That was familiar, from the guy's side I guess. A girl in my class lived with her grandmother so we always had a car after nine because the grandmother kept to grandmother bedtimes. I tell my kids to behave and not do x and y but I'm firm that all the sneaking around gave us agency to grapple with right and wrong in a way we otherwise wouldn't have. We didn't do what we were told so we established our own limits. People who misbehaved went bad, by which I mean criminally or wastefully bad, or they didn't. I trust the ones that didn't in a way I don't the ones who abided all the rules. I know it's not fear of consequences that makes them amiable. I feel like I can spot my fellows even though we're the window boarders now.
I experienced a very similar youth/ teenage years, accept I was a young, catholic school raised guy, dying to get out from under the dogma and hypocrisy of the church and my parents. I lost my virginity to a wonderful Jewish girl named Ilise at the age of 14. It was exciting, frightening and she called me a “ dirty dog” while we exploring the unknown. We stayed together for a couple of years then she moved away. Wonderful memories!
I didn’t have the exact same experience as this (or to be honest anything like this - growing up in middle england, we can’t drive until older, strict parents, smaller houses/no basements) but I get the vibe.
The feeling of wanting to be so grown up, but being reminded that you’re not by both older kids and actual adults, the heartbreak, the house parties, the drama, the next day. The way this is written, exquisite xx
I enjoyed this as if I were living it myself. So similar to my own experiences I felt myself present in your experience. Climbing out of my window and meeting up with a pac of kids, TP’ing a kids house, getting chased by police and sneaking back in the window on to the bed where my mom (discovering my fake body) had placed a box silverware so she could hear it fall when I returned.
Your wonderful writing fully captured the same time period of time in my past. Thank you.
"You remember it with the sharpness and clarity of the pain you felt tearing you in half as it happened." I wish more people talked about the pain women go through the first time. I've never forgotten it - and really, I've never gotten over it.
Loved it! My teen years were spent in a big city in the South of Russia but reading your piece brought back all the nostalgia even of the things that were different. Beautifully written!
this post was so fun to read!! i’m not gonna be able to live an american teenagehood so it’s fun to read this and imagine how would it be like!!
Thank you for reading!!
That was familiar, from the guy's side I guess. A girl in my class lived with her grandmother so we always had a car after nine because the grandmother kept to grandmother bedtimes. I tell my kids to behave and not do x and y but I'm firm that all the sneaking around gave us agency to grapple with right and wrong in a way we otherwise wouldn't have. We didn't do what we were told so we established our own limits. People who misbehaved went bad, by which I mean criminally or wastefully bad, or they didn't. I trust the ones that didn't in a way I don't the ones who abided all the rules. I know it's not fear of consequences that makes them amiable. I feel like I can spot my fellows even though we're the window boarders now.
What a fantastic piece of writing this is, kudos!
I experienced a very similar youth/ teenage years, accept I was a young, catholic school raised guy, dying to get out from under the dogma and hypocrisy of the church and my parents. I lost my virginity to a wonderful Jewish girl named Ilise at the age of 14. It was exciting, frightening and she called me a “ dirty dog” while we exploring the unknown. We stayed together for a couple of years then she moved away. Wonderful memories!
Gorgeously written piece! Such a gift to us readers that you’ve written it in second person. Wow.
yes, more
I disappeared into your story telling. So many parts an echo of my own teenage years. So good!
Thank you so much! 💕
I didn’t have the exact same experience as this (or to be honest anything like this - growing up in middle england, we can’t drive until older, strict parents, smaller houses/no basements) but I get the vibe.
The feeling of wanting to be so grown up, but being reminded that you’re not by both older kids and actual adults, the heartbreak, the house parties, the drama, the next day. The way this is written, exquisite xx
Well done, Amanda. It reminds me of growing up in the Chicago suburbs in the 60s; I'm male, but I had my heart broken. too.
I enjoyed this as if I were living it myself. So similar to my own experiences I felt myself present in your experience. Climbing out of my window and meeting up with a pac of kids, TP’ing a kids house, getting chased by police and sneaking back in the window on to the bed where my mom (discovering my fake body) had placed a box silverware so she could hear it fall when I returned.
Your wonderful writing fully captured the same time period of time in my past. Thank you.
Thank you for the trip down memory lane! It’s good to know there were other idiot girls like me 😁
"You remember it with the sharpness and clarity of the pain you felt tearing you in half as it happened." I wish more people talked about the pain women go through the first time. I've never forgotten it - and really, I've never gotten over it.
Loved it! My teen years were spent in a big city in the South of Russia but reading your piece brought back all the nostalgia even of the things that were different. Beautifully written!
Wonderful piece! I'm 72 now but this brought me right back to my teen years. Can't wait to read more!
Lovely
So great..... Thank you for my memories. Close to me.