The Early Years - Past and Present
75As I was unpacking a few boxes, I just happened to come across a huge envelope packed full of papers. These envelopes are full of buried treasures and I just couldn't help but investigate.
One of the first pieces of paper I pulled out, was a couple of old poems I wrote when I was in high school (or grade school - I can't be sure of the timing). I would love to share them with you. But, to spice it up, I am going to write a different section - called present - which will see how my views and writing have changed over the years.
I want to mention these were for a class, so the past section might have some sort of English type assignment associated with it. (Hence some of the descriptions.) I hope you enjoy. I know I enjoyed finding some of my old stuff.
Past
Childhood is not wanting to go to bed because you are afraid of the monsters underneath
Childhood is naming your cat Tootsie Roll because you couldn't think of anything else
Childhood is having a favorite toy that glows like a light bulb
Childhood is getting on the wrong bus and trying to tell the bus driver where you live when you have no idea where.
Childhood was playing tag with all of your friends and coming in with you face as red as an apple
Childhood is having a friend that you used to write to every single day
Childhood is saving all of your peppermint candy canes so you can have them later
Childhood is having someone that is so special that you never want to leave their side
Childhood is remembering when you had to get bundled up to go house hopping on Christmas Eve and walking outside with the snow crunching beneath your feet
Childhood is having to share your small, simple bedroom with your older sister
Childhood is running away from home and still following the rules by not crossing the street
Childhood is telling some young boy you will show yours if he shows his... and getting caught
Childhood is eating a Mud Pie your sister made for you, only to realize it doesn't taste too good
Childhood is remembering how good it felt when it was just you and your mom waiting for the school bus every afternoon
Childhood is accepting another sibling, even though it means you are no longer the baby of the family
Childhood is getting a Gameboy for Christmas, but having parents who played it more
Childhood is going camping with the entire family every single weekend during the summer
Childhood is being broke, but never knowing that money really mattered
Childhood is thinking life is unfair; wishing you were already an adult
Childhood is playing the recorder and thinking you are a musician
Childhood is getting a real instrument and putting on private concerts for your parents, which they said sounded awesome even though it was more like a dying duck
Childhood is riding your bike all day long and not counting the number of miles
Childhood is sleepovers and best friends and notes passed in the hallways
Childhood is an obsession with finding yourself and trouble on the way
Childhood is what you wish you had again once you have to become a responsible adult
From some of my favorites
- Rear View Mirror
Looking back at life, you remember all the good times you had. It is almost like looking into a Rear View Mirror. Take a journey back into the past with RealHousewife. - The tongue is a restless serpent
The snake and the tale he weaves as he finds the mouth to mouth demonstration a complete bust. - Poem The Beaver and the Moose
Children's story poem about how a beaver met a moose. - Old Works 4: Light of happiness
In life, the lonely candle will always help light the way.
From Barbergirl28
- Reflections - a look back at your life
Taking a look into the mirror you may think you see nothing but a reflection of yourself. Look a little closer and you can see the person you have become and the story you are creating. It is called your life, and you don't need a holiday to reflect - How can Happy be spelled without U?
Changing Happy to Huppy seems to make sense because Happy should never be spelled without U. - Writing Poetry - The Loneliest Poem
Writing poetry is a beautiful art, but getting it the attention that it deserves is often times a challenge.
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I love it! Childhood is making memories to pass on to others when you are older. The deer kissing thing brings back memories. My dad use to try and get us to kiss a buffalo tongue. Great hub! voted up!
Thanks Jim - if I am thinking correctly this was from my Freshman English class. I don't really remember. Although I will admit, it was a bit difficult to try to come up with the Present views without being squewed by the ones of the past. It was a good exercise and a great way to clear my head! :)
@tlpoague - Thanks so much for stopping by. This was something that happened every season for us... well... not kissing the deer part... but every year the guys of the family would go out hunting and then the girls would all have a big sleep over. When they came back, they all worked together to clean the deer and then cut it into different parts. They split it equally. It was a big part of my life. I can't imagine trying to kiss buffalo tongue - but I guess it isn't too far from the deer tongue either! :)
Loved this one too and I LOL at the recorder comment. That was me, but I am being paid back in spades. Both of my girls play the violin and practice can be an earful.
thanks barbegirl for this amazing article, you remind us of lots of the beautiful things we were missing these days. voted up
This was too cute... I recognized some of the stories even :-) I still laugh about the time you ran away from home but couldn't cross the street so you just walked around the block! Very cute... Brings back memories of my own childhood. Like when you told Cassie to bite you and she did! Sometimes I miss being a child... the lack of worries, the ability to just have fun, the family memories of holidays because back then we all were there every single time! Still I personally have too many bad memories from being a kid and I am glad to be out of that horrible stage of my life. I just wish things could be as simplistic now :-) Great hub and very reminding!
I could identify especially, Stacy, with the riding your bike all day. Been there and done that. About several eons ago. It appears that you had a rather idyllic and semi-normal childhood. :)
BBG - ok now I see what you mean:). Aw so many memories of childhood! I do remember getting on the wrong bus and riding it for a couple of hours:)
I love finding old stuff I wrote and thinking about what I was thinking about then. So funny how some stuff changes and other stuff stays the same.
Up and outta the park!
@nybride - I think everybody eventually gets introduced to the recorders. I think I must have tortured my parents with it because when I had my own kids, they willingly bought each one their very own recorder before the school even introduced them! LOL Ah- the good ole days!
