Summer 1986
Jul. 11th, 2006 10:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dcseainTwenty years ago, i was 15. On 18 June that year, my father was taken to the hospital for pneumonia. Seven days later he turned 41. My friends and i spent much of that summer at my friend Rami's house, because she had to watch her younger brother Shane while their mom was at work.
Each day, except Saturdays, on which i bowled, i'd walk down the big hill, halfway up the smaller one, around the corner plus a few blocks to my friend Elizabeth's house. There i'd cool off while we chatted. Then we'd walk the few blocks to the woods, through the woods, across the sewer pipe and up the small bit of hill to Rami's house. That was a good bit shorter than following the roads.
Each day when Ms. Cha[rlotte], Rami's mom, came home, she'd find a living room full of teenagers sprawled around, and Shane in the basement playing on the computer. Some days, we'd walk over to Potomac Mills to hang at IKEA, and sometimes we'd get ice cream at the Swede Shop in the store.
Middle August, i got my first job, a dishwasher at a restaurant called CJ's Café. It was near the AMC Theater, where the Burger King in Neighborhood 7 of Potomac Mills is today. School started on 30 August that year.
The Fairfax County Public Schools at that time mailed things to Father's Name, Student's Name address. On Friday, 4 Septemeber, i paused at the guidance office, explained that my father was ill and not likely to last much longer, and asked them to change that to my mother's name. I hadn't seen my father that summer after he was released from Prince William Hospital to Annaburg Manor, a nursing home in Mannassas. Seeing his name on the envelopes was more than i could really deal with at that time.
He passed on that Sunday, the 6th. I went to school on the 7th, let them know that he'd died, and that i'd be out for the next several days, but back on Friday. They looked a bit baffled, asked if i was okay. I said i was, and went off to class. Viewings were held Tuesday the 8th, afternoon and evening, and the interment was on the 9th, mid-day, at Stafford Memorial Park on Rt 648 (Shelton Shop Rd it's named now) in Garrissonville, VA.
And thus was my last summer of innocence. I knew i had an essay itching to get out today. Had no idea this would be the topic. Though it's been on my mind of late. I even pointedly went to, and much enjoyed, a cookout at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
leiacat and bfudlmint's place on his birthday this year, rather than my usual picnic at the graveyard.
Each day, except Saturdays, on which i bowled, i'd walk down the big hill, halfway up the smaller one, around the corner plus a few blocks to my friend Elizabeth's house. There i'd cool off while we chatted. Then we'd walk the few blocks to the woods, through the woods, across the sewer pipe and up the small bit of hill to Rami's house. That was a good bit shorter than following the roads.
Each day when Ms. Cha[rlotte], Rami's mom, came home, she'd find a living room full of teenagers sprawled around, and Shane in the basement playing on the computer. Some days, we'd walk over to Potomac Mills to hang at IKEA, and sometimes we'd get ice cream at the Swede Shop in the store.
Middle August, i got my first job, a dishwasher at a restaurant called CJ's Café. It was near the AMC Theater, where the Burger King in Neighborhood 7 of Potomac Mills is today. School started on 30 August that year.
The Fairfax County Public Schools at that time mailed things to Father's Name, Student's Name address. On Friday, 4 Septemeber, i paused at the guidance office, explained that my father was ill and not likely to last much longer, and asked them to change that to my mother's name. I hadn't seen my father that summer after he was released from Prince William Hospital to Annaburg Manor, a nursing home in Mannassas. Seeing his name on the envelopes was more than i could really deal with at that time.
He passed on that Sunday, the 6th. I went to school on the 7th, let them know that he'd died, and that i'd be out for the next several days, but back on Friday. They looked a bit baffled, asked if i was okay. I said i was, and went off to class. Viewings were held Tuesday the 8th, afternoon and evening, and the interment was on the 9th, mid-day, at Stafford Memorial Park on Rt 648 (Shelton Shop Rd it's named now) in Garrissonville, VA.
And thus was my last summer of innocence. I knew i had an essay itching to get out today. Had no idea this would be the topic. Though it's been on my mind of late. I even pointedly went to, and much enjoyed, a cookout at
leiacat and bfudlmint's place on his birthday this year, rather than my usual picnic at the graveyard.
