The Amazing Memories Of The Childhood I Took For Granted

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At my mother’s house, which was in town, I was surrounded by my two best friends and my dog Duffy. The bond I had with that dog set the bar extremely high for all the dogs that came after her. She followed me all over the neighborhood and the town. She would wander off for a bit and then always find her way back to me. Back then, children were allowed to roam the streets on our bicycles, along with wandering the woods and the streams. Every night, I would come in when the streetlights came on. Duffy and I would sleep together every night and rise with each other every morning.Suddenly, at age 10, my mother and my stepfather decided we would relocate to another town four hours away. I moved away from my little country town, my friends, my dad, my grandma, and my dog. I never saw my dog again. I still grieve for that dog and how she would sleep on my pillow. I will forever remain grateful for the time that I was allowed as a child.<figure id="8dd5"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*UpUhHs5amN0WLNND"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@luismorerat?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Luis Morera</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>I ended up in Augusta, Georgia which was only four hours away, but may as well have been on another planet. I quickly learned about name brand clothes and money and status. I got called a hick and a hillbilly because, up to that point, my favorite outfit was overalls or cutoff shorts. This depressing time period of my life is when I first learned to deal with things on my own. No one else understood or cared what I was going through. I was left to formulate my own defenses and create my own new version of happiness.I experienced my first experiences of anxiety every morning while I dressed to go to school. The people, including the kids, were so different in this town. I knew immediately that they were not like me, but I did not know why. It was the first time I realized that I was different than everybody else. I just didn’t know then how much different I would end up being.<blockquote id="deb1"

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We must overcome the notion that we must be regular. It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre. — Uta Hagen</blockquote>I learned really quickly to survive with my wit and humor because my clothes and money were not gonna cut it in this new town. I went from being a shy, quiet little girl to being an outgoing, class clown. I have not looked back since then. I am now a completely different person than I was when I moved here. I wonder how differently I would have turned out if I had never left that small country town?After several years, I was able to finally make friends and blossom. I never forgot my childhood though. Where I came from became my version of paradise on earth. I hope to one day go back to living a life that simple. I want to go back to being surrounded by animals, a few friends, and my family. In the meantime, I will continue to make the best of my situation, as I always have.<div id="a81f" class="link-block">

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I can only go back in my dreams.

The smell of fried green tomatoes, the memories of fishing with my grandmother by the pond sitting on a five gallon bucket, and then frying our catch later together in my grandma’s kitchen. The wistful memories of my amazing, but brief, childhood come back to my mind often.

YeeHaw was often blaring from the television, which sat encased in a wooden block case on the floor. Grandma’s knick knacks perched atop of it along with a thousand other random items. I would sit in her lap while she watched her stories, otherwise known as soap operas, and chain smoked a pack of cigarettes with no knowledge or belief in the second hand smoke stories wafting around.

The land my Grandma’s house sat on had a pond and several fields where she grew tobacco, corn, and a slew of other vegetables that I got to pick. There were muscadine vines and I can still taste their sweetness just as vividly as if I had just bitten into one.

For what may have been a month or two years, I had a brown horse named Dixie that I was allowed to ride occasionally, but able to pet constantly. We developed an invisible bond as children and animals often do. For a little while, she was often the most stable company I had during my visit to my father every other weekend. Dixie was my companion and we helped each other deal with the loneliness we felt but could not articulate.

At my mother’s house, which was in town, I was surrounded by my two best friends and my dog Duffy. The bond I had with that dog set the bar extremely high for all the dogs that came after her. She followed me all over the neighborhood and the town. She would wander off for a bit and then always find her way back to me. Back then, children were allowed to roam the streets on our bicycles, along with wandering the woods and the streams. Every night, I would come in when the streetlights came on. Duffy and I would sleep together every night and rise with each other every morning.

Suddenly, at age 10, my mother and my stepfather decided we would relocate to another town four hours away. I moved away from my little country town, my friends, my dad, my grandma, and my dog. I never saw my dog again. I still grieve for that dog and how she would sleep on my pillow. I will forever remain grateful for the time that I was allowed as a child.

I ended up in Augusta, Georgia which was only four hours away, but may as well have been on another planet. I quickly learned about name brand clothes and money and status. I got called a hick and a hillbilly because, up to that point, my favorite outfit was overalls or cutoff shorts. This depressing time period of my life is when I first learned to deal with things on my own. No one else understood or cared what I was going through. I was left to formulate my own defenses and create my own new version of happiness.

I experienced my first experiences of anxiety every morning while I dressed to go to school. The people, including the kids, were so different in this town. I knew immediately that they were not like me, but I did not know why. It was the first time I realized that I was different than everybody else. I just didn’t know then how much different I would end up being.

We must overcome the notion that we must be regular. It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre. — Uta Hagen

I learned really quickly to survive with my wit and humor because my clothes and money were not gonna cut it in this new town. I went from being a shy, quiet little girl to being an outgoing, class clown. I have not looked back since then. I am now a completely different person than I was when I moved here. I wonder how differently I would have turned out if I had never left that small country town?

After several years, I was able to finally make friends and blossom. I never forgot my childhood though. Where I came from became my version of paradise on earth. I hope to one day go back to living a life that simple. I want to go back to being surrounded by animals, a few friends, and my family. In the meantime, I will continue to make the best of my situation, as I always have.