Becoming Your Childhood

[ithildin]

I've become Miss Young.

My father was resident manager of a hotel when I was growing up (This Hotel), and we lived there from the time I was seven till I was fourteen. In the back office, Miss Young was the office manager. Since my father had worked there from the time I was two, I knew her my entire childhood. She had never married, and even lived on property. She must have been the age I am now when I was little. My boss just came back from picking up his oldest, who started ninth grade this year. He's taller than I am now, and I've known him since before he was born [g] I just realized I have become Miss Young. I wonder if he'll look back when he's my age and wonder about the odd spinster lady that used to work for his father? When I envisioned my life at his age, I certainly never saw myself becoming Miss Young, but looks like it happened anyway.

It's just one of those odd things that happen that make you all contemplative. And feel old.

Comments

[wizefics.livejournal.com]

I'm also Miss Young. But, Miss Young probably had a great life filled with laughter, love and friends that you just didn't see. From reading your journal, I know you have those things.

*hugs*

Sorry you're having a rough day.

[theteej2.livejournal.com]

I was gonna leave a one 'word' comment earlier but didn't have the heart to post it. Lordy, but you sure hit on some truths with this post.

[tygermama.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what to say. Did you like and respect her? Maybe she's not such a bad person to become.

I am turning into my grandfather. He's a lovable old kook. But I still had to go lie down after one day, my kids were bouncing a ball around, almost breaking things, and I found myself yelling, "Bounce a ball in the house and the chickens won't lay!"

But I'm happier today than I was 7 years ago.

I'm sure there were people who thought Miss Young was the coolest person they ever knew, and I'm sure there's a lot of people who think YOU are the coolest person they know now.

*hugs* I hope you feel better.

[methosdeb.livejournal.com]

at my age I do a lot of what if's - at one point I wanted to be a nun (what the hell was I thinking-)then I wanted a family with lots of kids ,Now I can't even imagine either and am happy with my life .being happy is the main thing don't let anyone tell you what is right and normal (hell who wants to be normal)

main question is are you happy ? if not change it
the hell with the rest .

(hugs)

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

It's very odd. I've been very contemplative recently. Just going downtown to the children's hospital has brought back memories as I turn on Union Avenue. It's the same route we took every Sunday night in 1974-75 when my mom and dad would take me and Judy back to nursing school.

It's the route I took every day to work until I left Baptist Central and they demolished the building. I still get tearful when I pass the site of that historic 19-story building.

Not too long ago I was in Whitehaven and I had the urge to just follow Raines Road down to the street I grew up on. I didn't have time, but it made me very sad.

I don't know. The times just seem very odd right now. I don't know if it's just a feeling or some kind of odd karma in the atmosphere.

But we have one another *hugs you*

[fkastrider.livejournal.com]

So ... Every time I was in that area you were in Berkeley.

1969 was the great trip west which included staying at my uncle's in the Oakland-Peidmont-Berkeley area, visiting cousin Kitty in the Monterey-Carmel area, more cousins in the LA area, thense homeward through the Las Vegas-St George-Zion-Bryce Canyon area.
From looking at the street maps of Berkeley, we probably parked about a block from your hotel when we took the walking tour of the Berkeley campus. Who knows, we might have met already.
Did you ever take in the 4th of July parade they held over the hill in Piedmont and see Jordy's old fire engine?

1978 (30 years ago right now) I spent a week at Asilomar, talking computers, eating, and drinking lots. Spent Thanksgiving with the uncle in the Oakland-Piedmont-Berkeley area and then home. Talk about Jonestown was all over the radio as I drove from the Monterey Airport to Asilomar.

Miss Young sounds all right. Better that than the whispered reputation of my Latin teacher (they said she was a stripper). Come to think of it, we has a spinster English teacher marry a bachelor Social Studies teacher when they retired at the end of my Sophomore year. I have no idea why they waited 30+ years.

