This, That, and the Other

Maggie, at From Cave Walls, and Lauren, at LSS Attitude of Gratitude, alternate hosting Throwback Thursday. The idea of the prompt is for them to give us a topic and for us to write a post in which we share our own memories or experiences about the given topic. This week, Lauren gives us the topic That Was Then And This Is Now. She says that “growing up, we all had dreams and aspirations.” She wants us to think back to what we were like and what we wanted as a kid compared to the adult choices we’ve made.

Here are Lauren’s questions.

1) When you were a kid, did you like your name? Would you have changed it if you could? Do you like it now?

I really didn’t give my given name much thought when I was a kid. I just accepted what my name was: Fandango. Ha! Just kidding. There were some names I thought were cool, like Buzz and Butch and Scotty. But overall, my name was fine. Do I like my name now? Well, given that I’ve had it for seven decades, I’m kinda used to it.

2) As a kid, what always brought a smile to your face? What about now, as an adult? (family-friendly please)

Ice cream and chocolate. Same now.

3) What was the most important lesson your parents taught you? Did you pass that lesson down to your family?

Two things: Don’t sweat the small stuff and This too shall pass. I did try to pass that on to my kids. Did they listen? Who knows?

4) Are there talents you started as a child that you still have? If so, what are they?

I used to be very good at drawing and I earned the nickname “Doodles” in school because I doodled all the time. I don’t draw or doodle much anymore.

5) Is there something you regret not doing or starting when you were young? What was it?

Yes. I wish my parents had given me music lessons, specifically piano lessons. But they didn’t and I never bothered to teach myself to either read music or to play the piano.

6) Did you have more close friends as a kid or as an adult? Any idea why?

I grew up in a typical suburban subdivision in the early-fifties through the mid-sixties. There were tons of kids my age and we formed a close circle of friends. As an adult, we’ve moved around a lot and today my circle of truly close friends is very small.

7) Where did you go to think as a kid? Where do you go now?

My room as a kid. My home office now.

8) What would be the name of the chapter of your life from 10 – 18? What would the name be the name of the chapter of your life currently?

From 10 to 18, my chapter name would have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Today it would be “It’s All Downhill From Here.”

9) What wonderful thing happened in your adult life that your child self could never have imagined?

Being a grandfather.

10) Would your child self like your adult self? Why or why not?

Probably not. He’d probably think I’m an old fuddy-duddy.