My friend Nate, the recovering canned fruit addict, is one of those tall, quiet types to watch out for.
When we went to see R. Crumb awhile back, we talked about our impressions of each other. I had mine of him, some of which he shot down. But his impressions of me were dead-on.
I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Nate. Next stop: psychoanalysis.
Me (3:02:15 PM): Please tell me about your childhood.
Nate (3:02:18 PM): i got beat with a switch. i biked a lot. i was cowardly and manipulative when i wanted to get my way. i loved hello dolly obsessively. i was afraid i was going to hell.
Me (3:03:36 PM): What else?
Nate (3:04:23 PM): i had a very bad sense of direction and a lot of ear infections
Me (3:04:35 PM): please put that in a rap song. lol
Me (3:04:48 PM): It was all a dream…
Me (3:05:05 PM): I used q-tips but my ears was never clean.
Me (3:05:17 PM): i had a very bad sense of direction and a lot of ear infections
Nate (3:06:36 PM): i see. you’re making fun
Me (3:07:11 PM): I’m charmed by what you shared.
Nate (3:07:38 PM): glad you enjoyed it
Me (3:08:19 PM): Why “Hello Dolly”?
Nate (3:08:33 PM): that’s just a damn good movie
Me (3:10:36 PM): Fear is a big part of what you mentioned. That, and what you enjoyed doing. What are you afraid of now?
Nate (3:11:02 PM): cows. probably the same stuff
Me (3:12:06 PM): going to hell?
Nate (3:12:22 PM): well that not so much. that was just a product of my schooling. i got over that over a period of intense fear. now I’m fine. dogs too
Me : Good.
Your turn: I’d love to hear about your childhood Nate-style.
If you’d like, fill out the form below and leave it in comments:
I [something that happened to you]. I was ______ when I wanted to get my way. I loved ______ obsessively. I was afraid of ______. I had a ______ and a lot of ______.
Here’s mine:
I played along with my aunt and pretended that I was bit by a rattlesnake, scaring my sister so much I still feed bad. I was sneaky, sulky, or outspoken when I wanted to get my way. I loved books obsessively. I was afraid of losing my family in a gory, horrible accident. I had a pet squirrel once and a lot of turtles.
I had to run laps in my bare feet for an entire period as a fourth grader after my gym shoes had rocks in them. The rocks were there because the gym teacher made us go outside to do chin-ups and wouldn’t let us change shoes. I got the worst blisters of my life. I was bossy and bratty when I wanted to get my way (still am). I loved baby dolls and their accessories obsessively. I was afraid of being trapped in a house fire after a Girl Scout trip to a fire station and having the “Tot Saver” sticker on my bedroom window. I had a wedge hair cut in sixth grade and a lot of journals.
I would ride my bike with no handbars and blare Madonna out of my cassete player up & down the street. I was whiny and loud when I wanted to get my way. I loved dancing & boys obsessively. I was afraid of vampires. I had a plastic playhouse I could go in and a lot of plastic food to pretend to eat.
I was on Mr. Wizard, a science tv show, in the 3rd grade. I was a big baby when I wanted to get my way. I loved The Baby-sitter’s Club and Ramona Quimby book series obsessively. I was afraid of Herman Munster and mannequins. I had a waterbed and lots of stamps from my stamp collection.
I broke my wrist when I was three (don’t worry, I’m fine now). I was pouty and dramatic when I wanted to get my way. I loved the New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking and Reading Rainbow obsessively. I was afraid of the dark. I had an overwhelming desire to look through my parents’ and grandparents’ belongings (no drawer, shelf, or cabinet was left unexplored) and a lot of imagination because we lived in the proverbial middle of nowhere and it was vital in keeping myself entertained.
These are great!
I love Reading Rainbow. I check out episodes from the library sometimes.
Amy, I used to watch Mr. Wizard! What was your experiment?
you lived my childhood on thanksgiving.