(no subject)

[robby]

I grew up in a rugged, aggressive group of boys. It was a Catholic neighborhood, and it seemed that almost every house nearby contributed a couple of boys to the mix. I had two older brothers, and we were kings, our castles were secret tree forts built from stolen lumber, and defended from boys from other neighborhoods with vicious rock fights. It was all good fun, and I lived a Huckleberry Finn sort of existence. Parents didn't worry about us much, as long as we were home for dinner, and had no idea of the crazy stuff we did, skating on thin lake ice in the winter, moving quickly along it as cracked beneath you, the brush fires we started, and how we raced through the storm sewers to evade the spotter planes. I would live the summer shirtless and barefoot, as brown as an Indian, and my callused feet would peel every fall, when I put shoes on to go back to school.

Comments

[jourdannex.livejournal.com]

I love this Robby. It is like the freedom that so many kids do not have today. When we all played outside, our parents had no worries where we were or what we were doing, and there was a feeling of freedom in this, a feeling I cannot explain, but it was such a great part of childhood. And when the streetlights came on, we all went back to being someones kid and we left our important daytime adventures aside until the next day. Those moments were so magical.

Thank you for writing this! :)

[twgan.livejournal.com]

Aw, that was neat.

[robby.livejournal.com]

I loved that freedom, and to some degree still have it. I'm single, with no kids, or specific obligations, and am self employed.

[robby.livejournal.com]

Have you joined a gym?

[crackpipe.livejournal.com]

this is bizarre, but i sometimes feel a little twinge of jealousy when i go into the "ghetto" or areas of low income housing. i know the kids have the odds against them, and maybe all the axcess they have to others may end up detrimental to them later on, but i imagine it must be so much fun to grow up around so many other kids and urban culture.to be able to travel in packs outside of school and to have so many other non family members involved in ther upbringing.

[twgan.livejournal.com]

Yup, I finally got around to doing it, the only problem is that I spent more than I was planning to, and now I'm pretty broke with no way of earning money. (Haven't figured out how I can get a work sponsorship.) Very bad budgeting on my part, but I never was good at turning down offers made by salespeople. It's funny how I can handle other people's money really well but when it comes to my own, I get a bit too generous with it.

Re:

[robby.livejournal.com]

I wasn't poor or urban, but we all came from big families, it seemed, and parents didn't have a lot of extra time. I had an older sister that would watch me, and at some point I was old enough to hang with my older brothers. For a while, all the boys were sleeping on bunkbeds in a bedroom my father built in the basement. I was never pampered, but not neglected, either. I wore hand me down clothes from the brothers and cousins, but that was OK with me. I had a cousin in military school, and I especially liked his old shirts with sergeant's stripes on the sleeves.

[crackpipe.livejournal.com]

it was me on the answering machine! i thought i made it obvious!
we've been crowned king and queen of the prom by ms. mean.

[robby.livejournal.com]

Well, be sure to get your money's worth. I'll bet it feels good to work out again.

[robby.livejournal.com]

I hope she stops stalking me!