You had an educational childhood, to say the least. Well-rounded and cosmopolitan - and I don't mean that at all ironically. You got to see both sides of life at once - the underside and the topside - and that's an education in and of itself not many of the rest of us achieve.
She knew all about Commodore and the boys in ROTC, and she's the one who told me to volunteer with Mrs. Taylor at the Neighborhood Youth Corps. Mrs. Taylor was our maid when we lived in that multiplex where you were born. I could write a whole column about Mrs. Taylor. She had 12 children, plus she ran that jobs program and by September got about 50 drop outs back in high school...including Commodore who hadn't graduated because he was in prison.
OMG Chick, you really must cease with the stories of high school in Leavenworth!!!! I’m sitting here with the 1963 June Bug looking up pictures of Commodore and Kenny Perdue. You certainly mingled with an entirely different crowd.
Excellent ! A lot of action at your high school. "West Side Story" must have more resonance for you than most - getting zapped with a zip-gun or hit with a chain would be problematic.
You sure had a more intestine and varied upbringing than I, Lucian. Makes for great reading. I wonder what became of Commodore, and how he got his name.
Very different I suspect from my husband’s growing up during those same years in Overland Park, KS... though his Dad, a WWII fighter pilot came close to going to one of those establishments mentioned for bank fraud.
As a recovering alcoholic, I remember kids who had been overseas in Europe recalling cutting school, jumping on a tram or strassenbahn, going into to town to drink...this budding drunk was inspired by those stories. Part of why I stayed on active duty and ended up in Heidelberg.
You had an educational childhood, to say the least. Well-rounded and cosmopolitan - and I don't mean that at all ironically. You got to see both sides of life at once - the underside and the topside - and that's an education in and of itself not many of the rest of us achieve.
And Commodore got a little ‘backside! Couldn’t resist!
Interesting…very interesting!
Did you ever tell Mom all these stories?!
She knew all about Commodore and the boys in ROTC, and she's the one who told me to volunteer with Mrs. Taylor at the Neighborhood Youth Corps. Mrs. Taylor was our maid when we lived in that multiplex where you were born. I could write a whole column about Mrs. Taylor. She had 12 children, plus she ran that jobs program and by September got about 50 drop outs back in high school...including Commodore who hadn't graduated because he was in prison.
Put her on the SCOTUS!!!
Lucian with the real folks everywhere he went. We get the benefits.
OMG Chick, you really must cease with the stories of high school in Leavenworth!!!! I’m sitting here with the 1963 June Bug looking up pictures of Commodore and Kenny Perdue. You certainly mingled with an entirely different crowd.
Excellent ! A lot of action at your high school. "West Side Story" must have more resonance for you than most - getting zapped with a zip-gun or hit with a chain would be problematic.
You sure had a more intestine and varied upbringing than I, Lucian. Makes for great reading. I wonder what became of Commodore, and how he got his name.
Military brats have seen some sights, for sure!
Very different I suspect from my husband’s growing up during those same years in Overland Park, KS... though his Dad, a WWII fighter pilot came close to going to one of those establishments mentioned for bank fraud.
Bravo….
Wow. Just wow.
Wow
Fascinating! I am so glad to be along for the read!
Wow. Lucian, you seem to have lived five lives—at least! What wonderful memories (good and bad). Thank you, as always, for sharing them.
Smaks, even better than Winstead’s.
Very interesting….indeed…..
Marvelous. Such recollection. Thank you Lucian.
I'm a bit younger (not quite 70) and loved the story. I'm a hat guy, and never heard of a chincy-brim hat, and Bing was no help. A kind of fedora?
Narrow brimmed hat.
I translated it as stingy-brim.
The hoods all said it the other way. It is an old, old hipster term, I believe.
Regional, probably.
Haven’t heard that term since forever or read it never.
You are an official Google entry now!!! Check it out!
What's most striking is how ready you were, instinctively, for every challenge, no matter how exotic.
Army life does it.
As a recovering alcoholic, I remember kids who had been overseas in Europe recalling cutting school, jumping on a tram or strassenbahn, going into to town to drink...this budding drunk was inspired by those stories. Part of why I stayed on active duty and ended up in Heidelberg.
True that.