Today is Tuesday Four time where Annie poses 4 questions. Today it is all about our earlier lives.
1. What was life like for you as a child of elementary school age? interests?
I went to an elementary school in our neighborhood which was loaded with kids. We all walked to school in the mornings and walked home together in the afternoon. On my street alone there were about 20 kids our ages, so we never lacked for playmates. After school everyone had a snack then met outdoors for games. In the summertime it was sweltering so our play was usually something in the shade, but summer nights were glorious. Everyone would eat dinner then meet at the lamp post for whatever game was going to be the big neighborhood game of the evening. We played a lot of Capture the Flag, Kick the Can, Hide and Go Seek and Freeze Tag.
2. Moving along to the teen years would you mind sharing some of the same things with us?
We moved to a different house when I was a pre-teen and our neighborhood changed. There were still some kids in the neighborhood, but we were not good friends with many of them. But that was the time when school and after school activities start becoming more important than hanging out with the neighborhood kids.
What were you interested in?
As a teen, like most girls I was interested in boys, also books, and my social life with friends.
I was a pretty good student and did not have to study a lot to make good grades, so I didn't!
My first two years of high school were at a huge school. Our suburban town then established its own school system and I went there my last two years. It was essentially a splinter school from the overcrowded large school I went to my freshman and sophomore years, with no real difference because it had the same people I had known all along, just a smaller school.
3. Would you share your college or young working years with us?
I met TheHub when I was a freshman at Alabama. We married the following fall and lived in married student housing. I think for both of us, our interests were just finding out where and what our futures would be. We had a lot of friends that we hung around with, until we had an unexpected change our lives
We had only been married 11 months when our first son was born, so we shifted rather quickly from a fun loving newlywed couple to parents, and then everything became about the baby.
After TheHub graduated, we moved to a different city, lived in apartments for a couple of years, changed cities again, bought a house, and had another son. And it was off to the races!
4. And lately... what are the topics occupying your mind right now?
My family, the pandemic, threat of war, divided nation, inflation. . . name your poison!
How have things changed in your life in the not too distant past.
To start with, I lost both of my parents, our remaining two single sons were married, my knee and TheHub's back do not work like they once did, the pandemic caused a complete shift in our normal activity, TheHub did not retire, and it looks like he will work until they cart him out in a pine box, we sold my parents house, my sister and I tighter than ever
Are you okay with the changes?
It does not matter if I am Ok with the changes or not. The only constant in life is change which is going to happen whether I want it to or not! Plus, some of the changes have been fabulous!
So come on and play along. I always love to hear your experiences!
I grew up on a farm about 12 miles outside the nearest town. We were bussed to school - the bus arrived about 8:05 a.m. and we got home around 4:15 p.m. There were kids relatively nearby, about a mile or so away. There were other families that we got together with occasionally including our cousins who would visit on a Sunday. We actually spent more time with other kids in the winter when we went to the local one sheet curling rink where our parents curled and socialized. There was an outdoor rink and shack where we hung out. There was no one of my age in that group, and I was the oldest, so eventually I spent a lot of time on my own at home.
ReplyDeleteAs a teen, I was awkward and nerdy. I had a couple of close friends and one of them introduced me to my first b/f. He was an abuser and I tolerated it because I wanted to fit in. I eventually left home and left that relationship behind. And he eventually went to jail for abusing his wife and child.
I didn't go to university after highschool. Instead I went to work for a air charter service in northern Sask. This is when I really became more confident in my own abilities. The couple who owned gave me responsibilities and trusted me. They're the reason I eventually I did go to university when my second child was 5 years. (I never married but I learned that wasn't an impediment or a requisite for having children.)
Lately, I've been so very grateful to have been able to retire early. That turns on having gone to university and my job opportunities as a result. I'm not sure I would have managed as well in the pandemic if I had to go to work each day. My biggest focus is getting this house ready to sell in the next year or so, and considering where and how I will live post downsizing. AND at this exact moment, I'm hating the snow that fell overnight and continues to fall. Bring on spring!
The latter would suggest I'm not okay, but to be honest, I'm happy to be where I am for now. I've been blessed in so many ways, even as the world rages around me, and I hope I never take it for granted.
I am not sure hating snow at the moment equals discontent with life any more than me hating 103 degree days in an exceptionally humid summer climate does!
DeleteThis is lovely. I know that change is the only constant, but change for change's sake does my head in. I do long for some things to remain the same...
ReplyDeleteChange for the sake of change does no one any good and seems be something happening more and more now.
DeleteFun! I grew up in a town of about 30000 in Iowa. I was the oldest of 6- the last 2 were born when I was in college and 2 and 3 when I married. I was always a bookworm and hung around the adults. I liked school and was a good student. I met my husband my junior year of college and we married soon after I graduated. I taught school a couple of years and then my husband’s career took off and for 31 years, I was a stay at home mom. We lived in several states and at one time husband commuted into NYC. Two children were born and then a much planned child 12 years after the second. Unfortunately my husband died suddenly when she was 8- other two were finishing college. She and I decided to relocate and here we are 24 years later. She is now married with 2 kids and contemplating a move to NYC which I am excited about. I also have 2 college aged grandsons and am expecting another one in about a month. He’ll be born in Oxford, England. I started working when I became an empty nester and love being a caseworker. Nan
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, Nan! And how exciting is waiting for the new baby's arrival!
DeleteI remember those games so well. Our childhoods were pretty amazing. I love that you meet in college. I agree with you on the topics going through your mind.
ReplyDeleteI try not to worry about things, so I have to actively concentrate on other thoughts to occupy my mind. That may be another reason I am reading so much right now.
