Growing Up in Flip Flops

Send a text I learn a couple lessons that have stuck with me since my youth because of relatively harmless interactions involving high school dance dates.  One I learned on my own because of my date's reaction to an earlier prank I pulled on her and the second because of my mother's indignation at what she saw was about to happen.  I'm grateful for both of these reactions to my beha...

Send a text In this episode, I reflect on seemingly disparate  events in my young life, which connected to one another and led me to unexpected places.  These eventual unexpected destinations provided me with the opportunity to develop life long skills and interests.   The other result of all these experiences is a wanderlust to see what's around that next corner or what is the view from the...

Send a text An experience during a dental examination leads to a fear and my distrust of members of the medical profession from a young age, but dentists in particular.  The experience also gave me a life lesson to believe people when they tell you what they are experiencing. If it doesn't match what you believe, you need to start asking questions in order to understand what is happening.  An...

Send a text An attempt to escape my  usual Saturday morning of drudgery and housework leads to both an unexpected (and unwarranted) compliment and a surprising and happy ending for my mother.  A little lesson to everyone; be sure to make certain you are speaking to the person you assumed you are speaking.

Send a text A case of the mumps is absolutely no reason for me to miss a week of school.  And the cure in this case is not worse than the disease.  In fact, it was treat, at least for me.  Your mileage may vary.

Send a text My Aunt Caroline provides me with an admonition with which I adhere to this day. And I receive an object lesson in not judging someone simply by their appearance. 

Send a text I describe the chance meeting of two men with extraordinary experiences and my sense of blessing and gratitude at simply being able to shake their hands. I was very fortunate to meet these two men, but people like them are all around us and we have the opportunity to meet them, talk with them and perhaps, thank them, if we would only look up and pay attention to the people around us.

Send a text What I think is going to be a fun adventure with my uncle during a break for lunch turns into providing a life confirming decision.  We never know when life is going to give us these little learning opportunities.  And sometimes, they are quite unforgettable like mine was.

Send a text I learned the valuable and painful lesson that has stuck with me all these years from my mother that "sorry" doesn't cut it.  Excuses for the cause of the "sorry" don't matter to the hurt or wronged individual don't matter either.  Making the injured party whole is the responsible, and unfortunately too  uncommon, response.  It took me awhile to get t...

Send a text For a number of years after my father passed away, I remember two couples of snowbird renters who stayed with us.  They became simply extended members of our family  to my sister and I.  The interesting thing is they were willing to spend time and talk with a curious young boy and I took advantage of that time.  I learned from them and remember to this day the stories of a World War On...

Send a text I remember a weekly column in our local newspaper and the information that was shared.  But, the interesting point is my realization those people weren't as naive as I thought in comparison to our obvious sophistication today.

Send a text Simply wanting to share a moment with my father ends up having a very long lasting memory and impact on both my behavior and tastes.  These moments come along unexpectedly, and when they do, you will remember them.

Send a text It has always amazed me how the truly best things that happen in our lives are largely unplanned, in spite of ourselves.  And the greatest things we do in our lives don't show up on a resume. The best advice I can give to anyone is to walk through the open doors life provides for you.  You never know what great and wonderful things you can do when given the opportunity.

Send a text As a young boy being forced to iron cloths or scrabble eggs, all I saw was work and one more thing my mother was making me do beyond my usual chores around the house and yard. It wasn't until years later I learned the why of her actions. That "why" is something for which I am forever grateful to her.

Send a text In a regular Sunday morning Methodist church service, the unusual happens.  Which in and of itself, is noteworthy, but this particular occurrence was very different.  And it also  demonstrates how long memories can last. One definition of comedy is "A tragedy viewed from the wings, " that is, it's funny when it's not happening to you.  I smile today thinking of the...

Send a text Every time I set our supper table before dinner with plates, glasses and silverware, there was always the addition of a large serving spoon beside my mother's setting.  And every time I saw that serving spoon in its spot, I knew its dual purpose;  both table implement and instructional tool.  In later years, a different kind of "serving spoon" served as an instructional...

Send a text I see a dazzling display of lights in my bedroom in South Florida that reminds me of my teacher's description of her first experience upon witnessing the Northern Lights.  It seems the same except the colors are different than what she saw.  It was years later that I finally figured it all out.

Send a text This is not about how I spent a summer, but instead how I spent summers from about age six to 13.   It was in all likelihood, done out of necessity by my mother, but I learned a lot about people and myself during those summers.  Some aspects were difficult, but I'd live them all again if I could. As a great philosopher once wrote;  Visions of good times that brought so much pleasu...

Send a text Assuming that I was just attending a charity basketball game results in one of the more amazing experiences in my life.  One that is unlikely to ever occur again for anyone.  And why I was the lucky one for it to happen to, I have no explanation. 

Send a text Growing up in a garden surrounded by a variety of citrus and fruit would seemingly be a dream situation for most people.  Not for me.  And growing up in that garden has had a surprisingly long lasting effect on my tastes.

Send a text Sometimes you will witness a fleeting example of something extraordinary which you will remember for the rest of your life.  It can be something historic, such as where you were when you learned of the 9/11 tragedy, or something mundane, but still a surprise or a shock. Here I remember something I witnessed on an elementary school playground during recess.  Which I still count as one o...

Send a text Never ever underestimate a child's curiosity.  And know that curiosity can be a very powerful motivation. Confession is good for the soul, especially if the statute of limitations has run out.

Send a text My mother did everything right in preparing for a hurricane.  And then the unexpected happened.  But, even when the worst is happening around you, perhaps one day you'll look back, and even that day will be pleasant to remember.  At the very least, it will make a great story to tell.

Send a text I learn the truthfulness of Stevenson's comment that, "Sooner or later, everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences."  I learned how quickly that "banquet" can arrive and how loud and embarrassing it can be to attend it.  The result being I that I never wanted to visit that banquet hall ever again in my life.

Send a text My mother proves in a very direct manner that she is not someone with whom to be trifled or bullied.  And I receive an early indirect lesson that I shouldn't  push my mother on issues on which she was firm.  Whether or not this qualifies her to be a "Southern Belle" is still debatable.