When I was a kid, there were a couple of special places that I would go to that were my "secret" hideouts. One was in the woods, under some brambles and vines. I used my knife to make a kind of den there and would sit inside enveloped by honeysuckle, muscadine vines, and probably poison ivy. There were also rows of ancient daffodils in the forest because the area used to have many daffodil farms, with some of the hardy remnants still coming up in rows.
I'd pretend that I was an adventurer such as Lewis and Clarke on an expedition to explore the wilderness. Sometimes, I would sneak cigarettes out there and pretend that I was grown up by blowing smoke rings.
Another place that I would go was to a rise that overlooked a large hay field. There were some rolling hills and the hay would wave in the wind. It looked glorious when it was green and also when the hay turned golden. This place was one that took my fancy a bit later than the forest hideout. It was a place where I contemplated the mysteries of being a teenager. I could dream my teenage dreams there without being disturbed. And I could pour out tears of frustration and anger that seemed to be part of my existence at that time.
Like a lot of things, the special places that I went to changed with the times. The forest hideout became a four lane highway. And the hay field became a field of patio homes. Yet, I can still take refuge in my mind's eye by seeing those places the way that they used to be when I was a kid.
Syd,
ReplyDeleteYou are just an excellent writer and you say what you mean in a clear, precise way. I really love reading your posts.
I spent too much time in what I call "alternate realities" when I was young. Some of it is probably real normal, but as with most things, I took it to excess. It came to be that I didn't know my real life from my make believe one. That's how I dealt with a life I couldn't deal with.
There was an abandoned farmhouse that could no longer be accessed by road. The owners had donated the land to the Conservation Dept. The house stood with windows broken and that old flowered wallpaper peeling. It was heaven and I always imagined time didn't exist when I was there. What a great memory :-)
ReplyDeleteNamaste
I had a place behind the horse barn, where I saw myself--sitting on top a hat shredder--as a fighter pilot shooting down Japanese Zero airplanes.
ReplyDeleteOther place was in the woods, where all alone, I stormed the beaches of Guadalcanal Island, and captured Hickam Field (Air Base).
Those are STILL my hiding places, but I drive a TOYOTA (or a SUZUKI!) to get there.....
I too had a special hideout at the creek by our house. It was great to just get away and think. Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories!
ReplyDeleteI really like your special place, thanks for the birthday wishes
ReplyDeletelovely post. it reminded me of being young and? Taking refuge in nature as a way of getting away from it all. I'm very grateful for having had natural places nearby to roam freely. I have no idea how kids must be able to do it now, if parents will barely let them out of their sight, for fear of being abducted and God knows what else. We could roam around pretty much as we pleased. and all that natural scenery was very therapeutic. so thanks for the reminder :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteI use to escape into books...and more books.......those were the secret places I would go..and could do it anywhere..
Thanks for the post. I've been hiding out in the secret places in my head all day looking for an outlet.
ReplyDeleteI spent a lot of time alone as a child. I was the only kid who didn't have a religion, so Sundays were especially lonely. There was a floor-level attic window where the dog would lay and watch the world go by. I would lay there for hours with the dog watching birds fly past and squirrels "squirrel" around. Sometimes I would catch flies and moths and feed them to spiders on the side of the house. When I was really frustrated and lonely I would sit at the curb on sunny summer Sundays and nuke ants with a magnifying glass.
I'm a commercial fisherman -- have been all my adult life --- and spend long hours alone often smashing crabs to get them out of my nets (sorry -- it's the only way.) Weird. At least it has a purpose now.
Wonderful imagery with this Syd. It made me remember good things from my own childhood too!
ReplyDeletethat the nature of memories. escapism at its best. i used to play in adjacent fields, forest and a deserted airstrip. and also have these imaginary adventures. my friend and i would go treasure hunting or following 'clues' to goodness knows what. now of course, that's all been replaced with homes and stuff too. kinda sad. but like you, no-one can take my memories away...
ReplyDeleteAs a teenager I spent hours in my room, lights off, headphones on so the music was the most intimate it could be and the world stayed outside. I especially remember when the Superstar album came out and lying there, tears streaming.
ReplyDeleteI have always been grateful to be sensitive.
I too loved nature as my special places. I had trees that I would climb in and I also had a blackberry bramble that I had made a den out of too...it was in a field far enough away from home, but close enough to hear if my mom was yelling for me. LOL. Thank you for the brilliant reminder.
ReplyDeletehi syd, ive still got loads of "special" places where I go, the main one being on a night with the dogs I stop and pray out over the fields looking at the calder valley, so peaceful there but just a bit cold at the moment now
ReplyDeleteMe too, Syd. This looks similar to my old hang outs. We didn't have tons of toys, video games, not even vcrs......ok, I know I'm sounding old. We had to make alot of our own fun. We had alot of fun woods around our house. I used to enjoy the ladyslippers. I would run next door to my best friends house but it was scary at night. I would fly up the hill between our house hopping from rock to rock.....I had it memorized.
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