Monday, February 9, 2015

Street Smarts

A L O H A !

" We never really grow up, 
we only learn how 
to act in public. "
Bryan White











" Enjoy
 the little things, 
for one day 
you may look back 
and realize they 
were the big things. "
                         Robert Brault






A perennial quote 
well worth repeating. 
Like a mantra. 
cloudia 










" You get tough 
when you grow up 
unloved. 
People described me 
as a boyish girl - 
rather shy, but I didn't show it. 
I had an attitude. 
I was rather wild. "
                       Maj Sjowall







As an adult,  
I realize that  
 though I was not  
loved as I wanted, 
or needed at the time. 
I WAS loved. 
cloudia  










" The greatest day in your life 
and mine is when we take total 
responsibility for our attitudes. 
That's the day we truly grow up. "
                                    John C. Maxwell


['^']

Are You street smart,
do you look both ways?

That's one kind.

The deeper ways
of Street Smart
were taught me
young
by my father,
a city boy
who was in WWII
and raised me
in a new suburban home
on a new street
in a new subdivision
where I went
to a new school
outside his old City.

The new adventure:
SPACE.
[God Speed John Glenn!]

So I'm walking in
The City
with my dad,
down a gritty sidewalk
wider than our street.

The air is full
of sounds and smells.

Nothing is new.

Buildings various
in age, style, height,
profused
before my green 
suburban eyes.

Classic rube pose:
eyes up high.
Classic line:
"Lookit all them 
tall bildins!"

Dad didn't smack me
on the back of the head,
but he didn't have to.

His reaction
and horror
were imprint enough
[this is over 50 years ago]

" You DON'T walk
on the sidewalk
looking UP!"
He said.
I can hear
his inflection.

"Look like you
know where you are,
like you belong there,
like you know
where you are going,
Don't stand out 
as a stranger."

To this day,
I behave
as if I belong
everywhere I go
no matter 
how different
in geography
or culture.

This trait
has gotten me
into some 
really
cool places.

It must have 
gotten me
into a few
rough places
and close calls
as well.
But I can't recall any!

Oh well,
such is vie!

I traveled by train
into the city
by age 14,
disappearing 
for the day.
[before mobile phones
and helicopter parents].

I made the City
mine too
with knowledge
and experience,
places and people.




Today, "children"
skype parents daily
from college!

I had my own apt
at age 16.

Maybe I grew up
too fast.

But dad respected
people who worked,
and paid their way.

I always will too.

Some of us
contribute else
than paychecks now.

I prepare
a modest feast
for Friends.

And YOU
make it so
by visiting!

Thank You Friend!

                       Fondly, cloudia




32 comments:

rupam sarma said...

Beautiful photos, Nice quotes

Vanessa Morgan said...

Awesome quotes. So true. And it really makes you think. Have a great week.

eViL pOp TaRt said...

That's great advice, Cloudia. About going into strange places and dealing with the new in general. Aloha and sabor life!

sage said...

Good quotes and happy photos!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Your Dad taught you well Cloudia. I'm not sure if I'm all that streetwise but I think I'm pretty confident:)

eileeninmd said...

Hello Cloudia, your quotes for the day are so true.. Your Dad was a smart man! Having street smarts is great advice.. I wish you a happy Monday and new week ahead!

Charles Gramlich said...

Look like you know what you're doing. I think that is what most people do, even when it isn't true.

Young at Heart said...

Excellent advice...I shall try to follow it and own the NY city when I visit next month...for the first time in 15 years!!

TexWisGirl said...

tough girl, you are. :)

Meredith said...

Your dad gave great advice about looking like you fit in. That's street smarts!

Myrna R. said...

I just lost a comment. ?
Anyway, this post brought back memories of my growing up in New York - street smart.
Great post!

EG CameraGirl said...

I really like the Bryan White quote.

I think I act like a tourist in most places I go, even familiar ones. It has never occurred to me that it might be dangerous. Hmmm. But how else will I notice interesting photo ops? What a dilemma!

A Cuban In London said...

Love the sentiment running through your photos and post. Thanks.

Greetings from London.

21 Wits said...

Aloha Cloudia, I always enjoy your childhood memories, and I used to travel to the big city by bus every Saturday at age 12 the library was always my first stop! You and I we've traveled a few of the same roads..... my first apartment was at age 16! Became a mother at 19 and divorced at 20. Yep, I'm proud of street smarts too. We live to learn. :)

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Beautiful sunset fireball, Cloudia!
~

Teresa said...

Thanks for the feast and for sharing your memories. Your dad was a very cool guy!

Hilary said...

You've been living a grand adventure all along. I love the last photo. :)

Elephant's Child said...

You are too modest about the feast you lay in front of us. Unlike you, modest it is not. Bountiful, rich, varied, beautiful...

Green Monkey said...

as always..... lots of wisdom here. I too was out of the house by 16 and find hard work very rewarding.

Cloudia said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Your comments today!


Thanks

RedPat said...

Love the quotes for the day, Cloudia!

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes said...

Great life lesson from your dad! Yes, things are different now. I can't imagine my son having his own apartment at 16!

Bob Bushell said...

Brilliant pics and the really of your poems, thanks.

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful post and great advice from your Dad ~ xo

Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol

William Kendall said...

The hound looks quite content.

Vagabonde said...

Your dad did it the right way with you – see where you ended up … in Hawaii! I think it was easier in a way, back then. Now there are so many hidden dangers – mostly because there are too many people. I came, by myself, with no family to welcome me, in the US, at 21 and visited over 20 states on the Greyhound, alone. But I would have been terrorized if my daughter had decided to do the same …. different times. Love you quotations.

magiceye said...

:) Peace

Namaste /\ from Mumbai
Aloha!!

Cloudia said...

Thanks, Friends

Elvis Wearing a Bra on His Head said...

Your Dad gave good advice.

Irma said...

Beautiful photos and I love the poems.
A very nice week.
Best regards, Irma

Brian Miller said...

as long as we remember
how not to be so grown up in private...
you know...

aloha from va....

Indrani said...

Lessons of life. Very well said, thank you for sharing.