Six Tiny Memories (a la Gita and Sandra, et al)

[Mike Handley]

1972: Took my first summer job, cleaning kennels, and saved enough to buy my own brand new bedroom suit: Mediterranean-style with red velvet inlays.

 

1975: Lost my virginity, if spilling seed by another’s hand counts.

 

1976: Lost my virginity for real, if the former doesn’t.

 

1982: The best dressed and youngest person at the clinic in downtown Birmingham, I sold my blood for $20, which put $10 worth of gas in my ’72 Maverick’s tank and a loaf of bread, three pounds of weiners, some mustard, dry limas and a bag of grits -- enough for two weeks -- in mine.

 

1991: I told my newspaper’s racist owner, “Fuck you,” and wound up becoming the publisher.

 

2001: I returned from a safari in South Africa with the desire to buy canvasses, brushes and paints, and I’ve not stopped since that very FIRST painting: AIDS orphans singing and dancing around a campfire.

 

[Jamie Hogan]

I went through so many facial expressions reading this. Like I was watching a play, or something. You're the best, MH. You big-hearted rascal.

[Mike Handley]

Thanks, y'all. Although it wasn't meant to be a challenge or prompt, I think the "tiny memories" posts have been some of the best ever offered up -- en masse -- on this site. This morning, ALL the top posts were memory-related. 

[Bill Floyd]

I've heard the story of that painting but had never seen it until now.  Expectations exceeded.  The shading in the sky and the way it frames the kids captures the feeling of someone sitting there watching, from that exact perspective, and the viewer understands how this could be an important image.  Interesting that one kid is turned away, two have their faces partially obscured, and then there's that beatific smile on the other one.

Never stop.

[Jenni Marie]

You keep hunting those words, Mike. These are fantastic.

[Bob Clay]

I lost my virginity too ... but I'm happy to say I found it again ... it was hidden beneath the Higgs Boson.

[Gita]

I hope that you eventually write down the whole story of 1991. They deserve to know.

[Joey Delgado]

1982. Awesome.

[Simon Halliday]

Excellent.

Re Stephen, deserved to become the publisher .

[Cita]

This is a very powerful list.

[bolton carley]

the wording of 1976 cracked me up!  your memories are just the right mix of a fabulous man!