I have no idea why the winds blow us the way they do.

I come from the more rock-steady (OK, boring) side of the family. I can not imagine leaving a "perfectly good job" to go somewhere else. I gave up opportunities to work in New York, Virgina, Phoenix, LA, and Seattle for just that reason. There is still much to be done and I am not yet ready to beat the dust from my sandals on this doorstep.

I currently live 80 miles from where I was born and within 20 miles of one of the Great Lakes. Our family preference for vacation is within 10 miles of what was my Grandfather's Orchard and within a State Park that I have walked since I could first walk. I miss my great grandmother's house up by Mackinac and our visits to the Island. I understand how a sense of place can root itself in your soul.

I live in the same metro area as my parents, well within driving distance of their home. We once put a bid on a house a block and a half away from my parents. Its just as well we didn't get it as it would not have worked out. Too much work was required on the house and other things.

Maybe I lack imagination, but could never have foreseen where I am now ... not when I graduated ... not when I got married ... not when I got the ulcer before my eldest was born, worrying about whether I would be a good Father ... that systems I designed would be on aircraft you've flown on ... that the President flies on ... so what if what I'm working on right now is for older Fighters ... I never expected to become Lord of the Relics, but there you are. Even now, I don't know what to expect next.

So far, I have done little of what (when I was 20) I expected I would do. Those dreams were good ... would have been nice ... but I now know I can dream better dreams.

By the way, maybe Miss Young published under a pen name ... which is why you don't recognize her works.

No, I am not kidding when I say you should getting paid (Writer's Guild or otherwise) for your writing. You can always write as you do now, then reformat them to fit screenplay format. The pay is good and it doesn't matter where you live. Your writing "voice" is good. Maybe not as quirky as whoever writes "Psych", but it has the feeling of something that should connect with a wide audience. I wish I knew who to talk to, to push your writing in front of an executive producer. Somebody should be able to do it. I just don't know who.

Best yet, unless Miss Young had a special stamp account with the Post Office, there is no way she could have connected with as many people as you. And that is no little thing.

{{{Hugs}}} all the same.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hedgewytch_/]

*Hugs you*

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Sorry :(

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

But I'm happier today than I was 7 years ago.

Glad to hear it :)

Thanks.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I wanted to be a nun too!

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I don't know. The times just seem very odd right now. I don't know if it's just a feeling or some kind of odd karma in the atmosphere.

[nods] Exactly.

[HUGS]

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Yep, I was in the Bay Area from 1963-1977, then we moved to Canada.

I don't think most of us actually get the lives we foresee as children.

[HUGS]

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

[HUGS]

[mischief5.livejournal.com]

You know exactly what my life was like and I never thought I'd end up where I am today. There's so many things I would go back and change if I could. But then I wouldn't be me and I wouldn't know you. The thought of that makes me very sad. None of us know who Miss Young really was but if she was anything like you, she was an astonishing woman. (((hugs)))

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

[HUGS] I know what you mean.

[gracedlace.livejournal.com]

I feel for your experiencing relationship lonliness and wish that I could fix that for you. THat said, I get the most interesting Christmas letters from a single woman in her 60's. She's wildly independent and makes the most of it, despite the fact that I'm sure she's had her own lonely times, as well.

((((Ith))))

[theteej2.livejournal.com]

No need to apologize. You only spoke the truth. I never would have dreamed that I would be a 45 year old spinster, Lord, how I hate that word. It just dredges up all kinds of unpleasant thoughts.

Yet the sad reality is true. I am that old and I am single. There hasn't been a prospect in sight in 13 years, and I doubt highly (please folks no more platitudes!) doubt one is going to come along now. So I am learning how to live with it. And I am almost at the point where I don't think I want to change to adapt to some one else.

*shrugs*

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

And that about covers it! :) [HUGS]

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) I think it more missing the children I never got to have more than the relationship. At least, that's best how I can explain it.