Wednesday, April 13, 2005
April's Artsy Essay Submission
Growing up the youngest in a rather large family of 8 children, I was privvy to many adventerous tales told. I do believe these tales are part of the reason I am the way that I am today.
Back in the 70's and 80's one can only imagine the things my siblings were up to. Drugs, concerts, going to forbidden places...so much to amuse my young mind. I was part of many different types of music from Cat Stevens, to Boston, Aerosmith, The Charlie Daniels Band, Alabama, to name only a few. Of course on those lonely evenings while my siblings were out creating new adventures to bring home to my curious little ears, I would sneak into their rooms and listen to their albums. These were of course the 33-speed vinyl, do not touch or you will get your fingers cut off for scratching them variety. The kind that our own children only laugh at now.
Oh how I loved being the little mouse. I got so many creative ideas, learned how to avoid getting caught in my own childhood adventures, I learned how to get away with quite a bit. I gained some important techniques and knowledge in my young years. And I had one up on everyone because I knew all their dirty little secrets.
I was told to not speak a word of what I'd heard or I would get beat up. Because I knew that my siblings would do it, I said nothing. That was kind of an unspoken rule in the house actually. Often times when my father was on the road driving semi's across the state, my mom would allow us freedoms that weren't normally allowed by my father and she always said, "Just be home before your dad gets home!" Or "Don't tell your dad that I let you do that."
There were a few places that were taboo. Places my parents said were dangerous. Mostly my mom. Of course when you tell a child something is dangerous, eventually their curiosity will get the best of them and the exploration will begin.
One of those places was just about a mile from our house. My sisters called it the Reservoir. This was the home to many of their high school parties and the things where they did what rowdy curious teenagers do. My brother, who is 5 years older than I, is a quiet nature loving guy. He was always the one I loved the most. He was patient with me, took me fishing, took meon boat rides and never treated me like the pain in the rear little sister that I know that I was. He taught me many things with his silence. He also taught me many things with his few words.
He liked to frequent the reservoir in secret. He would tell my mom that he was going for a walk to the 'pond', which is very near obviously. There was one day that she told him to stay away from the reservoir. They argued and he stormed out the door to 'walk to the pond'. I had a little secret though. I knew even before that, that he was going to the forbidden place. He told me that he always went there just to think. On this particular day, I asked my mom why she didn't like them going to this spot and she simply said, "Because it's a big hole in the ground and if you fall through, you will fall into the water and drown." My mom, well, she is a HUGE worry wart. She described many things in their worst form without actually knowing what she was really missing out on.
From what my brother described to me about his thinking spot, it sounded like heaven. A huge field big enough to play football on and you could see for miles. At night, the sky danced with stars and you could see them clear as day because there were no lights to distract from them. Nothing like what my mom had said.
The first time I was invited to a party at the 'Res' as it was called, I was terribly excited! Wow, I was actually going to start experiencing the things that my 'big' brothers and sisters' always talked about. It was winter, we had a keg and a bon fire and were surrounded by trees. There were about 20 people there and it was very mellow. All that one could hear was the crackling of the fire, and the low drone of conversation. But, in my mind I wasn't thinking about these things. I was thinking, 'this isn't how my brother described it'. We were located down in the woods. I couldn't see anything except for trees. I was very confused. Why would he lie to me.
Time passed and my boyfriend, who is now my husband, a friend of ours and myself decided to get some alcohol one day and go hang out on the res. The first time I went there, we had parked near the woods in a place that was quite far from my home. Remember, the res was very close to my house. Well, this time, was different. We parked just up the road and got out and hoofed it. I didn't know what was going on but didn't want to look 'uncool' so I remained silent. I had become very good at that. We continued to walk, past the pond up the road a ways and came upon a trail. It was a long, snake-like, uphill trail of green grass. Near it there was a big glass house with a rather large brown dog. I was terrified of dogs, still am actually, and thought that we were trespassing. There were no tresspassing signs posted very near the trail. Now not being too experienced in the art of deceit, I was nervous. Where were we going?
We continued on what seemed like an endless trail. Upon reaching the top, I knew that this was the res, this was the place my brother loved so much. It was breathtaking. A large field greeted us with little yellow and white wild flowers and prairie grass that was about up to my shins. I just stopped and took it all in. I looked around and it was true, a view as far as the eye could see. I had never known this little gem was just out my back door. It was a very peaceful spot, private, yet so naked to the world.
We stayed until dark. I remember lying on this big metal box next to our friend. Him and I were discussing the stars that were so brilliant. Other life on distant planets. He pointed out many constellations to me but for the life of me, I can't remember any of them. Sad but true.
The photo of this mysterious mosaic that Judith has shared helped me to travel through a time in my life that was filled with such simple yet masked pleasures. When the innocence was so new and awe inspiring.
There is a portion of this photo that reminded me of a stairway. I will name it as The Stairway of Life. Each step portraying a part in history that molded my life. Each step an important recollection of those buried memories that one's life is just too busy or to angry at things past to recall. An important discovery that must be visited frequently to remember, that the little things in life are free. Love, happiness, memories.
http://journals.aol.com/judithheartsong/newbeginning/entries/1396
Written by louie0768 .
No comments:
Post a Comment