Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill

Excellent

We girls never had a mad desire to see a weinie. Most of us had seen our daddy once or if they had a brother they saw plenty of little weinies. Not a big deal. You write well. This was entertaining. Big boxes were the best! Karen

 Comment Written 21-Apr-2024

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reply by the author on 21-Apr-2024

Hello Karen,
I guess that's one of the differences between the sexes. I always wanted to see the girls, and if indeed X-ray specs had really worked, I'd have probably had a dozen pairs. I don't think I speak for just myself, but maybe I'm more vocal about it.

Yes, there was so much you could do with a huge box, like a refrigerator or washing machine box. Of course they were unsightly when they were in your yard, so they never lasted beyond the time that Dad came home. They made a heck of a fire though.
Thanks for the great review gal.
Tom

reply by Karen Cherry Threadgill on 21-Apr-2024

:-)

Comment from Brett Matthew West

Excellent

In Paragraph Two "two storey" should be two story.

In Paragraph Three "back yards" should be backyards. Also in Paragraph Eleven.

Plenty of nostalgia imprinted in this tale. Brought back several similar memories of days long gone, but never forgotten.

 Comment Written 17-Oct-2023

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reply by the author on 18-Oct-2023

Hi Brett,
thanks for catching those errors. I've corrected them. I'm sure we've all got tales of growing up that would leave scholars wondering how boys ever made it to manhood. I appreciate the great review.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom

Comment from Mary Vigasin

Excellent

I enjoyed your story from beginning to end. Your descriptions truly allow your reader to enter boyhood adventures. It truly is delicious with preteen and teen boys coming of age.
Good work.
Best wishes,
Mary

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2023

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reply by the author on 17-Oct-2023

Hello Mary,
thanks so much for the delightful review and comments. I fear that what boys have to deal with today have become so challenging as to be overwhelming. As I write this I'm reminding myself that our children need our prayers to navigate their very complicated lives.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom

Comment from Wayne Fowler

Excellent

I agree. There is not a good place, or reason, to cut it up.
this is a good 'coming of age' story of American adolescence in the 40-50-60s. well done.
And it's way too easy to mess up when posting.
Best wishes.

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2023

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reply by the author on 13-Oct-2023

Hello Wayne,
thanks for the encouraging review. I'm so glad I grew up in the time that I did. I never would have thought that things would be going the way they are now in this country, and the world for that matter. It worries me for my kids and grandchildren.
I've messed up when posting more than once. I think I must have checked the wrong box when it asked about a preview. Sometimes I get confused.
Have a blessed day.
Tom

Comment from Mrs. KT

Excellent

Good morning, Tom!
What a delight!
And what a rascal!
I smiled as I read your well-crafted non-fiction offering.
Peacock Bros. Heating and Plumbing reminded me of my father's sheet metal and roofing company: Marb & Kenel Sheet Metal and Roofing!
How I loved every inch of that establishment - right down to the grimy Nehi-filled refrigerator that defied any attempts to clean.
Wonder whatever happened to those magazines... and the "Pirates" that stole them!

Much enjoyed!
diane

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2023

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reply by the author on 13-Oct-2023

Hello Diane,
thanks so much for the delightful review and comments. I made my way into the shop more than a few times to get a coke, but once when I was at the table looking at the magazine, one of the owners decided my dad wouldn't approve, so he banned me from the area. No more five cent cokes. At least three of the neighborhood friends had brothers who were about four years older than us. One time they got in trouble for almost burning down the barn. I suspect they had gone up to the loft to smoke or some such thing and discovered our stash. Ah well. All is fair in love and war- or lust and war. I love to hear about the different lives of the folks on FS. So did your dad install steel roofs on homes? Back in Hoonah, almost all the houses had steel roofs because of the heavy snow loads. Here in Wasilla, most of the roofs are shingles.
Did you ever do any work in your dads shop- sweeping the floors or doing some book keeping when you were older? I wish I could have worked with my dad, but he had such a short temper, and honestly, at the time I wasn't interested in learning the trade. I wish I'd learned now though.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom

reply by Mrs. KT on 13-Oct-2023

Hello, Tom!
I don't recall my father ever constructing steel roofs on homes; in the roofing industry his forte was commercial roofs.
And yes, I did work for my father one memorable summer.
Those were days of wooden ladders - very tall wooden ladders.
He had repair work to do on Alden Dow's home in Midland, Michigan = THE Alden Dow, and he asked me to come along with him.
Well, I was able to climb on the ladder and managed to even make it to the roof. But the descent was something that still is talked about in the annals of my family: I was petrified.
So petrified, that I held on so tightly to the ladder on my descent, that my hands were covered in splinters, but I dared not tell my dad as I was his "only son" and I didn't want him to be disappointed in me!
Those were wonderful times...

Here's to memories, Tom!
diane

reply by the author on 13-Oct-2023

Oh my Diane,
you poor gal. I remember those wooden ladders. I had one come apart on me when I was working on my in-laws house years ago. I've never been a big fan of heights either gal. I'm so glad that you had such a good relationship with your dad though. Great memories are like great meals, they are to be savored. I hope you'll write some stories about growing up soon. I would love to read more about your time as a child.

