I am only sixteen months old here and I am already looking for a story. This is not my house. I was known as the little girl who peeked into houses and only a very stern talking to ended this practice.
At a recent book club meeting, none of the other women understood the histrionics of the central character in THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING. But I understood her completely because that was the kind of girl I was. I clearly remember standing at my front door and singing as loud as I could in the hopes that I would be discovered. I loved having roles in plays at school or at church and I did silly things to draw attention to myself. I was the loudest kid in the alley playing dodge ball or capture the flag. I sewed the apron we were working on in Girl Scouts to my skirt to get a laugh. Or dropping my books--I did that a lot. I was the kind of cheerleader who jumped up on bus trips to a distant game to lead everyone in a round of THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND. I never let anyone know I got good grades--didn't fit with my loony girl image. Never admitted I read several books a week. Never admitted I subscribed to THE NEW REPUBLIC and kept up with current events.
Of course, all of this went away when I married. And only then did my true personality emerge. Someone a lot quieter who was actually shy when forced to be herself.
What kind of kid were you?
15 comments:
Just the opposite. I had friends but in school I was invisible. I just sat and did my work - I was always one of the smart kids - but never talked. I was painfully shy.
Jeff M.
I was a "bookworm." I always had a book in my hand. Back then, we were"tracked" in school which means the smart kids were tracked together in classes--and I was one of the smart kids. I had little interest in playing sports, but I did play for the high school tennis team (I wasn't very good).
Generally pretty outgoing in gradeschool, then very quiet in high school until my senior year. After that I became increasingly introverted through the rest of my life.
I was smart but very, very awkward and shy. I didn't really get over it until I was in my late 30s. And I read a lot. I remember smuggling books home from kindergarten (they weren't supposed to leave the classroom).
Back then I liked playing with the girls better than with the boys, and in the early 70s that was definitely frowned upon!
I was always mostly a loner, able to entertain myself with books and other solitary pursuits.
Jeff M.
I was never a loner but at the same time I still find it awkward to impose myself on other people unless I know them well.
I was never a loner but at the same time I still find it awkward to impose myself on other people unless I know them well.
I wasn't one of the smart kids, I only wanted to goof around, play, run and jump. I lived on a few acres avocado ranch and climbed trees, made forts in the shrubs, roamed the hills, loved nature; animals, plants you name it. So-so student, struggled learning to read but once I got it I loved it. But I did swim. I was swimming competitively by age 8, kept doing that through college. I was painfully shy, especially with girls, had three or four close friends and that was it.
Very cute photo of a very cute woman. I really enjoyed this glimpse of your childhood. As for me, because of things that happened to me early on, lonely and angry but able to cover it because I was funny.
I really had two completely different childhoods: up to age 11 in the East End of London, where I was a typical kid, did well in school, loud and outgoing, but always lived to read; and then my adolescence after my family immigrated to the U.S. where I had to learn a whole new way of life. I ended up being quieter, more thoughtful, and more empathetic than I might have been had a remained in England.
Loved to read; but lived to read might be appropriate too!
I was shy too. My brother and I began school not speaking much (if any) English - Spanish spoken at home and mostly continued to be.
In those days it was sink or swim, language-wise. Luckily we were intelligent and somehow, quickly caught on. To this day, my brother and I marvel at how easy it seemed.
I loved school (the NYC school system was still excellent) and did very well except for math which was always my bete noir.
I was a great clunk of a kid who escaped into books, art, magazines and Walt Disney, Saturday afternoon serials and movie musicals.
I was very quiet and shy until you got to know me. I was witty and outspoken among friends, although that was always a small group. I loved exploring the woods, toy soldiers, cap guns, baseball, and riding my bike. I was smart but didn't care for school much.
Patti - I love that 'photo! And as for me? I was always the quiet kid - the bookworm...
That little girl obviously had two choices--writing or jail.
:-)
Post a Comment