Tag: dailyprompt

Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?

wasn’t exactly a child when I first read this book (I was 14), but I remember it well. It was this:

Published in 1980, The Language of Goldfish tells the story of Carrie Stokes, a 13-year-old math genius and talented artist. An eighth grader at a school for well-to-do students, Carrie faces the challenge of moving into her teens. To put it plainly, she can’t let go of her childhood. Carrie spends her days reminiscing about her childhood in Chicago and her friendship with another girl. To cope with the changes occurring in her life, she thinks about the days when she and her older sister would sit by the pond in their backyard and “call” the fish in it by whistling to them (hence, the book’s title). Carrie’s constant reminiscing doesn’t sit well with her wealthy parents, her physician father and socialite mother who live in a whirlwind of parties and other social activities, as well as her equally socially-active, popular sister. They push her to attend parties, school dances, and other boy-girl events. The pressure pushes Carrie even further into her childhood escapism and eventually, to a suicide attempt on the night of her parents’ cocktail party. Through sessions with her psychiatrist and the friendship with her art teacher, as well as the tincture of time, Carrie comes to terms with the realization that she is maturing and learns to let go of the past.

I was in the eighth grade (the same grade as Carrie Stokes) when I first found this book in my junior high school (or middle school, for my younger readers) library. I really liked it and later bought my own copy, which I still own and occasionally re-read. When I first read it, though, I was mad. Particularly, I was angry with the way Carrie’s family dealt with her problems, which was. . .not dealing with it at all. To me, all they (especially the mom) seemed to care about was having parties and living the good life. (I guess the reason I felt so strongly about it was because I come from a close family.) With their focus on social activities, they virtually dismissed Carrie’s problems—until her suicide attempt. As an adult now, I think it was pretty sad that it took a suicide attempt for Carrie’s family to finally pay attention to what was really going on with her.

I still like the book, but I now have a somewhat different viewpoint on the story. For the record, I still feel the same way about how Carrie’s family handled her psychological problems, but I also have a different perspective on Carrie. Having gone through and adapted to life’s changes myself, I believe that Carrie needs to realize some things: that life changes; that childhood friends move on and may even forget you; that it’s okay to like boys and want to impress them; and that you can be friends with a boy without anything romantic developing. Hopefully, there’s also been change on the part of Carrie’s family in that they realize they can’t turn Carrie into a social butterfly and accept her for the sensitive, introverted, and artistically-inclined person she is.

The Language of Goldfish is not so much about goldfish in a pond, of course; that’s a representation of the safe space of Carrie’s childhood. What it’s really about is the inevitability of change and the realization that, despite one’s anxieties and worries, it’s all going to be okay.

Do you remember life before the internet?

Lower expectations. Fewer choices.

If I wanted to read or do research, I physicslly went to either the school or public library. If I was having problems, I asked the librarian for help.

One phone. Friends weren’t allowed to call after 7 PM. Long distance calls were expensive. They were short and for special occasions. You didn’t know who was calling until you picked up. I made it easier for pervs to make obscene phone calls.

Caller ID and answering machines were a BIG deal.

One television. Dad was in charge of evening programming. But that that was OK because we (the kids) usually did homework until bedtime. No recording. If you missed a show, you hoped you could catch it during summer reruns. Most primetime shows filmed 39 episodes.

Cartoons on Saturday morning. I was lucky. My folks bought us kids (3 of us) a small, portable black and white television set. That was good for me because my dad liked to watch a lot of sports on the weekends and I’m not a sports fan.

Four channels (maybe. ) The three network channels and sometimes a local one-mostly religious. They all depended on antenna reception.

Radio or records. Two to three local FM radio stations with different formats depending on the audience, popular, oldies (30’s through 50’s), sometimes classical.

Eight tracks were another BIG deal.

A couple of AM stations with either local news and high school sports or a lot of religious programming.

One maybe 2 movie theaters. Unless the movie was super popular, the movie was changed out every friday. The popular ones were held over for another week. I think one movie (and I can’t remember which one) was held over for 6 weeks. The first multiplex had two theaters. Wow.

There were one or 2 drive in theaters. They got the movies that had already run in the main theater. They had the reputation of being “passion pits” but it was great if you wanted to take your whole family and you had small kids. They could cry or fall asleep without disturbing your neighbors.

Mail. We wrote letters, sent fancy cards for special occasions, kept a physical address book.

Also kept a physical, paper datebook for appointments, birthdays, anniversaries and appointments.

Every fall we got four new outfits and a new winter coat for school complements of Sears catalog, Christmas-toys, again, from Sears, all put on layaway. Spring, one Easter outfit with shoes.

Sometimes, you got dressed up and went downtown to go shopping. There were a couple of department stores. These were the best. They were several stories high and were like palaces. Sometimes, they had lunch counters or you could walk over to the Woolworths lunch counter. Later we had small, enclosed malls. These were great as well. Food, clothes, shoes, jewelry, sports equipment, it was fun just walking around, looking.

Small, local bookstores. Used paperbacks could be had for twenty five cents. Magazines with bright, shiny covers a dollar.

Fewer choices, less instant gratification. That was reality and you just dealt with reality.

Who would you like to talk to soon?

        Mom’s love, “The Ultimate Gift,”

I sat in my favourite spot. I was surrounded by familiar comforts. I couldn’t help but think about the people who have shaped my life. My mother, with her unwavering support and guidance, stood out among them. I imagined us sitting together, sipping tea, and sharing stories.

I’d ask her about her childhood, about the struggles she faced and the triumphs she achieved. I’d want to know more about her dreams, her passions, and her values. I’d listen intently as she shared tales of resilience, perseverance, and love.

In turn, I’d share my own stories – the triumphs, the setbacks, and the lessons learned. I’d tell her about my aspirations, my fears, and my dreams. I’d seek her wisdom, her guidance, and her unconditional love.

Our conversation would be a beautiful dance of give-and-take, a celebration of our bond, and the memories we’ve created together. It would be a reminder that family is not just about blood ties but about the love, support, and connection we share.

As I envisioned this conversation, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for my mother and the impact she’s had on my life. I realized that even in the busiest of times, it’s the relationships that truly matter – the ones that bring joy, comfort, and a sense of belonging.

The thought of having this conversation with my mother filled me with warmth and anticipation. I looked forward to the opportunity to reconnect, strengthen our bond, and create new memories that would last a lifetime.

     Heart to Heart with mom❤️