Ahhh that brings back memories... I wonder sometimes if kids these days have much of such experience any more, being glued to screens... on the other hand I wouldn’t want my son to copy the stuff we pulled back then! 🤣
Great title Jim and story! You gotta respect guys, (and gals!), with confidence like that. Am a tree climbing fan still; we have some white pines that seem made to climb with their near horizontal branches. But I'm sure a tree-hugger when I'm up there! Keep telling your tales, Jim!
It's weird. Sometimes I reply to someone and then it doesn't show up. So if this reply is a repeat, sorry! Anyway, it amazes me to this day how many trees we climbed and how truly dangerous it was. But I don't remember anyone falling. Just luck, I guess.
Finally caught up on all of these Florida stories. I loved each and every one of them. I actually felt like I was there, sweating to the heat, humidity AND the height of those branches. I was a daredevil back then, as well, but now I can't even stand on a chair without vertigo. Terrific writing; I even felt badly for the shark. I can't believe you swam in the bay without a second thought about what was lurking beneath you. I swam in Barnegat Bay in Toms River, NJ, and I wore sneakers because of the crabs! When they didn't get you, the jellyfish did! I hope you combine these stories, and more, into one memoir- if not for your family, then for us readers!
Thanks, Geno! I appreciate your saying all this. We both had some wild times in different ways, that's for sure. In Tampa Bay we had a lot of blue crabs, but I don't remember them being a problem. But the jellyfish could sting the crap of us. We used to swim about half a mile out to a sand bar and run around barefooted all over the place where there were stingrays, barnacles, and all kinds of dangerous stuff. To this day, I don't know how we did it. We simply didn't know any better, I guess. 😀 I might well self-publish this as a memoir because it would be a relatively light-hearted and simple read, which I think a lot of people are being drawn to these days given all the negativity that's out there. But I have at least 25 more parts to go before I consider doing that, so it would be well into next year. I've got to finish my new fantasy series first!
Really enjoying these Jim. The tree climbing reminded me of the lumber yard we went to as kids where we’d climb these towering piles of wood and then jump between them. Makes my knees knock even thinking about it now! 😁
Thanks, Alexander! I hear what you're saying. I'm not one to claim that "everything" was better back then. As you mentioned, we did some crazy stuff, almost to the level of being stuntmen or something. But there's little doubt that being glued to screens is not good and probably causes all kinds of long-term damage that will continue to worsen in the future, don't you think?
Thanks!!! I always wanted to build a treehouse, but never did. Most of the trees we climbed were in the woods. The house I grew up in was right on the water and only had palm trees. I remember -- when I was around 10 years old (around 1967-68)-- going to a trailer in the middle of nowhere in the Winter Park area. Inside was a model of Disney World, which I believe opened in 1971. To a 10-year-old boy, seeing that model was torture because it seemed like forever before it would become a reality. Now, you couldn't pay me to go, not because of the political situation but because I'm not into spending hundreds of dollars to stand in long lines in the heat. 😀
xThis fine story brought back ambivalent memories of growing up in OldFlorida (Winter Park before Disney). It was fun to recall with acluster of neigborhood kids. But I never totally embraced the aggressiveness of the culture. There was one punk always looking for a fight. Fortunately, he was not interested in me. Oh...we also climbed a lot of trees and built a treehouse in the backyard.
Thanks!!! And damn! That sounds a lot worse than trees!
Ahhh that brings back memories... I wonder sometimes if kids these days have much of such experience any more, being glued to screens... on the other hand I wouldn’t want my son to copy the stuff we pulled back then! 🤣
The Twain quote is pure gold. 👌👌👌
Great title Jim and story! You gotta respect guys, (and gals!), with confidence like that. Am a tree climbing fan still; we have some white pines that seem made to climb with their near horizontal branches. But I'm sure a tree-hugger when I'm up there! Keep telling your tales, Jim!
Thanks, JM! White pines are awesome. I think I can still manage a "low" horizontal one. 😀 But I'm a tree-hugger no matter where I am.
Oh I loved it! It has inspired me to write. "Teaching Comanche to Climb Trees." coming out soon. Thank you Jim!
It's weird. Sometimes I reply to someone and then it doesn't show up. So if this reply is a repeat, sorry! Anyway, it amazes me to this day how many trees we climbed and how truly dangerous it was. But I don't remember anyone falling. Just luck, I guess.
Finally caught up on all of these Florida stories. I loved each and every one of them. I actually felt like I was there, sweating to the heat, humidity AND the height of those branches. I was a daredevil back then, as well, but now I can't even stand on a chair without vertigo. Terrific writing; I even felt badly for the shark. I can't believe you swam in the bay without a second thought about what was lurking beneath you. I swam in Barnegat Bay in Toms River, NJ, and I wore sneakers because of the crabs! When they didn't get you, the jellyfish did! I hope you combine these stories, and more, into one memoir- if not for your family, then for us readers!
Thanks, Geno! I appreciate your saying all this. We both had some wild times in different ways, that's for sure. In Tampa Bay we had a lot of blue crabs, but I don't remember them being a problem. But the jellyfish could sting the crap of us. We used to swim about half a mile out to a sand bar and run around barefooted all over the place where there were stingrays, barnacles, and all kinds of dangerous stuff. To this day, I don't know how we did it. We simply didn't know any better, I guess. 😀 I might well self-publish this as a memoir because it would be a relatively light-hearted and simple read, which I think a lot of people are being drawn to these days given all the negativity that's out there. But I have at least 25 more parts to go before I consider doing that, so it would be well into next year. I've got to finish my new fantasy series first!
Really enjoying these Jim. The tree climbing reminded me of the lumber yard we went to as kids where we’d climb these towering piles of wood and then jump between them. Makes my knees knock even thinking about it now! 😁
I love this tale and the intriguing little tough guy!
Thanks, Alexander! I hear what you're saying. I'm not one to claim that "everything" was better back then. As you mentioned, we did some crazy stuff, almost to the level of being stuntmen or something. But there's little doubt that being glued to screens is not good and probably causes all kinds of long-term damage that will continue to worsen in the future, don't you think?
Thanks!!! I always wanted to build a treehouse, but never did. Most of the trees we climbed were in the woods. The house I grew up in was right on the water and only had palm trees. I remember -- when I was around 10 years old (around 1967-68)-- going to a trailer in the middle of nowhere in the Winter Park area. Inside was a model of Disney World, which I believe opened in 1971. To a 10-year-old boy, seeing that model was torture because it seemed like forever before it would become a reality. Now, you couldn't pay me to go, not because of the political situation but because I'm not into spending hundreds of dollars to stand in long lines in the heat. 😀
Thank you!!! I wonder if I would even dare to climb a tree now. I can't remember the last time.
Thanks!
xThis fine story brought back ambivalent memories of growing up in OldFlorida (Winter Park before Disney). It was fun to recall with acluster of neigborhood kids. But I never totally embraced the aggressiveness of the culture. There was one punk always looking for a fight. Fortunately, he was not interested in me. Oh...we also climbed a lot of trees and built a treehouse in the backyard.