A Perfect Midsummer Hodgepodge
Little did I know how much I would hate high school. I gravitated toward the type of kids your parents warned you about and many became my closest friends. I skipped classes, had no respect for authority and embraced rebellious behavior. Although I had some fun moments, the suffocating atmosphere of conformity and strict rules in high school made it hard for me. Looking back, I wish there had been an independent study program available.
The situation with my behavior weighed heavily on my parents. In their frustration and concern, they threatened numerous times to leave California for Tennessee, where my dad grew up, and where my grandparents were - hoping to shield me from the influences that had woven themselves so deeply into my life. They even looked into a school for troubled youth. You can't just threaten a rebellious child - you have to act on it.
Dad had a successful business in San Francisco and had no plans to relocate. After graduating, I jumped at the chance to be on my own, moving into my own junior one-bedroom apartment and landing a union job in San Francisco. I truly flourished during those work years before marriage, a major contrast to high school, which felt like a trap stifling my creativity.
During those tumultuous late 60s and early 70s in the Bay Area, it felt like no one truly listened or understood me. It was only through the grace of a God I had yet to recognize that I found my way out of those turbulent times. Sadly, I lost many dear friends to drug addiction and AIDS.
“There but for the grace of God go I"
3. What's something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly?
I think I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my Bible study. I can't help but go above and beyond in my preparation and to me, it’s never enough. I’m praying for balance this year. And if that means I don’t have the answer, then I don’t have the answer.
4. What's the most overrated food you're convinced people are just pretending to enjoy? What's a trendy food you actually do enjoy and would say is definitely not overrated?
🤷♀️
Honestly, no offense intended, but I can't help but wonder—why should I be interested in what others choose to eat.
5. Wrapping it up this week with five fun this or that's...
dance like nobody's watching 💃
free pizza 🍕
ten minutes early ⌚️
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Thanks to Janice over at
for the questions and for making me think. To join in the fun, check out her link.
Take Care,
Debby
I hated high school...all those cliques etc...anyways, wishing you a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteMy mom used to tell me, “it’s only 4 years of your life” In the midst of it all, it seemed never ending.
DeleteI would have never guessed you were a rebellious high schooler. God was truly by your side. Janice
ReplyDeleteIt was the times and I got caught up in it.
DeleteThoughtful responses to the questions.
ReplyDeleteI'm so thankful God protected you in those turbulent years! I enjoyed your random thoughts list!
ReplyDeleteOh boy did he, because some of the things I did and the risks I took and I lived. God had other plans.
DeleteEnjoyed this post!!! High School was not an easy time for me, it is something I would NEVER want to go back too.
ReplyDeleteCarla
I wouldn’t either. Like I said, independent study would have been perfect for me.
DeleteI did like your answers and can tell you gave it some thought. Love the brook flowing. I would not have guessed you to be rebellious. I loved high school. lol Thank God for protecting you.
ReplyDeleteYes and Amen to that! It amazes me the things I did. Just part of my testimony.
DeleteI was just the opposite in high school, Debby, a real goody-two-shoes. Believe me, once I got out from under my parents' roof, I thought I knew it all, but I sure didn't. So grateful to the Lord for finally waking me up to the true meaning of my life. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI think we all thought we knew it all - just like the kids now days. Some things don’t change.
DeleteA perfect summer day would be a walk in the redwoods and listening to a babbling river.
ReplyDeleteTo me High School was just what you did. I liked it but hated math classes. Made some life long friends and love the marching band years. I was pretty naive and think I gave the angels a workout on a few occasions.
Thanks for sharing your life and being so transparent.
I think calamari and snails are so overrated. I can eat them but its like eating a bunch of rubber bands...
Great questions. My brain doesn't want to work too hard this morning so that's all I've got for today.
Sue
The redwoods are nice. My favorite tree.
DeleteHow I can relate to that photograph of you Fall 1968! Although I, too, loathed high school, I was too afraid to make waves, to color outside the lines. After graduation I dabbled in college, married foolishly and set out down all the wrong roads. Thank God for allowing me to hit rock bottom before showing me the Way.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, a good old rock bottom works most of the time!
DeleteI love what you wrote about the 5 things that Jesus did not say. So true.
ReplyDeleteI was one of the kids everyone picked on when I was at school so it was never an enjoyable time for me.
Oh that’s awful. I was picked on when I was in the 2nd grade. We moved in the middle of the school year which made me a target to some older girls in the bus. Not fun.
DeleteWhile I wasn't picked on during grade school, it wasn't until high school that I became if not one of the popular kids, at least part of the popular group. I got into sports more, met some very neat friends from other countries, and enjoyed the fellowship of the 4 other people that were in my Sunday School class.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thank you so much for your random thoughts at the end. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I also hated high school, it was somewhere I had to go so I did but I was glad when it was done with
ReplyDeleteMy high school in Detroit was in a "transitioning" stage when I went there and there was a lot of racial tension. I hated all 4 years! Also that I wasted most of them on a bad boy who my parents hated!
ReplyDelete