"I had a blue Schwinn bike, saddle shoes, and a miniature dachshund named Schatzie." In this one sentence you held up a mirror and I could see myself. I, too, had a blue Schwinn, wore saddles shoes and my mini-dachshund was named Rocky (Rocquefort van Liederkranz). While my childhood circumstances were quite different, I found myself fully identified with you as the narrator and protagonist in your story. (Read this earlier but didn't have time to comment then and came back to reread this episode in your memoir.
Oh, thanks for this comment, Jill - and for reading! How interesting that we shared these common features of our childhoods! I'm glad (from a writing perspective) that you could identify well with the narrator - l appreciate you letting me know that!
This is SO damn poignant for me, and for so many reasons, including knowing so intimately the milieu you describe. Remembering the people, the Caravans outfits, the neighborhood, and the era all just adds to the tension of confronting this laid-bare reality of our programming and conditioning through the eyes of your heart-aching experience. I feel such similarly, solidarity and empathy, while at the same time marveling that two little girls growing up in the same religious environment could also have such different interpretations and reactions. The raw power of your descriptions of your own naïveté is stunning. Thank you for the gift of your vulnerability.
I thought of you while l was writing this, Marva! Thank you for reading and for your deep understanding of everything I'm talking about here. And for your encouragement! That all means the world to me.
Glamour shots! I remember! We all wanted them. My evangelical bff loved hers but also felt shame over how sexy she looked, “be honest do I look like a slut here?” 😢 So sad she couldn’t appreciate it all- her beauty and sexuality. Loving your series!
Yes, it was such a big thing back then! And this feels like such a big topic to me - we are judged so constantly as women for our physical appearances and l remember feeling confused at certain points - am l getting dressed to please myself or to be appealing to some man? Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Heidi!
The way I RUN to open substack when I see a new one of your installments! Your storytelling is riveting!
Oh my goodness, THANK YOU, Rachel! That means so much to me!
"I had a blue Schwinn bike, saddle shoes, and a miniature dachshund named Schatzie." In this one sentence you held up a mirror and I could see myself. I, too, had a blue Schwinn, wore saddles shoes and my mini-dachshund was named Rocky (Rocquefort van Liederkranz). While my childhood circumstances were quite different, I found myself fully identified with you as the narrator and protagonist in your story. (Read this earlier but didn't have time to comment then and came back to reread this episode in your memoir.
Oh, thanks for this comment, Jill - and for reading! How interesting that we shared these common features of our childhoods! I'm glad (from a writing perspective) that you could identify well with the narrator - l appreciate you letting me know that!
This is terrific, Constance. And that glamor shot of you is gorgeous
Thank you, Russ! That's so lovely!☺️
This is SO damn poignant for me, and for so many reasons, including knowing so intimately the milieu you describe. Remembering the people, the Caravans outfits, the neighborhood, and the era all just adds to the tension of confronting this laid-bare reality of our programming and conditioning through the eyes of your heart-aching experience. I feel such similarly, solidarity and empathy, while at the same time marveling that two little girls growing up in the same religious environment could also have such different interpretations and reactions. The raw power of your descriptions of your own naïveté is stunning. Thank you for the gift of your vulnerability.
I thought of you while l was writing this, Marva! Thank you for reading and for your deep understanding of everything I'm talking about here. And for your encouragement! That all means the world to me.
Glamour shots! I remember! We all wanted them. My evangelical bff loved hers but also felt shame over how sexy she looked, “be honest do I look like a slut here?” 😢 So sad she couldn’t appreciate it all- her beauty and sexuality. Loving your series!
Yes, it was such a big thing back then! And this feels like such a big topic to me - we are judged so constantly as women for our physical appearances and l remember feeling confused at certain points - am l getting dressed to please myself or to be appealing to some man? Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Heidi!
When the only way out is to get another man’s attention. Been there. Thanks for another great chapter!
Thanks so much, Elizabeth! And thanks for understanding!
Thanks for restacking, Alli!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Mark! I'm glad you found it meaningful.