywhere when we were leaving, not that I can remember anyway.  No clue how long we were gone, this was probably 3 A.M-ish mind you.  We drove around the little town we lived in and then eventually back home.  I can recall Dad saying nothing but I was so groggy he could have spoken.  And when we pulled back into our parking spot, there in the window I could see mum, in tears, scared to death, obviously wondering where we had been.  With all that I saw and heard in that home, nothing sums it up better than that moment.
 
And then, when mom got sober and dad had yet to get there, mom absconded with me one evening herself, no explanation.  I think I was 11.  And we went and stayed a couple days at the home of one of her friend's until finally returning home.  No recollection of how Dad was upon our return or if our absence had disturbed him.  All I know was I was on a little cot in a strange house with very little clue what was happening between the 2 people that meant the most to me.
 

Grandpa, Santa and I with some classic Fisher Price in the back.

In my youth, and this is evident in good and bad ways, I was raised by the television.  Constantly bored, mostly alone, I turned to it to help me figure out what was going on around me.  And so instead of mom and dad, I had Rerun and Rog, Mike and Carol, Lamont and Fred, Ward and June, George and Weezie, James and Florida--On a total side note, one of the things I am grateful for from my TV viewing is that racism never made sense to me, even in a town where I saw a few klan rallies as a kind and nobody another color than me until I was 18.
For certain, I got grandpa's hair.  And the great dichotomy of my life--Winnie the Pooh and Han Solo's blaster.  Pewpewpew!
 My babysitter, Miss Helen, had to retire from the profession so a couple of the neighborhood teenage girls took her place.  That led to a few odd situations, none moreso than my apparent attempt to work my way into a gig as a photog for Playboy when I, at 7, had my 14 or 15-year-old babysitter model nude for me.  Whose idea was it, darned if I know, all I can really recall was I was too shy and nervous to even look much but I snapped away with our Polaroid for quite a few shots.  It could have gone past that, but, at that age, I had enough sense to quit while I was ahead.  Of course my parents found the shots and I never had that babysitter again.  Had I known it would be the last naked female I would see for a few decades, I may well have looked more.

My mom's brother, my uncle John, and I circa before most of you were born.  Inventing the Macarena.

 
So, at age 10, I had 2 alcoholic parents, had lived in 5 places, spent 80% of my time alone and had seen 2 naked females live and in person.  And David Partridge in a pear tree.  When next this thread gets pulled, we move forward into the first of my double digit years.
 
 
Thanks so much for reading and for all those comments you have been sending my way.  I enjoy all your blogs so much, so many creative, wonderful, beautiful folks that have so much to share.  Proud to be part of such a community.  Big, deep hugs to the lot of ya'.


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28 comments

Tulis comments
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May 15, 2013 at 2:59 AM

What a traumatic childhood you had. But you seem to have come through it well enough. I find it amazing that you never show any resentfulness or bitterness. Love to read your blog.
xoxoxo

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May 15, 2013 at 5:30 AM

Your grandad dressed a lot like my dad in coordinating non-coordination...did he ever where dress shoes with sweat pants if so we could be sistas from anotha mista. How'd you manage two pedophilic sitters for criminy sake? Yeesh, You'd think that burge couldnt house that many female ones that you'd get the lion's share. Just luck of the draw I guess. ICK. Well, as long as you had to wait for the next viewing Im hoping it was a healthier one. Believe me I look at a naked girl at least daily and it aint no big deal. Of course maybe I need to work the self esteem angle a bit more.
Ascot is on the way . Picking it up Friday...Its a sunshiny spiffy one! Have a great day! me and skips

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May 15, 2013 at 5:31 AM

Wonder twin powers activate! shape of Storm from the X-men!

dammit that never works.

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May 15, 2013 at 8:33 AM

My heart is WAY too full of love to hold any of that other business. And having wonderful comments like that doesn't hurt either :) You're so sweet, dear.

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May 15, 2013 at 8:42 AM

Ah, but how often do you truly "look" at that naked girl. You see her every day, but looking is a whole other matter. Try it with fresh eyes, as if through the eyes of another. And, with great assurity (1), and without ever having laid eyes upon you, there are whole hosts of people out there that would pass up gazing upon the Grand Canyon for the view you take for granted every day. Promise you that!

And I only had one nekkid babysitter, the mystery of the other lies in one of my earlier blogs. Plugged and teased!

1. Urban Dictionary http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=assurity

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May 15, 2013 at 8:48 AM

Will pass this along to Halle at our next Celebrity Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey Party. She loves to hear from her fans.

I could never be a therapist and have the power to call down lightning on people which is why I could never be a therapist.

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May 15, 2013 at 10:57 AM

precious photos you have there :)

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May 15, 2013 at 1:24 PM

So...things were shit but you weren't paying a whole lot of attention as a coping mechanism, huh? The naked babysitter thing is so depressing and I wonder if there isn't a connection between THAT and the fact you didn't have intimacy for "decades." Well, keep it coming. I'm definitely getting what I asked for.

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May 15, 2013 at 2:07 PM

ooooohhhhhhh mystery...gotta go back...
grand canyon or not I tend to think as long as you're the only naked girl in the room no one's gonna complain.

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May 15, 2013 at 2:10 PM

What?! I'm not supposed to do that? OMG! I might be a lousy therapist!

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May 15, 2013 at 2:14 PM

Yeah, that first phrase of yours sums up my life until about 2 years ago, in varying degrees. Thankfully, no longer. Thanks for stopping by, you rock star of writing you.

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May 15, 2013 at 2:14 PM

Thanks so much. Your blog is very cool as well.

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May 15, 2013 at 2:16 PM

I have heard of no flash-fried false memory sufferers in the news. But, something to (literally) aim for. By the power of Skipskull!!!! Ka (and I must say) BOOOOM!!!!

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May 15, 2013 at 2:17 PM

Not I, said the guy. Its about the only way to get my full attention as scattered as I am. For that, however, laser focus.

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May 16, 2013 at 12:07 AM

oh throwback makes me cry ;)
hi there! great post! maybe we can follow each other?
no kidding, I follow back! please do visit my blog! XOXO :)

lavinajampit.blogspot.com

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May 16, 2013 at 8:02 AM

I love this, so sweet! Xjess
www.supongoestilo.blogspot.nl

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May 16, 2013 at 11:33 AM

Wow, how traumatic, I can't even imagine not knowing what was going on, as a parent I hope I never do something like that.


Xo, Megan, www.TfDiaries.com

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May 16, 2013 at 3:02 PM

Followed everywhere I could. Great blog and thanks so much. You have a cool style.

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May 16, 2013 at 3:03 PM

You just like sound effects--pewpewpewpew.

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May 16, 2013 at 3:05 PM

Thanks, dears :) You are quite amazing yourselves :)

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May 16, 2013 at 3:07 PM

I am quite sure you are a wonderful mother. You sure are sweet to me anyway :)

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May 16, 2013 at 3:11 PM

So very cool of you. Thanks for coming by and for your most recent post. That last shot was quite fantastic.

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May 16, 2013 at 11:15 PM

Oh wow, that is one rough childhood to go through. I can't imagine what your parents were trying to work through - and to have you caught in the middle :/

Trendy Teal

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May 17, 2013 at 8:48 PM

All part of what made me what I am today, better or worse. Thanks so much for coming by again. Always love your outfits, Little Lebowski.

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May 17, 2013 at 8:49 PM

Thanks, dear. Very kind of you.

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May 17, 2013 at 8:52 PM

Thanks so much. Your blog is a lot of fun as well. You are so gorgeous!

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It would be so lovely to hear from you. I promise to respond either here or on your blog.