Scribblings

Thursday MeMes

3X Thursday:

1. How old were you when you left your parents' house? Was it by choice or by force?

I left home when I was 19. It was my choice but it was sort of forced on me. My parents’ drinking and fighting were affecting me and then one night my mom tried to kill herself by swallowing a bottle of tranquilizers. My dad refused to take her to the hospital and wouldn’t let me call an ambulance so I packed a bag and left that nuthouse. My mom recovered but they continued drinking and fighting so I stayed away.

2. Did you go to college? If so, did you live in the dorms? If not, what was your housing like?

I didn’t go to college then. The pastor of my church helped me get a room at a boarding house for working women. It was similar to a dorm in that we had community bathrooms, living & dining areas. I made friends and enjoyed living there

3. What was the scariest thing about moving out on your own? How did you overcome it?

I moved into my first apartment less than a year later. It was a bright and spacious efficiency in Bolton Hill, Baltimore, MD. The scariest thing was being alone at night. I used to push my dresser in front of the door after I was in for the night. Eventually, I just got used to it.

Bonus Question for Comments: If you could live in any structure (house, apartment, etc) what would it be? Why?

I would choose a ranch type house or condo because going up and down stairs has become difficult for me. I don’t want to live in a beehive, which is what an apartment would be like now. I’d like to have an easy-to-maintain home with TB sometime in the future when everyone grows up, gets married, and moves away.

Thursday Threesome:

Onesome: School-- Since the school year seems to be over (your mileage may vary: some of you are already in summer sessions!): what was your favorite year in school? Yeah, the one you had the best time in or learned something special or had that learning breakthrough?

My favorite school year was my senior year in high school. All the pressure of required courses was of for the most part and I was able to take subjects I really enjoyed: music, drama, and Latin. The seniors had a special section of the cafeteria reserved and it was great to sit at a round table eating lunch with my best friends! We were the “top” class on the school bus and that year we got to sing, “We are the seniors, the mighty mighty seniors! Everywhere we go, people ought to know who we are so we tell them …” And it would go round and round. Those memories are dimmer now because it’s been over 30 years!

Twosome: Bus-- Hey, how did you get to school in the early years? Walk? Bike? Mommy van? Bus? ...and for those still attending, how are you getting to and fro these days?

I walked and took the bus. When I was a kid, the elementary school was close enough so that I could walk. In junior high, I was supposed to take the bus but couldn’t stand the troublesome characters who got on. One girl used to throw lighted matches into other people’s hair. I have no idea why the bus driver didn’t do anything about it. So I walked to junior high too. When I was in high school, I took the public city bus to school. Nowadays I am driving!

Threesome: Stop-- ...and when did you stop going to school? ...or did you? Are you still at it? Amy plans to go back for those who are out of the system?

I graduated in 1973 and went out and got a job. I attended college for part of a semester in 1974. It’s a long sad story involving my pastor, who ended up being a sociopathic crook. I started back to school again part time in 1978 and got around 20 credits. I moved to Long Island, eventually married, moved back and started going back again in 1993. I have 60 credits but I’m not finished. I don’t think I will bother at this point because I am almost 50. It’s hard enough to get a job being a young graduate, never mind being an old gray mare!