Yikes, Shell, you are so right about those dangerous games. The only good news is, like all negative (Ha Ha! and positive) experiences, they are behind us. Those experiences helped make us who we are today. When I was a child, I played a now banned game called DodgeBall. It was fun, even though the many blows we took to our heads, trunk and extremities make us wince and, sometimes cry. Our fainting game involved having a "friend" squeeze our neck (pressing on our carotid artery bulbs) until we passed out. Looking back on it, it was idiocy. I have never spoken or written of it until now. The good news: it is in my past. If I saw one of my grandchildren doing those things, what would I say? Would they listen? I didn't.
Ooo that was a dangerous game you played as well. Most people have told me they never heard of such a game as I described. You are one who has indeed participated. I had not written about it either until the memory just bubbled over recently.
I was scared to death to try anything as I was sure I would become addicted to it, though I did become borderline anorexic for a time, because I thought it would make boys like me better. Ha! Fortunately, my periods stopped and that was a big sign, that I needed to care for my body better, before it was too late. (Plus it only made me skinny and depressed, so guys were not lining up to date me!)
Wow! Very scary for sure! It's a wonder ANY of us made it to adults with some of the things we did! My next door neighbor and his girlfriend thought it was a good idea to sniff Pam, the stuff for non-stick cooking!! The girlfriend fell and hit her head on the curb in front of his house and she ended up dying! I have never forgotten seeing her taken away in a ambulance and after that attending her funeral. It didn't have any effect on her boyfriend to clean up his act though, I don't even know if he is still living but my hunch would be that he passed away a long time ago!
Oh my… no, and yet, it was only as an adult that I learned of loved ones wracked by cutting, anorexias, and other indications of their pain. It’s so difficult to write about something that’s so specific at the time, yet so universal as an experience in its many forms.
Thank you for cracking the door, you have such a talent.
Indeed, you ARE opening the door for others who need to have these conversations. Sharing stories about OUR past help us better understand them and understand others in this next generation.
♥️
Yikes, Shell, you are so right about those dangerous games. The only good news is, like all negative (Ha Ha! and positive) experiences, they are behind us. Those experiences helped make us who we are today. When I was a child, I played a now banned game called DodgeBall. It was fun, even though the many blows we took to our heads, trunk and extremities make us wince and, sometimes cry. Our fainting game involved having a "friend" squeeze our neck (pressing on our carotid artery bulbs) until we passed out. Looking back on it, it was idiocy. I have never spoken or written of it until now. The good news: it is in my past. If I saw one of my grandchildren doing those things, what would I say? Would they listen? I didn't.
Ooo that was a dangerous game you played as well. Most people have told me they never heard of such a game as I described. You are one who has indeed participated. I had not written about it either until the memory just bubbled over recently.
I commend you for writing this. The older I get the more I learn that there is just no end to the different life experiences that exist in the world.
That’s so true about life. Thank you for commenting.
I was scared to death to try anything as I was sure I would become addicted to it, though I did become borderline anorexic for a time, because I thought it would make boys like me better. Ha! Fortunately, my periods stopped and that was a big sign, that I needed to care for my body better, before it was too late. (Plus it only made me skinny and depressed, so guys were not lining up to date me!)
I’m glad you took the sign to care for yourself. Thank God.
Wow! Very scary for sure! It's a wonder ANY of us made it to adults with some of the things we did! My next door neighbor and his girlfriend thought it was a good idea to sniff Pam, the stuff for non-stick cooking!! The girlfriend fell and hit her head on the curb in front of his house and she ended up dying! I have never forgotten seeing her taken away in a ambulance and after that attending her funeral. It didn't have any effect on her boyfriend to clean up his act though, I don't even know if he is still living but my hunch would be that he passed away a long time ago!
Oh my word. How horrible the consequences can be!
Oh my… no, and yet, it was only as an adult that I learned of loved ones wracked by cutting, anorexias, and other indications of their pain. It’s so difficult to write about something that’s so specific at the time, yet so universal as an experience in its many forms.
Thank you for cracking the door, you have such a talent.
Oh thank you for saying that. And I like your phrase, “cracking the door.”
Indeed, you ARE opening the door for others who need to have these conversations. Sharing stories about OUR past help us better understand them and understand others in this next generation.
Man, and I thought we were dumb for jumping off the roof of a house and into a pool 🤣
Oh my brother did that too! All. THE. TIME!
Wow. Food for thought.