Putting Pen To Paper

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Interpreting Childhood

posted by WDavid at 7/16/2006 08:26:00 PM

Interpreting Childhood
By W. David MacKenzie

Any person picking through a junk drawer or scanning the dust-covered items on a knick-knack shelf or searching the nearly forgotten trunk in the attic will come across the mementos of youth. Those relics of days-gone-by will stir memories of a play-filled childhood, an awkward adolescence, or love’s first blooming. Trying to connect those items to universal themes or imbue them with significant life lessons, however, is ultimately counterproductive. Forcing adult meaning upon the artifacts of childhood is an attempt to define oneself as a victim of circumstance, to rationalize away the responsibilities of one’s choices, both past and future.

Did my G.I. Joe with fuzzy beard and crew cut provide a thousand imaginary mission ops for his action-figure bravery, or indoctrinate me into the homoerotic subcultures of uniform fetishism and physique worship? Was my plastic armory—filled with six-shooter cap guns, rubber bowie knives, and sparking M16’s—an arsenal for make-believe battles, or a collection of violent idols promoting imperialist America’s quest for power? Did countless hours spent watching sci-fi films and reading fantasy novels feed an unquenchable thirst for wonder and fuel a budding urge to write, or offer easy isolation from a confusing coming-of-age in which I fit none of the acceptable male stereotypes?

I’m not homosexual because my mother gave me hyper-masculine dolls to play with; I’m gay because that’s the number that came up when my parents rolled the genetic dice. I’m not proud of America because I bought into the establishment’s propaganda machine; I’m patriotic because I truly believe that America, regardless of who sits in the Oval Office on any particular day, is the best society that six thousand years of civilization has produced. And I’m not an introverted geek because escapist fiction stunted my emotional development; I’m thoughtful and forward-looking because each tomorrow shines with glorious potential for those who open their minds to welcome its coming.

I don’t live in yesterday. I don’t discount what I am today by second-guessing my past. I live in today. I consider today’s choices, one by one, and go to bed knowing I’ve lived the day as best I could. And each night, before I go to sleep, I set my alarm clock to meet tomorrow’s sunrise.
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9 Comments:

  • This piece was written as assignment #8 in the Writeriffic course I’m taking online. The assignment was to pick three objects from your junk drawer, or some other repository of forgotten things, and write an essay about one of them. We were told to “stay focused”, “add thoughtful, colorful, or funny examples”, “make the message universal”, “use emotions and word pictures”, “pick experiences you care about”, “steer clear of anger and negative emotions”, and “reveal yourself”. As examples of the type of essay we were to write, the instructor pointed to the “This I Believe” essay series on NPR. We were then asked to identify a likely publication to which we could, if we so choose, submit the essay for consideration.

    I don’t think I captured the true spirit of this assignment. In fact, my piece almost seems to fight against it. While I am sure I captured my true beliefs and “revealed myself” as directed, I am not one for studied introspection and my piece minces no words on that subject. It’s not upbeat enough for “This I Believe” but I do think it could find a home in a literary publication that accepts short essays. I have chosen to submit it to Wild Violet, an Internet-based quarterly. I think it might fit in either their Essays section or their Cuttings section.

    Links Mentioned...

    http://www.npr.org/thisibelieve/about.html

    http://www.wildviolet.net/index.html

    By Blogger WDavid, at 7/16/2006 08:39:00 PM  

  • Reminds me of some of the things I've read on the Starbuck's cups. Maybe you could submit it to them.

    By Blogger PeggySueO, at 7/16/2006 10:26:00 PM  

  • David, this is a wonderful, revealing, uplifting piece. Personally, I don't see where you've missed the boat on any of the requirements.

    And, I believe it would fit well into the essays NPR is seeking. On the linked page you mentioned, it states the previous series wanted "anyone able to distill into a few minutes the guiding principles by which they lived" and your piece works for that. It also states for the current program "they hope to encourage people to begin the much more difficult task of developing respect for beliefs different from their own" and I believe your piece fits there too. But, in the end, you are the one who must decide where to submit it.

    I went to Wild Violets too and felt it would fit in nicely into their "Cutting" category.

    On another note, I think you should read (and might enjoy) the poem "The Dragons of Norris Basin" listed on their site. You could write that type of poetry too if you wanted to (but I totally understand you are all fiction at the moment).

