SPOKEN AND WRITTEN OF 17
Age to Age - 17
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SPOKEN AND WRITTEN OF 17 |
COMMENTS FROM ONE WHO WAS ONCE 17 |
| Ages17_hkirkrainer.pdf | At age 17, I was a junior/senior in high school; had learned how drive - but did have a car...but purchased a nice bicycle; and looked forward to graduation and college... |
| InAWord_Abigail_2004.pdf
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Just another of the many In A Word letters devoted to my children; this time, a personal letter to Abby, my daughter, that is aimed at the possibility that she knows (or will know) that I cared enough for her |
| InAWord_Ponies_2005.pdf
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My daughter was obsessed with horses and ponies; from figurines to books to riding classes; she could give a bad name to the horse whisperer. |
| InAWord_Privileges_2005.pdf
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If anyone understands that parenting is a privilege, it is me...or anyone who has lost the privilege. Such a lesson can be had by any loss however; for example, the loss of one's health can raise the value or |
| InAWord_Purity_2005.pdf
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Purity cannot be preached enough when it comes to parenting; not with fear and threat, but with the understanding that "Hey, I know what you're going through...been there myself..." |
| InAWord_Rainbow_2005.pdf
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Possibly the most popular song of all time, "Somewhere over the Rainbow" is a winsome and winning song of hope; it may be fantastical, but hum a few bars and before you know it, you're clicking your |
| InAWord_Rationalize_2005.pdf
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In the movie, "The Big Chill", the character played by Jeffrey Goldblum claims that people rationalize more often than they think about "purity"; and if that's so, rationalizations can excuse any behavior |
| InAWord_Reason_2005.pdf
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Those who will not reason are bigots, those who cannot are fools and those who dare not are slaves; but slaves to what? What does it mean to "reason"...or to be reasonable? |
| InAWord_Reflections_2005.pdf
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"Reflects the love that use to be..." sang the Supremes; a song of some regret or reservation...but love does involve risks - the possibility that promises will be broken while love may prevail. |
| Abby_10-10-05.pdf | A sampling of the letters sent to my children, these (letters) are more recent and, as history bears out, |
| Abby_12-27-05.pdf | An encouraging letter but also an apology in that my role as a parent has been so limited - though for |
| Abby_01-04-06.pdf | Trying to connect on the basis of music - a universal language - the real possibility is that my daughter |
| Abby_01-17-06.pdf | With the help of some local educators, I tried to find my children in Jacksonville; the effort was not |
| Abby_03-09-08.pdf | As with the letter (s) of '06, this letter ended-up as evidence for the courts; as to the monies, no |
"AGE
TO AGE" is a tribute to each posted age; and for this time, that
age is 17. Each month or so, the age will be changed and, in turn,
will be updated either from previous writings, such as In A Word, or
will be developed from scratch. How we examine and reflect on our
past is sometimes helpful in understanding the age in general and those who are
themselves passing through in person.
Coincident to my age was a popular, deep-felt song: "I learned the truth at 17". (Janis Ian) At this age, I was a junior or senior in high-school in northeast Alabama; school represented much of my sphere of influence although family and church played s significant role too. As far as plans, my objective was to go on to college - most likely in the state where the cost was more affordable. I had not eliminated the possibility of some military service and was already looking into the reserve officers programs.
TV offered such sitcoms as "Happy Days", "Barney Miller" and "WKRP" among others; and at the movies, such blockbusters movies as "Star Wars", "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Blue Brothers" brought the masses to the big screen. Between "Happy Days" and the musical, "Grease"; it seemed that the '50's was a blast from the past. As far as music, John Denver remained my favorite single artist coupled with several Christian-contemporary artists; I never really got into rock - but there were some of the finest available in vinyl, 8-track, and the most-recent cassette.
President
Jimmy Carter had his own version of economic problems; Japanese cars
were flooding the market; and my dad was retiring from the Marine
Corps. It was life before personal computers and cable TV - though
still fun and exciting...all things considered. 
For more information, please contact me at hey@hkirkrainer.org
Last Edited: 07/08/2009