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With friends like this…

Cyranny

I was quite a loner, as a child.

Early in life, I had a preference for playing by myself, instead of seeking the company of other kids. I knew how to entertain myself, and reading and writing soon became my favorite hobbies.

I was a geeky little girl. I liked spending time at the local library much more than at the mall, to do some shopping.

A good proof of that is the gift Mom and Dad gave me for my ninth birthday.

 

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How many children would get excited over a dictionary nowadays? Even back then, I am pretty sure  the latest edition of the Larousse dictionary wasn’t in the top ten list of dream gifts for the kids in my neighbourhood. Or elsewhere.

I think you can tell by the worn out cover, that my dictionary didn’t spend much time on a shelf. I loved going through it, randomly, looking for weird and uncommon words. I checked out the spelling and definition of every new word I came across at school, or while watching tv.

But what I loved the most, was the mid-section, written on soft pink paper. The proverbs’ section, with all the classic sayings, and the short explanation of what they meant.

 

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If you look closely, you’ll see that I even checked some of the proverbs listed. I don’t quite remember what these had that was so special to me back then, but I recall spending a lot of time sitting on my bed, going through the pink pages.

I don’t know why I am posting this today.

Maybe there’s a little nostalgia in the air. Thinking about the unpopular little girl that spent most of her time by herself, or in adult company… She had a great childhood, but she felt different and cast away from all the popular kids.

Still, looking back now, I think she was pretty cool in her own way. A young knowledge sponge, an early word-lover.

Yeah… Nah. Not entertaining in any way.

Sorry about that!

The fact is that I thought about all of this after hearing someone say one of these expressions I learnt as a child.

 

Avec des amis pareils, pas besoin d’ennemis!

 

Literally ”With friends like this, no need for enemies!” Referring to people we consider friends, but who are toxic to us.

After all the years, the absurdity hit me. Who needs enemies? Really?

 

But again, sorry, this is not interesting in any way… Just a couple of thoughts, some souvenirs of my long lost childhood. A bit of nostalgia that neded to be thrown on virtual paper.

And now, back to our regular programs!

20 thoughts on “With friends like this…”

    1. Thank you, Christine 🙂 Ohh so cool that you could flip your old atlas’ pages again after all the years… If I had the feeling I could make it interesting, I would have enough anecdotes about all kinds of books I loved as a child, to make a series… LOL

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  2. My parents bought an entire set of encyclopedias and I loved to read them. They also had a big set of Children’s Classics and I devoured them. I would read anything I got my hands on. Don’t tell anyone but my Dad stashed a copy of Debbie Does Dallas (it’s a porn book) on a bottom shelf of a bookcase and I read the whole thing and I was like 11 years old. 😂😂 No one else even knew it existed.

    When my kids were growing up I read the entire Belgariad series to them and then the Harry Potter series. Needless to say, they both tested off the charts for reading comprehension.

    I’m so glad you had a childhood of wonder and amazement – not everyone is so lucky. 😘

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    1. Ahhhh you just reminded me of a medical encyclopedia book we had at home… Probably the first volume (which was probably free, and given to customers to try to lure them into subcribing for the whole set!) and I remember reading about ilnesses and conditions, although it wasn’t something a child would usually get their hands on! I was totally fascinated…

      And you made me laugh with your Debbie Does Dallas anecdote… I remember finding similar books on the shelves, when I was babysitting as a teenager. And, hum, it taught me a thing or two LOOOOL

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    1. It is kind of sad, Beckie. Technology has many advantages (we wouldn’t be talking if it weren’t for The Internets, for one thing!) but I think it not always a good thing for children. They seem to be over stimulated, and I might be wrong, but I feel like they don’t have as much room to be creative… If they get bored, there is always something ready to entertain. I am under the impression that letting me be bored a bit forced me to find ways to entertain myself, instead of waiting to be entertained.

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      1. I agree with you. I find it terribly disheartening that the schools have been taking the arts away, as well as giving up on teaching their studens how to cursive write.
        It’s so rare to even see children outside. For crying out loud, I couldn’t stay in the house if I tried when I was youger.
        But nowadays, everyone is hooked up to the internet. (I’m not complaining) because we have met so many wonderful people here because of it. I’m just saying I wouldn’t have given up the childhood I had back then for what it is now.

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      2. I too am gratefull for the childhood I had. I remember times, during winter, when my mom would time us while we were playing outside… And every now and then, she’d call my brother and I in, so we would come and stand in the warmth of our house for a couple of minutes, until she let us out again… We never had enough ”outside” time 😛

        I saw a documentary a couple of weeks ago, about a man in UK who decided to sell ”Nature” to kids, as if it was a product, or a new game, because he thought his own kids weren’t playing outside enough… He did an actual marketing plan, and all. I should try to find it and link it in here…

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      3. I’d love to see that documentary. In fact both my roommate and I would. We are always talking about how kids don’t play outside anymore, and how we would play outside until the sun went down. If you find the name of this show, please let me know.
        Thank you in advance!!!

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  4. I enjoyed this! Seeing into a part of you! What a dear child you were, I spent my summers devouring books and being in the library, I can identify with that! I did hang around with my friends too, but I also loved chatting with adults who my friends would call boring. LOL!
    The love for words is a wonderful thing! 🙂

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    1. Thank you, Joy 🙂 It is a pleasure to these little bits of my past, knowing that it is of some interest for you! I have been blessed with a rather easy life, and sometimes, it gives me the impression that it isn’t as entertaining as some other people’s souvenirs 😛

      This love for words certainly is something a lot of bloggers share… and I think it is in part why this community is so awesome. We are not here to compete, but to appreciate what others have to say… Thank you for your kind words 🙂 xx

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  5. It never ceases to amaze me how much we have in common, if only from a writing and literary standpoint. I know that if we lived closer we would undoubtedly be good friends.

    The best thing that my parents ever did for we was to buy me a set of encyclopedias and writing notebooks at a very early age. I started to write at the age of eight, and would read encyclopedias one page at a time. Soon after, I started to take pictures with a manual SLR film camera.

    I miss those days dearly. Thanks again for bringing up some of those old memories of childhood that seem like a lifetime ago.

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    1. This kind of messages makes me so happy I hit the ”Subscribe” button three years ago! Meeting amazing people like you, who wouldn’t have crossed my path otherwise really brings sunshine in my life 🙂

      We do seem to have a whole lot in common, and I am sure our curiosity regarding words and photography would definately have sent us on amazing journeys as kids.

      I am glad you enjoyed the ride down Memory Lane… *Hugs*

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  6. I could say great minds think alike, not a proverb, and only one great mind here, yours. I was just feeling my childhood today also, for a much less lofty reason. No wonder you write so beautifully! More of the mysterious C revealed….💙

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    1. Oh, don’t be silly, Cheryl!! You have a beautiful mind (but not like in the movie :P) and it shows through your poetry, your story telling and your interactions with me!

      I don’t know why, but many little memories are coming up lately, from my early childhood. Most of them related to the fact that I was very aware I was super lucky to have such loving parents, even back then.

      For an example, I didn’t write it in my post, but when I got my dictionary, I knew it was one of the (if not THE) most expensive books at the bookstore. Our family was far from wealthy, and when I unwrapped the latest edition of the Larousse… Not only was I excited to have a dictionary, but I realized how lucky I was that my parents would buy me such a precious book!

      I could write a whole book about them. They are just the best 🙂

      Thanks you for the kind words, Cheryl 🙂

      *big hugs*

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