In the last post, hydroman72 wrote:
Reading Ynaku’s subject…can anyone recall when you grew up? Somewhere, something, sometime, the light bulb lights up. All kids go through, there’s no age of when the kids turn into adults. Some kids get it early, some don’t get it…not even at 30. lol
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Can anyone recall when you grew up?
Boy, that’s a tough one…
I guess it was at the end of summer in ’79 for me. My parents had recently got divorced and I was living at home with my mom – just her and me. I had just started working solo as a computer operator during the evenings. And my girlfriend of 2 years and I had just broken up. Most of my friends were away in the military or attending school away from Oahu. I was on my own.
I wasn’t ready to grow up just yet – but was forced into it. All of a sudden, I was the man of the house – even though I had my mom there to wash my clothes and prepare meals for me, I wasn’t alone, yet I was alone – IYKWIM.
I was still mourning the break up and being alone was when the depression would set in. Working alone at night did not help the cause. Coming home to an almost empty house didn’t help the cause either. It was the pits.
Like I mentioned prior, I wasn’t ready to grow up – but I was forced into it. And that’s probably what I needed.
It took about 9 months for me to get out of the funk I was in. And boy, did I get out of it. 180º turnaround! My friends returned home from school, met a huge bunch of guys and girls that we’d hang out at The Point After back bar during Saturday nights, and sweat out the alcohol at the beach on Sunday surfing and playing volleyball. Hanging out at Zippy’s saimin lanai restaurant on the weeknights, or partying at someone’s apartment. I was like a kid again! Uh oh, back to square one.
Then I met Paula. We dated, got married, and bought a condo. After a couple of years, our first daughter was born. That’s when I began to take work seriously as I had a family to provide for. And even started driving like an old man. And taxi style at that! Paula and daughter riding in the back seat as I drove alone in the front. Did it bother me? Not a bit because their safety was first and foremost.
That’s when I really grew up…
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This Saturday (2/26), if you’re around the Dillingham boulevard area, swing by Eki Cyclery to help them celebrate their 100 year birthday. There will be a bike show between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. I hope to stop by to snap some pictures for a future blog entry.
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Hilo MCLers!
