Suburban living was well established by the mid-twentieth century and provided young parents with an opportunity to raise children in newly created secure neighborhoods. In 1950 marriage vows were respected and the vast majority of married couples stayed together for life. Unfortunately, there were a few marriages not made in heaven and polite suburban society referred to them as dysfunctional. It is at this point dear reader that we begin a bouncy ride through the 1950s as seen through the eyes of young boys from single-parent homes.
A rare breed in 1950, there were only seven of us attending the local grammar school. The old saying birds of a feather flock together best describes how we found each other; then out of necessity morphed into a highly functional family unit. Anything the biological family could not provide was readily available from your brother from another mother. Love is a tired word; we enjoyed each other's company, counseled each other, and protected one another.
The solution to any teenage problem could be found at the next card game or drunk-a-thon. The guys pooled information regarding first dates, how to kiss and purchase your first car. Since weekly allowance was never an option; burgers and fries were purchased with profits gleaned from our playground gambling ring and bootlegging operations. Too young to prosecute other part-time career opportunities became available and we robbed trains, delivered special groceries in Harlem, plain brown envelopes to local authorities, formed a profitable rock and roll band then ventured into midnight discounts and warehouse hush money. Some of us even researched becoming a missionary or a monk.
Without resources to attend college, our little family was devastated by a perfect storm called the Vietnam Conflict. Alone again each of us selected the military branch and method by which he would fight and suffered the consequences. The family dies here but not the story.
About the Author: Walter Mc Auliffe lives in New Jersey but he could live, thrive, and survive just about anywhere. Mc Auliffe was on his own for much of his early years. A slightly off spec soul and blessed with a sense of humor, the good lord chuckled then dropped Mc Auliffe into the river of life without a flotation device. Watching him being carried downstream he shouted a blessing, Good luck and keep the Faith!
Like everything else; raising yourself has an upside and a downside. You are free to live life without being micromanaged by a family unit. However when reality replaces family, the result is a lot of missteps and hard lessons which are never forgotten. Mc Auliffe views life through a different prism; he often rationalizes and functions differently than his peers. Is that a positive or negative way to go through life? If asked he'll simply respond, Rule number one, life is not fair. N/A