Fridays

In Those Days, I was the Firstborn Son of a six sibling family. Only a sister was older than I, and she, to me, was as beautiful as a princess. She could twirl on skates, and dance just like a ballerina. She taught me a lot, but soon left our family to build one of her own. Although I loved my childhood, I dreamed of the day that I too could have independence. I tried it once when I was 11 or so, but that lasted only a few hours. Actually, Mom saw me packing and followed from a distance, keeping her watch full eye on me. While overseas, a Sears catalog was my only source, and I used it to plan the hows of my escape when I returned stateside. By then, I'd be 15, and well prepared to be on my own...I thought.

And things did change. Wasn't long after, I became a legally emancipated person, married, and began a family of my own. My father was soon transferred to another part of the country, taking with him Mom and the siblings. And I was alone, to fend for myself, and to care for my family. With time, my in laws came to be more accepting of me, and I learned to trust and admire them, especially the one my kids called Pop. It was strange to me that he was called Pop, just as my father was. Although we butted heads occasionally, I leaned from him as well. Mostly economics and such, which I used to build a solid foundation for my future.

And now as I sit on this Dock, and reflect back to the Days that Were, I have recognized my roots and I know how I came to be me.