Wednesday's Question Of The Day: When I Grow Up

Wednesday's Question Of The Day: 

When I Grow Up

Hump day? Well, I'll give you something to ponder.

Yes, it's time for Wednesday's Question Of The Day.

Each Wednesday, a new question to give you the opportunity to do a bit of self-examination.  Think of it as a way of getting to know all about you and a chance to learn a little more about me. 

That's right. You know me; spill that tea! For I am the king of over-sharing!

Oh, and please leave your responses in the comments section. 

Why, think of this as a little blogging kiki!

Okay! Ready, set... 

Here's today's question:

What did you want to be when you were growing up? And why?

A single parent living in a trailer in the middle of the country with my adopted black child named Rufus, a cat and a dog.

I don't know where this dream came from, but I remember very clearly shocking my Aunt Hazel when I told her.

Each summer, when we were small, my parents would farm each child out to a relative so they could have a week of piece and quiet. We got to choose where we wanted to go, for the most part, and I loved my Aunt Hazel. Her kids were all grown. She lived on a small farm with her husband Jim. They used to live in the main house, but that had been given over to a used-a-bit shop which Hazel ran. They now lived in a trailer on another part of the property. It was a nice trailer. 

Jim was a dairy farmer and I loved the whole operation. Plus, he had a utility van which I used to get to sit in and pretend I was driving. 

One day, Aunt Hazel asked me what I wanted to be when I was grew up. I think I was eight at the time. 

And that's what came out of my mouth. 

I loved the idea of living in a trailer in the middle of the country. And I wanted a child and I thought adopting a little black boy was the perfect solution. He could grow his hair out into a big afro and I would dress him in little denim OshKosh B'Gosh overalls. We would have a St. Bernard puppy and a kitty. I remember I even drew a picture. 

I think I was influenced by The Courtship Of Eddie's Father, the idea of which I found romantic.

And I guess it was pretty obvious that I was a strange child. But Aunt Hazel laughed. And told everyone who came to the shop that week. 

Please note, in my plan there existed no notion of having to make a living. I think the concept of money in relationship to living hadn't occurred to me. That was a concept I would not fully grasp until I was 36 years old.

And the idea of adopting a black child? Well, while that strikes me as a bit culturally-insensitive today, at the time, I assure you, I just wanted to be a parent and that my heart was in the right place. I think what I really wanted was a friend.

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The Courtship Of Eddie's Father

Opening Theme - Harry Nilsson

(1969)