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Sunday, 24 February 2008
Infectious youth
I love teenagers.
I had a BBQ lunch today with my eldest son who now lives away on his own for the first time.
Amid our discussions he mentioned how he and two of his friends made a pact the other day.
They decided not to eat anything from 10am to 10pm and then they went to Kentucky Fried Chicken and ate $50 worth of fried chicken. Apparently the guys serving at KFC were pissed off because they wanted to go home and these three teenagers rolled up late, made a big order and then sat down and ate it all.
Why?
A funny story which we laughed at and made obtuse comment about. Then there was a bit of silence as I waited for the part that as missing.
But it never came.
The part that was missing.
And what is that?
Why?
Why agree to not eat for 12 hours and then go and eat $50 worth of KFC?
But there was no answer because there was no reason.
I love teenagers.
Why?
There is something about teenagers, children and the early 20 somethings that adults just don’t have and this is a good example. Also in the discussion he says things about what they do and I think inside my head, “Shiiiit, I hope they are OK”. Of course I don’t say anything, I just wait for 4 sentences further on and then I make some sort of oblique comment.
There is an energy in children and teenagers that is just good to be around. It is kind of infectious and rubs off on you a bit. There is a newness, risk taking, aliveness, hopefulness, lack of reason, unpredictability about them. These words don’t really capture what I am trying to say but it is as close as I can get.
To interact with them or just have them around gives you something and I don’t really know what the word is for it. I saw a movie recently called December Boys. An Australian movie that stars Daniel Radcliffe (the Harry Potter kid in the movie).
Why?
Four orphaned boys who happen to all be born in December (hence the name) are invited on a summer holiday to the beach by this kindly couple who would be in their late 50s. As the story evolves it becomes apparent that the woman is dying from cancer and this is probably her last summer holiday ever. At one point in the movie she is discussing this with her husband and makes the comment that she just wanted some youth around her at this time and hence the 4 boys on the holiday.
I understand what she is saying as their mere presence is sort of life giving and life generating.
3 of the 4 December Boys. Life with a dash of risk.
Make note to self:
Remember to make sure I keep youth around me in my daily life
Graffiti
16:22 Permalink | Comments (35) | Email this
Comments
Do you want to know the answer to your question, Why? Tony.
The answer is: Cause I can !! Cause I want to !!
And I reckon they are pretty good reasons for doing anything !!
Great post, Tony.
Posted by: Madeleine | Sunday, 24 February 2008
perhaps this is why I feel so full of youthful energy, living with 4 boys aged 12 to 20.
Posted by: lady in red | Sunday, 24 February 2008
If i never see another post again, i realy don't care. This one was 'it'. THE one. Thank you Tony.
roses
Posted by: roses | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Having no Y is fun.
Yes, I can shut my eyes and go back to that age and remember the zany. We lose that gift if we are not careful. I thought up a practical joke to play on someone at work next week. Its just for some fun. It has tickled me pink; then I realised I just don't do enough of that now. I used to be well known for my pranks at uni. Though I was a good girl at school!
Yet late teens / early 20s - that is a special risk taking time.
How did I get to be a boring banker?
:-)
Great post Tony, thanks.
Posted by: kahless | Sunday, 24 February 2008
They sound like fine reasons Madeleine,
because I can!!
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 24 February 2008
I'm not too sure about that Lady in Red.
Four, between 12 and 20 sounds like it might be a tad tiring as well
Graffiti
Posted by: Graffiti | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Hello Roses,
Glad you liked it and thanks for the comments
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Good to hear that your uni days were ones to remember Kahless.
I must say I have wondered about the lion on your blog icon. that is hardly a boring image or an image of safety and compliance.
If you can have a look at that film December Boys, I think you might like it. It is odd seeing the wizard Harry Potter in a very different type of role. I think he does very well though.
Also the scenery and life styles shown in it are very Australian
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 24 February 2008
hi Tony
My uni days were overall chaotic. There were some fun risk taking times and some bad times. Overall, I wouldnt go back to them.
I dont know really how I ended up with the lion. Just happened when I searched for an avatar. I change it every few months, though it always remains a lion. I started with a lion cub and then I choose a piccie a little older each time. Though I dont want it to get much older than the piccie is now!
Not really thought much about its meaning; maybe a signify that I like risk and maybe want to take more. I like the courage of a lion too.
I have another blog where my icon is a Daisy. I like that too.
I checked out Amazon and they have December boys on dvd so I will order it and give it a try. I do like Oz; it is a beautiful country.
Posted by: Kahless | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Well If I was a psychotherapist Kahless I might think that each and every bloggers icon is also their sweatshirt message.
The lion sought and obtained courage in the wizard of OZ.
Do you have DVD hiring shops in the UK?. We do here so you wouldn't have to go out and buy one. I see that it is already out on DVD as it must be if Amazon has it. Is there anything Amazon does not have!
Soon Bill Gates will be buying that one also!
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Well let me correct that Kahless,
It is set in the 1960s or 1970s so it is typical of Australian life styles then.
In those day children just got up and ran outside into the sun and played around. These days they have to first get into special anti UV clothing, wear a full panama hat and cover them selves in sun screen so they are as slippery as a meatball on a plate of spagetti. Then they can only stay out for a certain amount of time at certain times of the day because the evil sun is going to kill them all.
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Hi Tony, I do love that image "cover them selves in sun screen so they are as slippery as a meatball on a plate of spagetti. ". I can just imagine chasing a meatball around the plate of spaghetti :-). Thanks for the giggle.
I watched a man on a bike in the park this p.m. He wasn't wearing a shirt and it was the middle of the day. He was already sunburned. Wonder what his mother would say to him !!
Posted by: Madeleine | Sunday, 24 February 2008
The lion did sure achieve courage.