DeleteIt's so interesting to read about your school days. :) My life as an elementary school child was OK. I didn't like going to school. But, school went on from 8:00 a.m. till 2:30 p.m., with a break for lunch, which I took with me from home. My father died when I was in 2nd grade, my half-siblings moved out when I was in 4th grade, my mother remarried when I was in 5th grade.
ReplyDeleteAs a teen, I had a few very close school friends (still keep in touch with one of them), still didn't like going to school, and I left the country of my birth when I was 17. I came to the States when I was 18 to go to university.
Later, I worked, married, had my daughter, divorced, kept on working until I retired (after 37 years of working, 35 of them with one employer), became an empty nester when my daughter left to go to college and then found work in the Bay Area, survived cancer, and am currently trying to stay safe from Covid! :D I don't like change, but, change is the one constant in life!
I have to understand that without change I would not have a granddaughters or 3 wonderful DIL's. So change can bring delightful things as well as a little "rain".
Delete1. I lived with my mom and grandma in my hometown the northern part of my state. Mother would take me to the local swimming pool after she worked. Lots of friends at church, school, and cousins would visit. I played the piano. 2.Joined band and won awards statewide. Went to larger high school in another town with award winning band. Graduated early from high school and went to college 2000 miles away at barely 17. Graduated college, came back to home state, and picked up another degree in state, then, since I seem to like school, went to law school out of state. Met husband there. Married, had four kids. Got divorced. He married one of his side chicks, then divorced her. He apologized. We are friends.He has cancer. Three kids doing really well and one has serious mental health issues. Life has up and downs. Retired full time and now working part time which really means 40 hours a week instead of 60. Lol. Was planning on international traveling when retired, but pandemic stopped that , so decided to keep working part time. I am a terrible housekeeper, a very so so cook, and a disaster at doing hair, makeup, clothes, and decorating…. Lol. I am quite plain, and perfectly happy being plain and boring. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteFrom one plain and boring soul to the other, thank you for sharing! TheHub and I had always planned on traveling once he retired and the kids were gone. Well the kids have been gone a long time and he is still working. As for the travel part, since 2 kids live on opposite sides of the continent I prefer for our travel budget to be spent going to see them. I know there is a big wide world to explore, but the faces I love seeing best are either 2 or 5hours away by plane.
DeleteI love reading about people and their lives and experiences. We played all those games as well.. so much fun.
ReplyDeleteThose games were so much fun!
DeleteWow, a lot of interesting life stories here, both yours and also your friends who have commented. We are all so different, and yet have many things in common. Childhood has its ups and downs, and then comes the teen years...and somehow we survived and went on to become responsible adults. I am very thankful for the life I have lived and the family I was blessed to have, my parents and siblings, and then my hubby and our three sons. Nothing has been perfect, but yet, it has been exactly what it was intended to be. We grow through our troubles and trials as well as through our blessings. Thank you for participating in this. It was interesting and fun.
ReplyDeleteLife is not perfect!
DeleteI am so thankful I grew up at a time before social media!
Your elementary days sound like mine only we were country kids and met at the town hall yard for kickball, dodge ball, or other games until we reached 6th grade the were too cool. It was great fun- one child hood friend is a trivia friend. You're right about change- we just need to grin, bare it, move forward.
ReplyDeleteI still meet (well did pre covid) with a group of my childhood friends for dinner on occasion.
DeleteI so enjoyed the video you posted of Joni Mitchell. What a voice. It sounds like you've had a very interesting life and a lot has happened in the last while. I'm glad so me of it is good and that you have expanded your family through the marriages of your children. I hope your hubby is able to enjoy some time with you despite the fact he is still working. Family is everything as we grow older I think. Well at least for many of us and of course as we get old we also lose loved ones and our circle becomes more precious.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure my life has been interesting, but it is mine.
DeleteThe funny thing about families is that though you lose some precious members you also gain some. I have 3 wonderful DIL's and my granddaughter, so though I lost both parents in the last few years, I have some wonderful additions.
We had a lot of kids in the neighborhood also when I was young and our yard was the hangout place for them. We played a lot of intense hopscotch and hide and seek as well as swinging really high on our tree swing. A little later, things shifted to basketball in the neighbor's driveway.
ReplyDeleteWow. You were married and had your first kid when you were in college. You were a lot more mature than I was. But it seems to have worked out well for you.
I don't think I was any ore mature than the next person my age. I think when responsibilities shift you have to grow up accordingly, and babies do not wait for you to get all the "play" out of your system.
DeleteMy elementary school days sound a lot like yours, i.e. loads of neighbourhood kids, although minus the good weather in my case. But in the end, all you need is your mates! As for the "unexpected change" just after you got married, you do know what caused that don't you?
ReplyDeleteLol yes, basic biology and failed birth control! But I would not change it for the world!
DeleteWhen I was a kid I spent almost all of my time outside of the house. Well, during the warm months, that is. Summers in particular -- leave the house after breakfast. Maybe come home for lunch (or have lunch at a friends). Then my mother wouldn't see me again until dinner. Bliss!
ReplyDeleteI always envied the guys in our neighborhood who seemed to have the same freedom. We had to let Mom know where we were at all times, so if we shifted from one yard to the next or decided to ride our bikes on a different street one of us had to run back to the house and let Mom know where we would be. Cell phones would have been great back then!
DeleteI really enjoyed your stories. I'm thinking I want to go back and expand my answers as I remember things.
ReplyDeleteFun post, Anne! I love learning more about my blog friends' lives. For a myriad of reasons, there's little I can share about my own upbringing. Thankfully, I no more resemble the girl I was than the man in the moon. And that's a good thing!
ReplyDelete