Growing Up in Flip Flops

Send us a text I was awaken by a nightmare this past week, which centered on my greatest childhood fear. Or maybe it was listening to this song too many times. Last night I had a dream You were in it I was in it with you Everyone that I knew And everyone that you know was in my dream. My mother had a non-verbal solution to notify my sister and I when she was ready to leave whatever store we had been in with her. And that signal was for us to come running to her. No excuses. And the most amazing point is that I still respond to my mother's signal.

Send us a text Editor’s note: In light of recent events I have changed the title of this episode. I recount a couple events in which I did not participate nor was involved. I heard the aftermath directly from the individual involved, who was my buddy. But for my mother demanding I stay home for some reason, I would have been involved in one of the events. That said, my friend has gone onto great personal success both professionally and personally. So I guess one can escape from bouts of teenage stupidity. And it could have easily been me.

Send us a text In my first job out of university, I was placed in a management track and had the opportunity to travel with an experienced interviewer as part of my training. I learned a lot from him, but two questions I asked of him and his responses have stayed with me all these years. They provide a real insight, I believe, into our behavior.

Send us a text An incident I witnessed completely changed how I viewed adults and interactions with them. They weren't different from me and the emotions I felt as a teenager, as I discovered. Mostly they kept their emotions hidden, but on this day, the adults' emotions were on full display.

Send us a text In this episode, I encourage you to make a list of tangible things or experiences which give you true joy. I'm not talking about happiness, but true joy. And for the 100th time you experience them, just as it was the first time. Have a listen, you might amaze yourself and give yourself something to remind you to smile.

Send us a text This episode is a departure from my usual format and subject matter. Instead, I ask you, the listener. to answer a simple question for which there are no incorrect answers within the bounds of the question. Have a listen to learn the question, then take some time to answer the question, and you might be surprised at your answer.

Send us a text Witnessing a single event during a high school class had a profound and life-changing effect on me. It has always amazed me how one can go through the years absolutely convinced the position or viewpoint they hold is entirely correct and right, and then in a single moment have all previous foundations of that belief wiped away. That happens, because I know, as it happened to me.

Send us a text In this episode, I recount my role as an acolyte in Methodist church services as an example of how services have changed in my lifetime. And I consider what my mother's reaction would be to the current state of services and what she likely saw as the beginning of the downward spiral in formality.

Send us a text A couple high school summers were luckily spent working in a refrigerated warehouse keeping me out and away from the hot Florida sun. I learned a couple things in that job involving both that one's perspective changes how a situation is viewed and how life choices made early can either open or close opportunities for you. And I knew which path I was going to endeavor towards.

Send us a text Remembering my time in both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts is bittersweet. There were great opportunities which were presented to me and that I was able to enjoy. At the same time, I became bored with what I saw as irrelevant activities which the leaders had us performing. And this led to one of my great regrets in life, not completing the requirements for Eagle Scout.

Send us a text In this episode I relate tow talks which I received , which in theory, would have been given to others in identical fashion, except they weren't. Different messages for different audiences is my only explanation, except with humorous consequences. And a thank you for a full year of "Growing Up in Flip Flops." I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have in doing it.

Send us a text Growing up near either a wide river or the Gulf of Mexico was a constant call that I heard pulling me to the water. This is the single thing I miss most of being in Florida, is not the weather or the flowers, but that is being near the water. Yes, I'm near water where I now live but it's nothing close to being the same as the water in Florida. Give a listen to one of the adventures a young boy could have in Florida.

Send us a text It's interesting to me the circumstance of not being aware of or missing something of which others are fully aware or desirous of, but for which you are completely oblivious. Well, let me introduce you to my sister and I and chicken being served in any form or manner. And the reason that was so.

Send us a text Being in the right place at the right time has its distinct advantages. In this story, I am definitely fulfilling that requirement. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than smart or whatever attribute there is besides lucky.

Send us a text My first two jobs that did not involve working on relative's farms or storefront were in my hometown. Both jobs were memorable for their own reasons, but one shaped my employment decisions for the the rest of my life. And you never know when past jobs are going to be brought up when applying for a new job.

Send us a text Just three houses down from the house in which I grew up was a motel which had both a swimming pool and a shuffle board court. Both of these were open to my sister and I due to our mother's friendship with the owners. In addition, we visited another of mother's friends at another motel and those visits are imprinted on my memory. And it's interesting to me that a fun little escape for me in childhood has remained an interest all these years.

Send us a text While we didn't have surfing on the Gulf coast of Florida, (although skim boarding and boogie boarding did exist), we had other activities that kept us heading to the beach. And there were those ever present girls in bikinis that added to the attractiveness of going to the beach.

Send us a text Three celebrity encounters are remembered and things I learned. Not for a moment did I think of asking for an autograph or such, but instead a simply having a genuine conversation on a variety of subjects from types of pizza, to the movie Young Frankenstein, and Richard Nixon saying "Sock it to me." Lots of fun.

Send us a text In this episode, I transform from the sweetest image possible to a mean teenager. I also make a public apology to all the marching band performances in which I interfered. And please don't use the information that is included in this episode for evil purposes.

Send us a text I discover that not everything that happens in our life has a discernable reason that we can readily understand. Not everyone that has an impact or effect upon our life acts in the wisest or most intelligent or selfless manner. But, that is no reason to stop living a purposeful and directed and loving life. Others are looking for someone exactly like you. Don't stop.