I wanted to share this with those who may not have had a chance to read it. I posted it weeks ago and thought I would save those who might read from having to search a gazzilion pages to find it. So, grab your coffee and I hope you enjoy it. I know there are those here on the 50's forum who may not have read it. Enjoy






The Box


As a kid in southern California there were many things happening that were to help shape who I was to become. Growing up in a strict religious family did not leave much time for just being a kid. While the 60's were a wonderful time to be a kid they were also fraught with pain, sorrow, and the one thing I remember all to well, fear.

One thing that struck great fear in many a kid growing up in our culture was "La Llorona" (The Wailing Woman). It is the story of a woman who was filled with a jealuos rage over her husbands unfaithfulness that she drowned her two young children. Driven insane by rage, jealously and guilt she escaped into the wilds. Forever to roam all lands in search of her two children. To this day they say her spirit still roams and searches. With the passing of time this story was to become a much feared story to a very young hispanic culture growing up in the 60's. With each telling it was made to appear as very real and if we as first and second graders did not do as we were told La Llorona would find us and take us away with her. To us anything coming from the spirit realm was something to be feared. While many might choose to ignore or even avoid this part of our culture for those of us who were raised with it, we still believe. In the spirit realm that is. La Llorona I'm convinced is just what it appears to be, a story, used to strike fear into us kids. It was a time period that helped to shape our lives. It was those days that, even at a young age, caused myself and others to make decisions that would shape our lives.

For instance.

Was it fear that caused me to crawl into "The Box?"

No, it was just plain stupidity.

Clear your minds and try to picture a six year old playing by himself under the carport in the community of Norwalk California in the mid sixties with a box. The Box is not very wide. Maybe only about three or four inches wide and when stood up it comes to about the bottom of my chin. Forty four years have passed since that day so what ever it was that initially possessed me to do what I did has been lost in the streams of time.

It's summer time. Some time around the year 1965. Not a care in the world. I'm outside with the box when all of a sudden the idea hits me. "I wonder if I could somehow crawl into the box feet first?" Why you ask? No reason really except that it was just a thought at the moment. I put all of my six or seven years of experience to work and came up with the idea of leaning the box up against the pole in the center of the carport and then climb up the pole. At which point I would lower myself into the box feet first. Thus accomplishing my goal.

What the hell was I thinking you may wonder? I was not thinking.

So there I am, stuck in this box. Now at that point in my life I was a skinny kid. But even at that I literally had to squeeze myself into the box. Stiff as a board inside this box I realized I was not going to get out of this stupid predicament I got myself into. Could I scream for help? I don't think the thought ever crossed my mind, and if it did it was only a fleeting thought, cause as soon as I wondered how I was going to get out of this I had another hair brain idea.

Hair brain ideas were pretty popular back then. We had many of them.

With the box fitting just under my chin causing my head to tilt back slightly I was leaning up against the pole at an angle with my forhead supporting me. I'm thinking at this point, "damn I'm to smart for my own good"

Maybe it was the fact that my head was tilted back and I was at such a precarious angle that kept the blood of sanity from rushing to the all important parts of the brain that are screaming out "DON'T DO IT. YOUR SIX YEARS OLD, MAYBE SEVEN. YOUR NOT GOING TO LIVE TO BE EIGHT" Maybe had the brain been getting blood I may not have pulled the stunt I next pulled.

You see, I had the thought that if I could stand up straight and balance myself in this box I could then hop around the carport. I could hop over there and turn around and hop back over here, maybe even hop on outside the carport and hop up and down the street. I figured I'd have all the heighborhood kids wanting to use the box. Hell it sounded like an adventurous day in the making. I could not wait to get started.

Alas, all good thoughts must soon come to an end.

Using my forhead I gave a mighty shove.

Bad idea.

Not only did I not stop as planned but I continued to fall backwards. Now, are you still picturing this? Keep in mind I'm stiff as a board with no way of using my arms to break my fall or even bend my legs to keep from what happened next. My head remember is tilted back slighly. Oh poo poo, ( I'm only six remember, I'm not suppose to say ****) I think to myself, this is gonna hurt. Then again maybe I wasn't thinking anything. I may have just had that look of holy terror written all over my face. Thinking maybe this was it, a perfect opportunity for La Llorona to come grab me. Whatever I was thinking,,,

BOINK!!

To this day I am just thankful I was a short kid. The fall was a short one. I don't think the back of my head was none to pleased. I did however manage to crawl out of the box rather quickly. Jumping up looking around to make sure no one was laughing.

I always wondered what ever became of "The Box"

So what, you may wonder did this have to do with shaping my life? Probably nothing, but in the last forty four years I have not crawled into another box I could not get out of without hurting myself.

Had to, the back of my head might have chose to rebel. hehe

I used to play for HOURS in boxes...but never got stuck! LOL!

Wind the clock back to the period 1948/53, "hair-brained ideas" were popular then too ! From a distance of about 60 years, I recall what happens when small(ish)boys familiarise themselves with the theories surrounding climbing trees. Also recall learning about something called gravity. Gravity was what caused broken arms, sore heads etc.Much fun was had, back in the dim-darks.......

I used to play for HOURS in boxes...but never got stuck! LOL!

Yeah Mary back in those days we didn't have the toys they have now but he sure had fun :) Thank for digging this one up Ron :)

Delightful story!

Jan