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A childhood movie playing in my mind

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Sandy Collier Posted in Uncategorized .

It’s so strange how all of a sudden an image or thought will provoke me to start writing.  I’ve felt a bit blocked lately but I’m kinda feeling it today.  I’m sitting out on my front patio doing some schoolwork and enjoying the beautiful weather.  My cat is laying on the patio slabs completely covered in dirt and looking up at me, I know he is smiling.  I’m so happy about my new iPad that Dale bought for me last week.  I can sit outside and write as a soft breeze blows across my face, I’m in heaven…

The city put in all new grass turf a few weeks ago in the park that lines my street.  There is a huge 6 foot chainlink fence surrounding the fields to allow the grass to get established before any kids can play on it.  I was just watching two boys who were being “total boys” that thought they were being unobserved grab the fence and shake it to see if they could knock it down.  I think they must have sensed someone watching them as they turned and we made eye contact.  I felt like the crazy old lady ready to shake my ratty old slipper at them, “you boys get away from that fence this minute.”  Don’t worry I didn’t say that but my stern look did.  I kept an eye on them as they walked down the end of the street.

 Boys are just so mischievous and I was transported back in time to my childhood.   God, I love when that happens, its almost like a movie playing in my head.  I wonder, does this  this happen to everyone.   Sometimes I think I should write about growing up on 2 Sharp Street, “cause” it sure was fun.

One of the “characters” in my neighborhood was “Frankie Silver,” he was a year younger than me and lived two houses away.  He was always a “little rough” on the pets in my neighborhood and mainly wildlife in general.  I will not go into much detail on that, but once we saw him punch our cat, or was it kick it.  He was banned from our yard for a long time.  He would stare longingly through our chain link fence as all the kids played in our yard on warm summer days.   Looking back, we could have had a future serial killer on our hands and we didn’t even know it.  

Now, as I ponder on my own life and my struggles of figuring out what I want to do with this “so called life,” I think “Frank”, as we call him now was always on the right path even as kid.  He is now the animal ordinance guy who you call when the raccoons decide to make a home in your attic, he get’s “rid of them.” If you were to ask me what he does with them once they are captured I do not know or want to know.  But he’s lucky, he turned his childhood passion into a lucrative job, go figure!

I’m not even sure how this story went where it did.  I was remembering when Frankie shook the heavy metal tie down off the telephone pole on our street.  “Frankie you better stop it,” we said as we saw two wires hit each other and spark above our heads and slowly all the lights on our street went dark, including the houses.  “oh you’re in big trouble now, here comes Mr. Oppenheimer and he looks mad, RUN…”

7 Comments
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Thinking about my father… »

7 Responses

  1. Anonymous says
    March 27, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    wow say it isn’t so Sandra love ya Shelley

  2. Becky says
    March 28, 2011 at 12:26 am

    What a fun story, Sandy! I was just thinking the other day that I should write stories about my childhood. Thanks for sharing one of yours!

  3. Mom says
    March 28, 2011 at 11:14 am

    As I stared to read this my thought was “why did you add his last name to this story?” I do think Sharp Street was a wonderful place to grow up. As I read on there was a big smile on my face, as i finished I was laughing.
    Really love you, my child.
    Mom.
    P.S. Frank turned out great, helps everyone who knows him.

  4. Bettie Lou says
    March 28, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    Another good one niece! Writing last names adds flavor to the piece ( as long as it dosn’t hurt someone) and it brings people back themselves to a younger time in thier lives. I say use it. And any one in the western world would never believe someone would believe anyone lived on ‘SHARP ST’.Good old Ledger Starr had NO I mean NO imagination. Not your fault! Write on!!!!!!!!!
    ABL

  5. Sandy says
    March 28, 2011 at 5:27 pm

    Mom, I think you might be right about the last name so I took it out. I think Frank would laugh if he read this post. I still remember when he found our roll of rope that fell off the back of a truck. What a colorful childhood I had, wouldn’t trade it for the world 🙂

  6. Trisha says
    March 29, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Love what Frankie does as an adult…isn’t that great. I once heard of a story of a kid who liked to start fires who grew up to be a firework worker…cool uh? I don’t know the formal name for it, but it used his childhood passion or starting fires. What did you like to do as a kid? Me? Read and write for sure.
    Trisha

  7. caterpillar says
    March 30, 2011 at 11:13 pm

    That was a nice piece written about your childhood…looking forward to reading more about your childhood…

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