When We Was Kids In Chicago (Part 2)

From an early age my Mother sent me to the schools, she thought, would do the best for my education. Whether or not, my Father agreed, mattered little. Of course, they were all Catholic schools, and they were all child discipliners. Learn or Die, was their motto. I guess I didn't quite learn, and, I almost died a number of times, at least it felt like it.

The transition of leaving school, and meeting up with your friends after school, was like, caviar meeting the bologna sandwich over tea. We were boys who acted course and rough. I guess it was expected of us, because that is how we all acted.

While in school, we learned the art of language, and refinement. On the street, we learned the way of the fist, and survival. My Mother never had to learn these things, although, she was one tough cookie.

We used linguistic delicacies such as, dem (them), or dose (those), dees (was another favorite). My Father was a master linguist, and highly skilled in the art of irritating my Mom. While he condoned the highest level of street lingo. My Mom, groaned in dispare as she recounted the huge amount of money which they spent to send us to the best schools.

We rewarded her with street spew, and bad manners. In retrospect, I would not pursue that course again. It seemed smart alecky back then. A early form of revolt. I was a product of the sixties, and you would hear me roar in numbers to big to ignore. (Thanks Helen Reddy)

Just the mention of the sixties, brings a whole flood of memories into my consciousness. Beatniks, how many people even know what a beatnik was. Snapping their fingers instead of clapping their hands. Beards and mustaches, most of which hardly had enough years to grow anything that remotely resembled either of those manly growths.

Most of them were just a couple of years older than us, but, that was enough warrant to be the right age. They wrote poems, some of which, had two or three words. They would all take the appropriate amount of time, to contemplate, and break out into furious finger snapping applause, much to the delight of the "poet". We just looked at each other and thought, "dumb".

Those beatniks had something going on, but, we never did figure it out. After the beatniks came the yippies. Yippies, youngsters may read this and say to themselves, "dumb". I don't blame you, not one bit.

Yippies were the radical wing of nuveau thinkers of our time. They somehow had the wisdom of the ages all wrapped up in their 20 something years, and they knew it all. That was their thought pattern anyway. To us they were just trouble makers. Snivelling and whinning about everything. In a short amount of time came the real stuff which the sixties was really all about, the Hippies.

Hippies were the cool dudes and chicks who listened to Joplin and Hendricks, the Stones, and Zepplin. They had long hair, and smoked weed, dropped acid. This was the down side of the sixties, which was the beggining, of the drug craze in America. As an ex-policeman, I abhor the use of these drugs, I have seen their dirty deeds up close and personal.

I am not sure where all the guys in my generation fit into all of that commotion, but, somehow we were a part of it. I guess we were the guys who went into the mililtary, and served our country and flag. That was probably the best choice I ever made, back then. I live my life proudly, knowing that I served four years. These were my latest thoughts on the days when we was kids in Chicago.

We were just kids thats all........

---

A Billion Cheers At 40: Lets Celebrate Mummy Jessy

Ooh the depth of literary riches, how terrific they are! In less than 40 hours time, our sister- J. K. Rowling would roll into her 40th birthday anniversary (on the 31st July). While... Read More

Progress Versus Perfection

From the creative explosion marking the outset of the universe to our advanced human stage in evolution, some fifteen billion years have elapsed. This advanced stage refers to the natural abilities and the... Read More

Lance Armstrong Bracelets: Fashion Accessories for a Worthy Cause

Lance Armstrong bracelets, the yellow rubber wrist bands inscribed with the motto LiveStrong, are tangible parts of champion American cyclist Lance Armstrong's legacy. Diagnosed with testicular cancer on October 2, 1996, Armstrong battled... Read More

The Man Who Loved Jail

Around my twentieth birthday life became a series of incredible events. Perhaps in retrospect it has never ended. I was living on my own with other guys in houses where partying was the... Read More

Creating a Virtual Art Gallery

To the online artist, it might seem a paradox, at first glance, to hear a recommendation to hold back work. The artist on the Internet often overproduces and displays their entire body of... Read More

Garnet is Januarys Birthstone

If you're still young enough to remember your birthday, you probably also remember the special birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don't really know the SIGNIFICANCE of your... Read More

Human Genome Project and Mayan Calendar

HUMAN GENOME PROJECT: - In 1991 Michael Coe wrote Breaking the Mayan Code in which he said knowing how this language was 'both phonetic as well as pictographic was as important as the... Read More

Inuit Eskimo Art As Investments

Many people collect Inuit art as investments. Inuit art is growing internationally but it has been suggested that the number of actual Inuit artists are actually declining. The creation of the Nunavut government... Read More

Feng Shui North versus South Hemisphere

The North South Hemisphere Question:The question of whether or not the orientation of the Lo Pan, Lo Shu should be reversed when applied to the Southern Hemisphere has been thrown back an forth... Read More

What About Those Pyramids?

