September 29, 2010

Grownups Read Things They Wrote As Kids

I like to think that I'm a natural performer.
I love to be on stage in front of an audience and now that I'm old and have a regular job, I don't get to do it very often and it miss it deeply.
I also (as previously mentioned) like to write and apparently this goes way, way back (see other blog).

A couple of years ago my Dad was clearing out a trunk that belonged to my mother.
In it she had saved cards, notebooks and letters from her brood of children.
In this heap I discovered several creative writing "Campfire Notebooks"
(does anyone remember those? Did we only have them in Nova Scotia?
Could we get Hilroy to bring them back? I live near their factory. I should inquire....)
Anyway, they were from 1978-1979 so I would have been in grade three and four
and, let me just say?

They are hilarious.

My sister and I read them after being at my Dad's house that day and I have to say, we were convinced that we had contracted black lung because the nicotine and mould were so bad in his house.
As we lingered over take out pizza, I got out the "journals" and starting reading them to her and we were busting our guts with laughter.

I was precocious.
Or maybe just weird - I can't decide.
But yes, they are hilarious.

Example:

Squirrel

red, furry
running, climbing,
makes me feel small (???)
Rodent.

It was, I believe, a haiku, complete with crayon drawing of a reddish-brown smudge lurking on the side of a tree.
Too much.
Everytime fella and I see a squirrel (which are horribly abundent in Toronto) we say "Makes me feel small!" or "RODENT!"

Example # 2:

In one entry, I talk about how I love Christmas because my whole family is together and we "risk" going to church.
(I have NO idea what this means.
What were we risking?
Yes, we're a large family. We we afraid we wouldn't get seats?)

I then go on to say:

Christmas dinner is like the last supper, except with out all men.

?

I would explain if I could
but
I can't.

Anyway, there's a little function coming up on Monday called
Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids

I've read at this twice so far and just signed up for a third.
I shouldn't really advertise it because it's sold out
but keep an eye on future engagements.
It's an evening of good old fashioned fun and laughs.
Good clean fun.

A perfect setting for squirrel poems.




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