Stop Number Six in My Education Odyssey is a Junior High Called Parkside...

[WCGreen]

When I left the very urban Lakewood for the almost rural budding suburban enclave known as Westlake, I was a sullen loner torn between the love I had for my mother and the loyalty I felt toward my father. Because of these attachment issues, I retreated into myself even more than I already was, finding solace in music, comic books and the movies.

When we moved to Westlake, I was suddenly miles away from any store, let alone one that sold comic books. I was even further away from a movie theater. I guess I was suffering from a mild case of cultural downsizing.

I could walk or take the bus to see a movie or buy a comic book in Lakewood. In Westlake, I was suddenly isolated from the two main distractions that helped me make it through the day.

All I had left was music and thankfully, WMMS and WNCR were just coming on line making the FM dial an oasis for music our parents simply hated. If it wasn’t for those two radio stations, I would have been totally alone.


https://mylungtransplantyears.wordpress.com/about/


My newest post from my Lung Transplant Years Blog...

[LWolf]

1. That took me back to my own middle school years.

My single mother moved frequently. I went to (1) intermediate school and (2) jr high schools for grades 7 - 9. I spent 7th grade in TO, going to Colina Intermediate School. I turned 12 during that year. It wasn't a bad year for me. The teachers were good, although I had issues with the PE teacher, who, knowing that I couldn't do a somersault or any other gymnastic drill or tumble, forced me to do a floor routine, to music, in front of a large audience. It was a required part of her class, and a major humiliation. Other than that, and the time I was supposed to be learning how to do flips on the trampoline and I came down and landed on the ropes and bars instead of the bed.

I spent a lot of time in Westlake. On my horse. I could ride my horse from my house to Westlake, without any street riding, and did a few times a week. There was a large ranch, on 5,000 acres, at the end of a quiet road, surrounded by open space and cattle, that I would ride to for adventures. People weren't supposed to go out onto the 5,000 acres without permission, but I did, anyway. There were many gates, it wasn't watched, and my little mustang knew how to place herself for proper gate handling.

Out on those 5,000 acres were...movie sets. Old western towns. Farm houses. Those sets were there permanently. We could ride into town, tie up the horses, and go into the saloon. It didn't matter that there was nothing IN the saloon but dirt and plywood. Sometimes there were current, temporary set ups we could explore. We discovered I say "we," and sometimes I had a friend with me. Most often I was alone. I found the set of the giant bra to capture the giant breast in Woody Allen's movie, lol.

There were also horses and cows, which were mostly not a problem, and always fun to run into. One day, though, I was galloping my little mustang down one of the dirt roads criss-crossing the acres; we came around the corner and almost ran straight into a longhorn, whose long horns were more than a little intimidating. Another time we found a Brahma bull, which was also not so interesting.

I often spent the whole day out there. Just me, the horse, and sometimes a snack. Not even a saddle.

I'm sorry your experiences weren't as positive as mine.

[WCGreen]

3. The principal in that school was an ex-Marine and he loved to

lord his power over the kids...

It was Westlake, Ohio. My sister had a horse that we kept in the backyard. When we moved to the second house, Westlake became a much better place to live. I liked the neighborhood we lived in while at that Junior High, but the school still taints all my memories of that time...

[LWolf]

8. Westlake, Ohio.

:rofl:

It's funny that both CA and Ohio would have both Lakewood and Westlake.

As a teacher, I've always been aware that the way we interact with students has life-long consequences. I'm glad corporal punishment has been outlawed in the states I've taught in. Bullies don't belong in charge of schools.

I moved on from that year to De Anza Jr. High in downtown Ventura; a much less happy place to be. The adults were fine; they just weren't around when you needed them. Negotiating use of the restroom with bullies, finding a path from class to the lunch room without getting pantsed on the way, getting home without someone riding your bus with you so they could try to knock you down when you got off...not a lot of fun.

That was the year I learned to cut school and became a sullen loner.

[WCGreen]

9. Us sullen loners need to stick together....

[LWolf]

10. Right.

Even if that is somewhat of an oxymoron. :toast:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Another great read!

What a time you had of it. That principal was nothing short of sadistic, and your mom was right to be furious.

Well written!

[WCGreen]

4. i ran into him years later at a Kiwanas Club event....

He was still a swaggering little man...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Did he remember you?

[WCGreen]

6. Oh yea....

I tend to be burned into the minds of people I meet...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. That had to be an interesting moment, lol!