@icciev - Thank you so much for the beautiful comment. Sometimes it is fun to take a trip back down memory lane!
@Myth - you forgot about the fact that I got lost and I was horrified because I couldn't find my way back home. It just goes to show how a few feet turn into a mile in the eyes of a child! LOL Childhood is a wonderful time... you have no worries... unless of course you bite your sister and get caught. Getting caught is the bad part! LOL... I once had to do every single dish in the house because Mom and Dad saw me bite Jenny before we got on the bus in the morning. That was also before dishwashers! I could have made this poem a mile longer with all the memories! LOL
@drbj - I don't know if I would say it was ideal... it wasn't bad, but alot of the memories I had that were more on the angry side I kept out. Although I should have mentioned how much of a trouble maker I was! I got into trouble alot when I was younger. When I hit about 6th grade, the focus started going almost all on my older sister because she was always in trouble! But yeah, I have alot of good memories. I used to spend every day in the summer riding my bike into town. When I started, town was about a 7 mile bike ride one way. The good old days! :)
@Real - I have to say, when I got lost on the bus I tried to explain how to get back home. It was right after we moved so that morning before I went to school I asked my mom if we lived in the city or the country. Well, she said we lived in the city of Bonduel. I took that to mean I was suppossed to get on the city bus. Well, the bus driver tolerated me. I made him drive all over to see if I could recognize where I was. I told him he needed to turn down the street that had a house with pretty curtains. We lived on a dead end... the street was called Happy Lane. Let's just say, I have no trouble finding it now!
Omg! That is hilarious!
Ok - my mom had just married the major - we moved to a new part of the city. I had to walk home from school and it was a pretty good walk. Now, when you lived in the city - you could just hop on a bus at any stop and ride straight down the same street. Soooo on this one day, I didn't want to finish the walk home because this mean girl was kicking this other girls lunchbox all the way down the street and taunting her. I saw a bus stop and jumped on. It was not like the city bus. It was an Orbit bus! It just drove around and around......I stayed on for a couple of hours....just enjoying the ride. Finally - it stopped at the mall. I jumped off and went and did a bit of shopping fou d a pay phone and called home - collect! Lol. My parents were flipping out! I was in 5th grade:) lmao!
I am so shocked he couldn't pin point the house after you informed him of the pretty curtains! Hilarious!
@Real - Why does it not surprise me that you went shopping after riding on a bus for a couple of hours. And in 5th grade. Did you happen to have your allowance or lunch money on you so you could get something good! LOL
As for the bus driver - I was so frustrated that he couldn't pin point the white house with pretty curtains. I still remember them. They were white with yellow flowers... sheeshh... obvious! LOL
Stacy...
In the right venue...'dying duck' (in C minor) can simply command a room. I'm glad you found the envelope and I am even more glad you took the time to share!
Thomas
PS...Real is out of food...no broth...no ham.
@Thomas - I fiured she would be out of food... after all, you keep going over there and visiting and stealing it! LOL She is going to start eating out every night of the week - it is probably going to be cheaper than wondering why she went grocery shopping and suddenly has no food left. Does she at least have something to drink?
BTW - glad you enjoyed this little piece. I have another one. I might get around to it tonight yet - not sure. But hopefully it is as pleasing as this one! :)
Well look at you getting all finger-pointing-ish...It was my belief that we were on the same page here...we blame a (third) party for these things... (passes over a purloined Mountain Dew) ...yes...she has drinks...not as many as she may have thought...
Thomas
PS...I look forward to the new one!
@Thomas (in a quiet hushed voice) I caught her right after she got done shopping so here is some broth... and a mountain dew. Don't worry, there is still a few drinks left!
(In a louder voice) So - did you see that garden gnome over by Reals house... I think I saw it walk off with all her Mountain Dew!
Barbergirl, Childhood is all too brief, you never realized that when you are a kid because nothing ever seems to happen fast enough or soon enough. Now the years are rushing by and we can hardly catch our breath. Nothing ever tastes as good or smelled as fragrant as when you were a kid. Your entire unvierse could fit in your backyard sandbox, completely oblivious to the churning world around us.
So there is Credence's "theory of relativity" for you.
Nice article
@Cred2 - that is a great way to put it. They always say the grass is greener on the other side... well, maybe it is also greener yesterday! :)
Glad you enjoyed this. It was fun to come across and then see how much things have changed!
Barber, I enjoyed this. It took me back to my own childhood, though, I am not a sister
PDXKaraokeGuy - Glad this was able to bring you a glance into your own past! :)
Hi Stacy,
I really enjoyed this. So many of your thoughts reminded me of my childhood. Especially "Childhood is being broke, but never knowing that money really mattered." Great job!
Sharyn
@Sharyn - I am so glad that it struck a cord with you. Not only has it jogged my memories, but it feels awesome to share them with others! :)
indeed. I'm a fan of nostalgia!
@PDXKaraokeGuy - Me too... glad you enjoyed this :D
me too! Keep up the good work!
@PDXKaraokeGuy - Thank you! :)
you're welcome. My pleasure!
TheManWithNoPants Level 7 Commenter 6 months ago
I love it. "Childhood is playing the recorder and thinking you are a musician."
These were all beautiful. Love the pictures too. You were a beautiful kid, and became a beautiful woman my friend. Looking back and appreciating is a cool thing to do. It's healthy.
Good job kiddo!
jim