1967, What a Year!
by
Roger Crique
(Age: 51)
copyright 11-14-2005 Contest Winner
Age Rating: 13 to 127
Picture Credits:
I don't remember much about the year 1967. But if I think really hard, if I close my eyes and concentrate really hard, memories of happy times and a wonderful childhood suddenly rush into my mind and soul. I was eleven years old in 1967. My body was changing; I did not know why. All I knew was that I was beginning to develop a strange feeling toward girls. I actually liked them! I preferred to play with girls, now, my friends would get mad at me, because I would not play with them anymore. It wasn't as fun. I was beginning to find girls attractive. Could you imagine that, girls, attractive? One day, my friend Mayra and I decided to play house. Mayra was nine years old and she was very pretty. Our mock home was under my mother’s dining room table. We pretended to be a family, with lots of kids roaming around the house. I was a proud husband. I was the King of the Castle! I gave the orders. Everyone had to listen to me. ‘Everyone must go to bed now!’ I shouted. It was time for the kids to go to bed. We have to go to bed too, Mayra," I would tell her. "Husbands sleep on top of their wives," I would say. I would get on top of her and would give her a goodnight kiss. Then we pretended to go to sleep. It felt so good, but I could not explain why.
"I can't sleep like this!" Mayra would complain.
"Well, you have to; husbands sleep on top of their wives!" I would emphasize. So, we would lay there for about five minutes, until Mayra complained that she couldn't breath. It was all innocent play, I wouldn't know what to do anyway, though I thought I knew! One day, my mother caught us! All hell broke loose! I got the butt whipping of my life! Now that I look back on my childhood, I’m glad my mother belted me, every so often. It was a happy time for me in 1967; I would never miss an episode of Johnny Quest, Superman or Aquaman. Shazzan was another big hit at the time. Route 66 and Daktari were among my favorite TV shows. My TV was so old and messed up that I would develop a crooked neck, trying to keep up with the jagged vertical lines that never seemed to straighten up.
I was a happy kid, in a country that was warm and beautiful. Life was slow and serene. School was fun, now that I think of it. Classes were held from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and I loved it. Teachers were tough, though. They had an unspoken right to exert corporal punishment if they saw it fit. Respect for one's elders was a must, respect for everyone, as a matter of fact. Children stood at the lowest end of the totem pole, in the Dominican Republic. Grown-ups were always right. We had to earn our stripes! We had to obey and learn from our elders, no questions asked, and I tell you, it worked!
The neighbors had carte blanche to reprimand and at times, they would also exert corporal punishment if needed. They would pull our ears and take us straight to our parents, if they caught us doing anything wrong. You better be sure, our parents would finish the job. Today, as I reflect on my childhood, I must say I'm grateful for all those punishment I received. I thank my mother for disciplining me. Without discipline, I'm sure I would have not turned out the law-abiding citizen that I am today. 1967 was a great year, one of the best years of my life! And to think that there is plenty that I can't remember....
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It's always such fun to hear how children interpret things they see adults do or hear them say! I remember pretending to drive a car with an invisible steering wheel. Had that been a real car with me driving it at that age, I would have needed a 6 lane highway all to myself so as not to cause an accident!
And you are so right about the respect children were taught to have for others. If only kids now would have that same respect for their parents as we did now! Life has changed, and I can't say it's for the better.
You did a great job with this story. You brought a lot of memories to the surface. Thank you!
BJ
I am glad to see that I am not the only one to play house, I lived a very sheltered live, grew up in church, my father was vietnam war vet, and a San Antonio police officer, I was adopted at 7 years old, but enough about me, this is about you and I am glad to know a little something about your childhood, Great write, good job, thanks,
This is like choosing a meal from a Chinese menu. There are so many delicacies to choose from.
Shazam! So many good descriptive phrases. Best for me was:
My TV was so old and messed up that I would develop a crooked neck, trying to keep up with the jagged vertical lines that never seemed to straighten up.
I also loved the part where you told Myrna that husbands always sleep on top of their wives.This was a very warm, light-hearted, nostalgic work of art. Thanks for sharing it.
One typo:
Everyone must go to bed now!’ I shouted. It was time for the kids to go to bed. We have to go to be too, Mayra,"
Thanks for sharing this, Roger. It is nice to hear someone say that a good whooping did them good. I believe lack of discipline is the reason we have so many problems today.
Sounds like you had strict parents like me, but I wouldn't change it for the world.
Ah, the good ole days. Why were we in such a hurry to grow up? If we only knew..
I don't know about you, but I am gonna enjoy my grandkids' childhood with them. I guess that's what they always meant by second childhood...
I have a story about playing house as well. I was only 3, but my mom heard the little boy say 'I'll show you mine if you show me yours' and I got the tar beat out of me too! Yes, I remember being 3. I don't remember what I had for lunch today, but I remember being even younger than that.
Thanks for entering my contest.
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