Comment from Debbie D'Arcy

Excellent

What a great story! Expressed with such colour and detail and a rather quaint charm of boyhood pranks and delights. You give the reader this wonderfully innocent (albeit on the cusp of teenage) nostalgic insight into a special and secret child's world which I found absolutely delightful and fully engaging. I love the mention of the huge red Coke machine and that prize of the glass bottle as it magically appeared. And everything is just harmless and exhilarating fun! Small edit: stor(e)y - 3rd line of 2nd para. Excellent! Thanks for sharing, Debbie

 Comment Written 12-Oct-2023

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reply by the author on 12-Oct-2023

Hello Debbie,
thanks so much for the glowing review. I'm so glad you enjoyed this. I wasn't sure if I should publish it or not, but Pam Lonsdale had written a poem last week that got me to thinking. The Peacock family lived down the street from me. When I was small I would go down and talk to the patriarch. He loved to fish, and I remember telling him about catching two sucker fish at once when I was down visiting my grandparents. He thought that was great. I visited often in the summer because he had a granddaughter in her teens or early twenties that I had a crush on. Diane Peacock. The fact that she was probably twelve years or so older than me didn't matter in the least. She had the most beautiful smile. Love is blind.
Mr. and Mrs. Peacock had these huge wicker chairs that they kept out on their lawn, and sometimes I would go down and help myself and sit in them. The memories of childhood- ah well.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom

Comment from royowen

Excellent

I think at some stage we all crossed over to the other, I suppose they call that the age of accountability, from childhood to pre manhood and so on, growing up was almost exciting but there were struggles, I can remember no know how babies were produced, no sex education when I was young, well done Tom, thanks for sharing, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 12-Oct-2023

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reply by the author on 12-Oct-2023

Hi Roy,
thanks so much for the fine review and comments. We had sex education in sixth grade I believe. I still had lots of questions that weren't answered and didn't really feel like I could ask anyone I knew who was older. Unfortunately, in this country, it appears that very young children are being taught things, graphic things, that they have no business being taught by people who have embraced an evil agenda in trying to destroy our families. I recently heard on a conservative news story that fewer Americans believe in God or are attending church. It's not hard to believe that, it's evident in the way we vote for our leaders and what is happening in our more liberal cities. Freedom has been hijacked to mean whatever you feel like doing now. I'm scared for this country, and for the rest of the world. Anyway, sorry for the rant. I appreciate you my friend.
Have a blessed day.
Tom

reply by royowen on 12-Oct-2023

Don?t worry Tom, 2Thessalonians 2:3 says there will be a great failing away in those days, (church leaders say, The great apostasy) stay with it Tom, what is left is cream, it?s the same here, not quite as bad, a lot of Americans have prophesied that revival will start here and spread throughout the world, we have been meeting ( just a few 5:30 every morning), it?s coming Tom, nobody would suspect it would be here. Our country was originally called The great Southland of the Holy Spirit. There is a hunger here. Bless you, just to encourage you. Roy

reply by the author on 12-Oct-2023

Thanks for the words of encouragement Roy. I know that the word talks of these times, but even though I'm experiencing them, it doesn't seem real. It's pretty scary, and incredibly frustrating to witness such wickedness being encouraged. There's no more sitting on the fence. Thanks so much!
Blessings,
Tom

reply by royowen on 12-Oct-2023

Yes, we can?t be both anymore, I can see you want the right way Tom.

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

Well, are you sure it was "pirates" and not someone's mom that got a hold of those magazines? I know one lady who wouldn't even let her boys see lingerie ads! Your childhood stories are important to read as today kids can find all that kind of stuff right on the internet. Hopefully, the parents know how to block those sites.

 Comment Written 10-Oct-2023

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reply by the author on 11-Oct-2023

Hi Helen,
thanks so much for the entertaining comments and fine review. Yeah, I'm pretty sure none of the moms would climb a rickety wooden ladder to the upstairs loft. Most of us had brothers who were about four years old. No doubt multiple trips to the barn probably alerted one of them to our stash. I can understand the mom not wanting to expose her boys to anything that could be considered the least bit sexual, but it will probably blow up in her face somewhere down the pike. My good friend Whitney, the downs syndrome boy, used to go through the trash at the post office and pick out the more juicy catalogues. His mom used to get catalogues from Victoria's Secret and Fredericks of Hollywood. He made a point of picking up the mail every day. Boys are going to be boys, regardless of any handicaps present.
Have a blessed evening my friend.
Tom

Comment from Carol Hillebrenner

Excellent

This is really a fun article that brings back old memories. It sounds a little like my old neighborhood. We found the Playboys behind a friend's father's sofa, but her younger brothers took them and hid them. Oh, the things you could learn hanging around shops. Boxes were always translatable into something like castles or Alamos or tunnels. I think we had much more fun as kids because we had to use our imaginations.

 Comment Written 10-Oct-2023

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reply by the author on 11-Oct-2023

Hello Carol,
I believe you're right. We didn't have all the latest toys or distractions at our disposal. Money was too hard to come by to squander. When I wanted something, I found a way to earn it.

Those big appliance boxes were always a real find. Of course I couldn't leave them in the backyard. I had to dispose of them before dad got home or there would have been trouble. I was so fortunate to have grown up in the fifties and sixties. We had block parties and everyone knew their neighbors. The kids all played together. The parents looked out for each others kids, which at the time didn't always seem like a good thing. It was hard to get away with much. Thanks so much for the great review and comments gal.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom

Comment from GWHARGIS

Excellent

Ah, the wonderful and not so wonderful things that shape us into who we are. This was a fun coming of age story. I remember collecting glass money back bottles. If I got eighty cents I thought I was a Rockefeller. Lol. Thanks fir taking us along on your nostalgic post. Gretchen

 Comment Written 10-Oct-2023

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reply by the author on 10-Oct-2023

Hello Gretchen,
thanks so much for the entertaining review. I used to go down to the high school bleachers after a football game on Friday nights and search around for coins that had dropped. For a quarter I could go to Mac's, buy a pepsi, a candy bar and a small bag of Chees-its. Now I think you'd be lucky to buy a penny candy.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom