The other day I was having a conversation with a friend and the subject turned to autobiographies and the people who write them. It semed a given, from the conversation, that both of us understood autobiographies were written by famous people or at least people who had memorable experiences during a memorable life. I believe I concluded our conversation with the statement that I wouldn't be writing any autobiography any time soon since I didn't match that description in the least. But the more I thought about it later in the day, there was perhaps another reason some might write an autobiography and that was to simply given an honest recollection of their life. Perhaps it would be illuminating to family down the line as they find similarities and connection in those writings. So the more I thought about that that I came to realize it might no be such a bad idea and the seed for a new series was born. Not that I would be launching a full-blown book of 800 pages, but more that the decades of my life might bring some structure to the various stories already penned. As I've mentioned elsewhere on this blog, my aunt started her journey this way by chronicling each decade of her life. I found it very interesting reading and I'm hoping the same for my stories.
My mother and father were first generation Americans born of European parents who came to the United States searching for a better life. My father became a mechanic in his teen years followed by Bible School, which led him to Long Island, New York to start a new church. My mother worked for the head School Administrator following her high school graduation and brought her paycheck home for the benefit of the family. That was the way her family was raised. That arrangement ended when the two of them met and eventually married to start their new lives. It was the way life normally panned out with young people getting their education from kindergarten through twelfth grade, with marriage and children (in that order) following close behind. My mom and dad were brought up to to follow God and this was the path that He had set out thousands of years ago when Adam and Eve were created in the Garden of Eden. This was the same kind of family into which I would be born. Such beliefs were common among those whose lives were centered around God and life in the church.
I came into my own as one who believed in God at the age of six. I remember the experience, my mother remembers my age at the time. I wasn't allowed to get baptized "until I understood what I was doing" which happened to be about ten years old. I played trumpet with some others on the front pew during the morning service and had the last spot on the right, which meant I was the least experienced player. I remember the summer VBS events that were held in the basement and was always a lot of fun. I remember being bored during the sermon because it went over my head. A few things got in and those got jotted down in the borders of my Bible pages, which seemed wrong as I felt like I might be wrong. I remember that there were a lot of things we were told were wrong when I was young. I did understand that there were wrong things that God considered sin and I understood that, but as I got older I felt like there was a disconnect between what God said in the Bible and what we were told by parents and other adults. I don't remember fully understanding grace as a child; that would come decades later. But I do remember that us kids better follow the commandment to obey our parents or there would be consequences. I remember believing whatever my parents taught me and doing whatever they asked. That was expected.
Only years later would I learn that we were poor middle class. Working as a pastor is not the way to financial gain, but I would understand that my father felt the call of God so strongly on his life that he had to serve the Lord in this way. Most likely it is that response to a higher cause that sent me in the same direction, even as a child. I remember God's call on my life at eight years of age and I thought about it often. I never really considered any other profession. There is a photo of me somewhere, haven't found it yet, but I was next to my day with my hand on the "new" church van and my eyes closed as we dedicated it to the Lord. That was the way I was raised as a child and that reverence for God and a heart to do right was all I knew of the world. Perhaps that is what kept me from understanding and seeing the evil in the world, as I know now, but when you are raised in a home and lifestyle that only understands the ways of God you are driven to follow it to the end. I'm sure some cannot understand a world view like mine, but I find it inconceivable to accept the alternative of a godless existence and a propensity to evil day and night. I understand the heinous nature of humans that live out evil every day of their lives because they have chosen that path. You can choose to be a productive member of society, or you can steal from others or lie and cheat your way through life. But, if there's one thing I am fully convinced is true, it is this. There is a God, He created mankind who sinned against Him, He came to this world in the form of Jesus who is God's Son, He offers us forgiveness of sins if we repent, He desires our obedience, and He will reward us one day for our allegiance by giving us eternal life in a world He has prepared only for those who love Him. There is also another side that is true, and that is there are many more people who refuse to believe in the One True God and have given their allegience to Satan and his evil ways. Unfortunately for these, their end is not a joyful one. They may lie and cheat and steal and kill to get ahead in this world, but they will be judged by God and be sentenced to an eternal life in the lake of fire that was created for those who disobeyed Him. Even though I was a child I understood those simple concepts and I looked forward to eternal life with my God.
There were many things in life, other than church, that me and my siblings enjoyed. We may have not had all the finer things in life but we never felt we were missing out. We rode our bikes around the neighborhood and down to the park, flew kites in the field across from our house, swam in the little plastic pool filled with a foot of water, and played on the ubiquitous death-trap of a swing set. And, yes, I got skewered by the protruding bolts that lost their caps as I was swinging past them. And who can forget the whole thing rocking back and forth if you swung too far? Good times. I also remember climbing the two apple trees in the back yard and going up so high. I remember how big that yard was and all the extra space behind the garage that was filled with junk. As adults, many years later, we visited my parents while they were out east and my dad suggested we go and visit where I grew up. One thing I could not get over was how small that house was, how tiny the lot was (50'x100'), and how small those trees actually were. But the house still looked good and had aged fairly well.
1960 Ford Galaxie Starliner
1962 Dodge Dart
1963 Pontiac Catalina
1968 Pontiac Catalina
I wasn't a huge car buff as a child but I did like putting together model cars, so there was some interest in them growing up. I went back over the few silent movies my dad made (a Millenial's head just exploded) and found three cars that briefly show up. I have to say, these are not the most attractive cars I've seen and I didn't much like the 1968 with a front view that sports an Edsel-like nose. There were certainly better looking cars around but most likely these were used cars that were inexpensive to buy, much like today where the cars nobody want are priced the cheapest. I do remember they had a hitch installed on that 1968 Catalina to tow the nineteen foot trailer they bought for "fun" vacations. I don't remember us using that as a family during our final New York years but I remember him backing that thing through the driveway and into the back yard. When we made the move to Illinois it was hitched to the back of the car as we drove through a blinding snowstorm. Memories of staying together in the camper will be found in the Joliet blog.
Trips to the caverns
We may not have traveled much, or any, in that trailer but we did go on family outings. While our very close family still lived nearby we did travel to visit extended family. There were a number of day trips to Virginia where we packed a lunch and dad cooked up hamburgers and hot dogs at a roadside grill. We also visited the local caverns. Years later as my new wife and I were on our way to our honeymoon we saw a sign for Bridal Cave and took a tour through those caverns. Other than those times we've not made a habit of it. Another fascination for us kids was going to the beach as we got older. We went to Jones Beach on the island many times and we learned to swim with local lessons. That certainly is a good skill to learn young. Playing in the sand and jumping in the waves became a favorite pastime that was largely forgotten when we were in the Midwest but came back with a vengeance when we moved to the South. Panama City Beach, St. Augustine, Myrtle Beach, and Galveston Beach have been a great time of relaxation in our adult years and it all started with family trips to Jones Beach.
I was just halfway through the seventh grade and in a new school when mom and dad got us kids together and told us that we were moving to Illinois. That was a surprise to us as you never really think of that when you're so young. We packed everything up and drove halfway across the country in the middle of January and set up our new life in an even smaller home than we were not used to. I wasn't completely in the dark about Illinos since my aunt and uncle had moved from New York to Joliet, Illinois, and I had used their knowledge of the state to do a book report along with all the others in class. I remember having to give a speech about it and not liking that task much at all. New York had a strong school system and we did well, and so we all wondered what it would be like in Illinois. My first day of class as I continued seventh grade included a big test that I imagined I would be exempt. No such luck as the teacher thought it would be a good barometer of where I stood as a new student. I remember it being so easy and I was one of the first to finish the test. As the teacher passed out the graded tests the next she mentioned that I had received the highest score of 100 and I imagined a number of other students would have such a grade. Alas, that was not the case as this teacher had a policy that the highest grade in the class would receive the number of points extra to get them to 100 and everyone else in the class would also get those added points. I discovered that nobody studied that well and got average grades knowing they would get bumped up. Someone with a 79, which was a C+ but the highest grade, would get 21 extra points and receive an A+. Then everyone else in the class also received a higher mark depending on where they started. As you can imagine I was not the most favorite person in my class after that. I had ruined tests for the rest of them and they were not happy. But I lived to tell the tale.
Later,
Arktander
(aka David Andreasen)