    By Blogger Ruth, at 7/17/2006 03:58:00 AM  

  • Peggy... I've never read a Starbucks cup. What do they have on them other than their logo and the word Starbucks?

    Ruth...Thanks for the kind words. When I was writing the piece yesterday it seemed to be too negative for "This I Believe". Perhaps I'll have to go back and read more of their essays and get a better feel for what they want. I used the 2004 Short Story Writer's Market (I think you gave that to me for Christmas, didn't you?) to find Wild Violet. So, I'm not too familiar with them yet. I'll read what you suggested and more, and maybe some poetry will result. It'll be the highly formatted and syllable-counted variety though. I need those rigid structures for support. :-)

    By Blogger WDavid, at 7/17/2006 05:53:00 AM  

  • The early returns from the writeriffic class seem to support your comments, Ruth.

    ---

    Teresa writes: Hi, David, I do enjoy your writing. This is honest and heartfelt, and it reads very smoothly. You interpreted this your own way and wrote in your own style. I felt myself being drawn in more and more as I kept reading and you shared more about yourself. Again, great job.

    ---

    Your Instructor writes: Great idea to send it to Wild Violet, WDavid. And I enjoyed your anti-assignment mentality. I'm sure there are plenty of people who can extract meaning from their memorbilia, but you've done just the opposite. It's fresh and interesting, a good job. Eva

    ---

    Hawthorne writes: GI Joe dolls were a violent toy discuised as an affectionate object, but as uncuddly as a Barbie Doll - any normal kid would reject. Good questions to ponder what kids were given to play with, and we wonder if there was something odd about the kid????

    ---

    Ned writes: I think with crisp expressive writing you did capture our assignment. This piece communicates a positive outcome to finding who we are. I believe that pushing the positive forward outlook on life is a universal theme. One we can all do with, every day. As to influencing others, I ended up tweaking my ending prior to posting. Thank you for the work.

    By Blogger WDavid, at 7/17/2006 06:36:00 AM  

  • Great introduction... and you've stirred up some great GI Joe infused memories. I particularly liked this sentence: I’m thoughtful and forward-looking because each tomorrow shines with glorious potential for those who open their minds to welcome its coming.

    But -- I think there's an "us" and "them" tension at play there... talking about you, but comparing yourself with everybody (actually, only those that "open their minds")
    -- I think it could be said in a more positive way...

    I’m thoughtful and forward-looking; tomorrow shines with glorious potential because I open my mind to welcome its coming.

    /p

    By Blogger Peter, at 7/18/2006 02:04:00 PM  

  • I like it alot David, but I also agree with Peter about rewriting that one sentence.

    By Blogger Fred MacKenzie, at 7/19/2006 04:30:00 PM  

  • Here are the last few comments from the Ed2Go class...

    Cindy writes: WDavid, for those of us who have never fit in any stereotpye, who have childhoods of question, or who need to move on, I thank you. I will imprint your last paragraph in my mind and honor you by living it as best I can: "I don't live in yesterday. I don't discount what I am today by second-guessing my past. I live today. I consider today's choices, one by one, and go to bed knowing I've lived the day as best I could. And each night, before I go to sleep, I set my alarm clock to meet tomorrow's sunrise." Bless you, WDavid!

    Glenda writes: WDavid Great job! Refreshing look at the assignment!

    Denise writes: Very different from your previous writings, very heartfelt and most of all very honest. I agree with Eva, a good job of writing.

    mark writes: been away for a few days and was anxious to read your work....you raised as many questions as you answered...nice job...enjoy your writing and class comments.

    Hazel writes: As always, I am totally impressed by your writing style and all the quirky little prose you use. This piece I think stands on a whole new level for you. I loved it! Its honest. I definitly think you should submit this and let anyone and everyone read it! I also think everyone should grab hold of that last paragraph and hold on tight because there is no stronger truth.

    Marilyn2 writes: I had trouble with this assignment and didnt start reading any of the others till I posted mine which was two days ago. Your writing is so heartfelt and real. I agree with everyone else. We have totally different writing styles but that's whatmakes the world wonderful. I am honored to know you, David

    By Blogger WDavid, at 7/23/2006 02:34:00 PM  

  • Now that's glowing praise! Congratulations!

    By Blogger Ruth, at 7/23/2006 04:43:00 PM  

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