I really enjoyed reading this! I will definitely be following the progress of work in progress. I'm particularly fixed upon, captivated, haunted, by your ability to communicate that unique kind of childhood claustrophobia. While I did not grow up in the midwest and knew nothing about that, my world was in Los Angeles suburbs. but the child's mind that is trying to navigate oddball self-Absorbed parents and somehow try and get their physical and emotional needs met, let alone their needs for exhaust free breathing, the San Fernando valley being a particularly bad place to grow up in the '70s. We had smog so bad that we couldn't go to recess. Lead gasoline and cigarettes in restaurants. I feel a particular dislike of stepmother, perhaps she's some kind of prototype that I knew from my own childhood, but I think you kind of got
to the heart of it. She was afraid of everything. Fear. What a sad character to have that drive all of your interactions and behavior. You right with such detail and atmosphere.
Chris Andrews: With you, the untamed wild is beautiful and wondrous --
"As we drove past endless miles of deforested farmland, I wondered… what kind of person thought it ok to chop down every last tree and plow under every meadow? Where did all the animals go that had lived there? And what about the native plants? Were there any left? It seemed to me, even as a child, that most farmers were selfish. They seemed unwilling to share. When they bought land, they considered it theirs and theirs alone, never mind all the other creatures on our planet, the ones who had no means to take out a mortgage. They were just shit out of luck."
My favorite part was you carrying your baby sister to the neighbors to use the restroom. Glad you had safe spaces and you made sure your sister was safe too.
I really enjoyed reading this! I will definitely be following the progress of work in progress. I'm particularly fixed upon, captivated, haunted, by your ability to communicate that unique kind of childhood claustrophobia. While I did not grow up in the midwest and knew nothing about that, my world was in Los Angeles suburbs. but the child's mind that is trying to navigate oddball self-Absorbed parents and somehow try and get their physical and emotional needs met, let alone their needs for exhaust free breathing, the San Fernando valley being a particularly bad place to grow up in the '70s. We had smog so bad that we couldn't go to recess. Lead gasoline and cigarettes in restaurants. I feel a particular dislike of stepmother, perhaps she's some kind of prototype that I knew from my own childhood, but I think you kind of got
to the heart of it. She was afraid of everything. Fear. What a sad character to have that drive all of your interactions and behavior. You right with such detail and atmosphere.
Great story, Chris. You were precocious to be digging for clams at ten. :-) (I was a late bloomer.)
😂
Glad I re-read this. Giving ten year old you a hug. Thankful your younger brother and sister had you! And there's Doris ❤️
Chris Andrews: With you, the untamed wild is beautiful and wondrous --
"As we drove past endless miles of deforested farmland, I wondered… what kind of person thought it ok to chop down every last tree and plow under every meadow? Where did all the animals go that had lived there? And what about the native plants? Were there any left? It seemed to me, even as a child, that most farmers were selfish. They seemed unwilling to share. When they bought land, they considered it theirs and theirs alone, never mind all the other creatures on our planet, the ones who had no means to take out a mortgage. They were just shit out of luck."
My favorite part was you carrying your baby sister to the neighbors to use the restroom. Glad you had safe spaces and you made sure your sister was safe too.
Wait. Judy Blume books banned? That's un-American. You read Fear of Flying at 10? How very advanced of you.
Of course I have more to say, but those details caught my eye.
Love this. So engaging. Yay!