'Mr. Rhodes aspired to be the creator of one of those vast semi-religious, quasi-political associations which, like the Jesuits have played so large a part in the history of the world. To be... Read More

Cosmic Cow

The cow is a mother to mankind whom we should love,respect and protect. Her milk is the life blood for many species, including humans. Her dung provides fuel and bricks for millions of... Read More

Mexican Living: So You Want To Expatriate?

Expatriate wannebees often ask us how we managed our expatriation to Guanajuato, Mexico. They want to know how we overcame the seemingly overwhelming logistics of deciding where to live, if it's affordable, if... Read More

History of the Royal Barges - a Timeless Tradition

The history of the royal barges dates back to the Sukhothai era in the 13th century when the first royal barges were reportedly seen. The barges were originally troop carriers at a time... Read More

The Daily Show is a Must See on Comedy Central

Doesn't it seem that today there is nothing but bleak reports to hear on the news? Watching the news can give you a feeling that the world is coming to an end. Hope... Read More

Zorro

ZORRO:Timon of Athens. But most often they wrote in code or refused to write at all. They actually taught through techniques and disciplines which made people truly know what can be and how... Read More

Celtic Jewelry: Ancient Symbolism in Popular Fashion

The mysterious and the mystical have always had the power to hold human beings in thrall throughout the millennia. Celtic jewelry is no exception to this, since they are an extension and a... Read More

Some Villain Thoughts About a Container Village

Preview: "Shipping containers" have yet nothing to do with "housing" in Romania. Is there any chance that they will soon? Belonging to Eastern European block, released in 1989 from communist oppression, Romania has... Read More

Nelsons Last Words: Kiss Me, Hardy or Kismet, Hardy?

"Kiss me, Hardy" or "Kismet, Hardy"? Both versions are commonly used, the former being clearly more universal . The easy answer is that, whatever variation, these were not his final words (that is... Read More

Merton Abbey Mills Developments

For those who don't know, Merton Abbey Mills is an idyllic riverside craft village, just down the road in Colliers Wood running along side the river Wandle.Merton Abbey Mills offers a variety of... Read More

Spain?s Flag - A Red And Yellow Beauty

Spain?s flag (the national one) is as colorful as the country itself with its red and yellow horizontal triband.The yellow stripe is in the middle and is twice as tall as each red... Read More

Mexican Living: Daily Schedule of an Expatriate

I was wondering if you might be interested in what I do with my time as an expatriate and if I have any sort of real life. I guarantee you that I do.... Read More

How To Get Rich and Die Quick!

It is funny how web site promotion can suddently plunge you into literary exploits...I am currently at work, my bosses left for the meeting so I can relax a little and perhaps even... Read More

Peruvian Artist Shares Why Preservation of Culture and Rituals Sacred To His Art

My artistic endeavor have led me towards a personal sense of mission, because the visual arts are more than a passive representation of the life style and culture of the Incas, Aztecs, Mayas... Read More

The Sixties

A decade that stands out above the rest of our world's history as a time of revolutionary changes from all over the globe - changes that even effected outer space. There was unprecedented... Read More

Chinese Tattoos - Meaning of Chinese Dragon Tattoos

Chinese Tattoos have always been hugely popular. At one stage they were the realm of criminals and the mafia. Now it seems even Hollywood celebrities seem to have caught on to the mystery... Read More

Books on Horsemanship - Xenophon Had it Right

Xenophon was a 4th Century BC Greek cavalry officer and military hero, student of Socrates, historian, author, and expert on horsemanship - a man of many talents. His horsemanship writings addressed the proper... Read More

I, Ego, and Power

I: - A vowel that didn't appear in sacerdotal alphabets for which there is little, or should I say not one IOTA of, reason to hold up for personal glorification. The ego is... Read More

The Automatic Champion

"Babe" Didrickson Zaharias was a phenomenal athlete. This Texan ran, jumped, rode horses, and played basketball and baseball-with tremendous flair.In the Olympic tryouts in 1932, she won five first places in track and... Read More

Tarot Cards Demystified: The Suit of Pentacles

There are many ways to interpret the symbolism found in Tarot Cards. There are varying points of view that exist about what each card means or represents. This is just one way of... Read More