FROM THE SERIES “YOU MIGHT BE LIKE ME”
You Might Be Like Me: Stories of Decades from the Back Deck
Bridging Generations through Shared Stories
In my ongoing series, “You Might Be like Me,” I aim to share stories that resonate with others, letting them know they are not alone in their experiences. These stories are not just mine; they are ours, reflecting the raw and complex emotions that thread through our lives.
In today’s story, I let you in on a ritual my sisters and I have with mom. When I visit her, we typically sit out on her back deck, where the gentle breeze carries the scent of the blooming wisteria she has trained to grow in an arch over her walkway that leads you to the back deck from the backyard.
It is in these moments, surrounded by nature that our hearts open up and the stories flow. You see, we are not like many families I know that gather around the television. We tend to enjoy Mother Nature’s presence. I think we may be solar powered! But seriously, we all seem to have a pull to nature and I love that we share that similarity.
Mom reminisces the major events of her childhood
As we sit there, Mom starts reminiscing the time in which she grew up (the 1960’s and 70's). She tells us that she would not trade growing up during those decades for anything. She paints such vivid pictures that I am suddenly transported to the 60’s and 70’s, watching it all through my mother’s eyes.
With her words, she recounts memories of JFK’s assassination, the moon landing, growing up during the civil rights movement in Alabama, integration in school, and the Vietnam War. Just as I feel a connection to her experiences, I hope you, too, might find echoes of your own past in these tales.
I began thinking of the major events that influenced my childhood.
The 80’s, with their neon colors, Walkman radios, and the Nintendo were my early playground. I am sure many of you share those memories.
We watched in wide-eyed wonder, from our classrooms, as the Challenger rocketed into the sky, symbolizing our collective dreams reaching for the stars. Then our hearts collectively sank as it tragically exploded. I know some of you were in front of the television too, watching that moment in disbelief. There we all were, little children with tears streaming down our faces, feeling the weight of loss in our souls.
From mom’s back deck I briefly looked up to the sky and wondered what went through Sally Ride’s mind as she boarded the Challenger.
But before the 80’s came to an end we had a different kind of transformation, a time of hope and unity as the Berlin Wall fell, bringing families back together. Just as the wall fell, so did the barriers in our hearts. We saw the possibility of a world where differences could be embraced, not feared. It was a time when we dared to dream of a more inclusive and harmonious world.
It was a world where we could all sit together on a back deck, bask in the warmth of the sun, and share stories that bind us, rather than divide us.
Alongside these triumphs, we could not ignore the dark shadows that loomed. Some of you may remember the names that sent chills down our spines — names like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, and cults like the Branch Davidians, and Heaven’s Gate. These were moments when our innocence was shattered, and we realized the fragility of our world.
It was a time of fear, confusion, and the unsettling realization that evil could be lurking just around the corner.
Then there were the losses that reverberated through our hearts. I am sure many of you mourned with me when we said goodbye to Kurt Cobain, whose music was the soundtrack of our generation. We wept together for Princess Diana, whose grace touched the hearts of millions.
These were moments of deep sadness, when the weight of the world pressed upon our shoulders, and we struggled with the fragility of life.
As the world grappled with Desert Shield and Desert Storm, we were reminded that even in the midst of progress, war and conflict could still cast their long shadows. Some of you may have had loved ones who served during that time.
The fear and worry we carried in our hearts were palpable, as seeing missiles strike on live tv was now the norm.
In these stories, I hope you find glimpses of your own experiences and emotions. We are bound together by our shared history, by the moments that shaped us, and the stories that connect us. As we revisit the past, let’s remember that we might be more alike than we realize.
Understanding each other’s stories can bring us closer, bridging the gaps that sometimes separate us, even as we sit outside on a back deck, under the open sky, and share the stories that make us who we are.
So, if you enjoy gathering outside and sharing stories, you might be like me. You might be someone who finds solace in the embrace of nature and the warmth of human connection. And that, my dear friends, is a beautiful thing.
Sincerely,
Your favorite mediocre writer
This is the third installment of a series. If you enjoyed it please consider following, subscribing, commenting, and/or sharing to your networks! You may just find out you’re more like me than you thought! Sorry/not sorry.
Thank you for reading this article.
If you like what you read, please consider following me on Medium.
We can also connect on LinkedIn, Threads, Mastodon, and/or X.
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I’m not sure what I’m more addicted to: coffee or creating content. But one thing is for sure, I can’t do one without the other. So, if you want to keep me caffeinated and creative, please consider buying me a coffee. I’ll use it to fuel my creativity and keep creating the content you love. Or, if you’re feeling generous, you can buy me a coffee and treat Hazel and/or Holly.
I won’t say no to either! 😉