Also damn cute dont you think!
:-)
Posted by: Kahless | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Have you seen this one, Kahless
http://www.mitchell.derbycounty.co.uk/
This is me. Look like a pussy cat on the outside but inside is the lion !!
Posted by: Madeleine | Sunday, 24 February 2008
I imagine his mother would give him a damn good scolding madeleine, and he would be demonized by the health department and named and shamed by the press.
So much for personal freedom.
Sooner or later the teenagers and youth of society are going to react against against this ever increasing nanny state that seems to be growing at an exponential rate.
Maybe another 1960s will happen or some new creation of their own
tony
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 24 February 2008
The problem I see Tony is that kids aren't getting the chance to test themselves when they are young, so that when they become teenagers, they haven't learned their own limitations at all, and they are freer from parental restrictions so will do what they will. Trouble is that teenagers can get into far more trouble than little kids can.
Posted by: Madeleine | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Hi Madeleine,
I think that you should put that picture of the cat with the reflection of the lion as your blog icon.
I might pinch it and use it in a post of mine!
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 24 February 2008
I think you talk sense Madeleine that children don't learn to assess risk and learn their own limitations as the government has done it for them even before they realized it needed to be done in the first place!
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 24 February 2008
It's kinda kewl, isn't it??
You can pinch it if you like, Tony. I first saw it on a calendar I think. Many, many years ago. When you were just a young ankle biter !!!
Posted by: Madeleine | Sunday, 24 February 2008
It is cool Madeleine.
I like the mouse tracker on the site too; I played with it around the screen and it looked like a swarm of bees were following me.
Posted by: Kahless | Sunday, 24 February 2008
I just googled the image and sent that off. I can't find a mouse tracker Kahless. Bummer !!
Posted by: Madeleine | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Hi Tony,
I love the energy in this post Tony. It's very infectious.
Nick
Posted by: Nick | Monday, 25 February 2008
Madeleine - wave your mouse around the screen and you will see the numbers from the date and clock follow. Do it rapidly - it is fun to 5 secs!
Nick -
Did you see Arsenal's Eduardo's injury on the TV?
Its was horrific.
Posted by: Kahless | Monday, 25 February 2008
Hi Kahless,
Yes it wasn't very nice viewing but I don't think it was deliberate. Arsen Wenger retracted the comments he had earlier made about it. It was also great to see Ronaldo and Rooney on such great form. Wow they were so ssssscintillating!!!
Nick
Posted by: Nick | Monday, 25 February 2008
Hi Nick,
i dont think it was deliberate either. I must admit I did youtube it to see the full extent of the injury and nearly chundered!
Man U are in great form and their confidence seems sky high, despite the recent City defeat. i was pleased Spurs won today. Nice to have someone different from the top 3 win a trophy.
Posted by: Kahless | Monday, 25 February 2008
I think I'd like to go back to my later teens, know what I know now and live a bit more!! Really rebel and do everything I stopped myself from doing because I was a "good girl". Even away from my parents, doing nurses training, I didn't relax and have a good time. Wow, if I could just do it all again.............!! LOL
KazzaB
Posted by: KazzaB | Monday, 25 February 2008
Hi KazzaB,
A time machine would be a good thing wouldn't it. I wonder what would happen if I could go back to then with what I know now!!
So what are you doing now that is not so much of the 'good girl'?
Cheers
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Monday, 25 February 2008
Good to hear that you got infected Nick!
I was watching last night and one of those goals by Wayne Rooney was just 'magic' dare I say it
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Monday, 25 February 2008
No thanks, I wouldn't want all that again, even though it was one of the best period in my life to date.
Good to see one of your boys is venturing out into the world Grafitti. It took me several goes to do that.
Ramadam is coming up soon, and if you partake in that religious ritual one can only eat after the sun goes down for a few weeks. Maybe there will be a few religious types frequenting KFC latish then too?
kenoath
Posted by: kenoath | Monday, 25 February 2008
Hi Tony,
What am I doing now that is not so much the good girl??? Not enough!! LOL I need more rebel in me but I think I'm getting it gradually. Compared to about 5 years ago though I think I've really come forward in leaps and bounds. Give me a bit more time and you never know what I'll get up to...........!! LOL
Cheers..............KazzaB
Posted by: KazzaB | Monday, 25 February 2008
Go for it KazzaB,
Take one little risk each day!
Its just like brushing your teeth each day
You get used to it
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Monday, 25 February 2008
Hi Tony,
Yes Tony I picked up a little of your teenage infection- thanks. Man utd also play an irresistibly infectious free Child style of footy. Other teams can win trophies, but don't seem to be able to play quite like them.
Nick
Posted by: Nick | Monday, 25 February 2008
Ohh way to go and ruin it all Tony! You want us to get to the point were risking is like "brushing our teeth"? Thrilling!
It does give a bit of a 'zing' before bed though. I could say a ring of confidence but 'zing' will do. So maybe the go would be taking my little risk before bed every night? Mind you - it's just a teenie weenie little 'zing'.
Nothing like a KA-POW... no... a teenie weenie 'zing'.
Shouldn't even a little 'risk' pump the blood a tad? Brushing my teeth doesn't quite do that.
AND...
Where is that post where i almost told you that you had sexy eyes? I'd better go brush my teeth - need to get the blood pumping before sleepy bye byes.
roses
Posted by: roses | Monday, 25 February 2008
Amen Tony! I love 'em too. My kids are 18 and 14. They are fantastic. I love the playfulness of teenagers. 18 till I die? Yes please.
Posted by: Queen Vixen | Wednesday, 27 February 2008
QV,
Mine are 18 and 16.
never a dull moment always a new thing happening.
like the december boys,
so full of life and when you are around it it seems to infect you
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Wednesday, 27 February 2008