a reply to:
seeker1963
Without making another really long post I'll sum up my upbringing. This will be free written so don't expect it to be as eloquent as my OP.
I could watch or listen to anything I wanted. But my parents were not shy in pointing out what sucked and what didn't. I respected their opinion
because from an early age they instilled in me that their opinion was correct.
My dad was an audiophile. 4 Yamaha NS-1000 speakers run by some radical equipment from New Zealand. I listened to Joe Satriani, Van Halen, and Pink
Floyd when I was in the womb.
I watched Hellraiser before I was 10 years old. I had friends, but a small group. I had to call and check in with my parents pretty regularly, and met
the wrath if I didn't. I mostly hung with my Dad and his brothers on Friday night, getting wild and listening to loud music. This greatly shaped me
I'm sure.
I was very free to explore what I wanted, but I was very much guided to explore things worth exploring.
I played with Legos and Hot Wheels. I'd build tracks with my dad. Gi Joes were the bomb.
Then at 17 it all fell apart when my mom started hanging out with a new crowd. My life was torn apart and I was forced to rebuild and relearn the
world at 17 years old.
I wandered for probably 7 or 8 years, not knowing who to trust or what to accept. Not really even knowing who I was or what kind of world I was living
in.
Early on I got into music and art, after exploring many corporate opportunities and excelling, I realized that the pursuit of more stuff wasn't really
that fulfilling. I've worked hard enough to finally be able to make a living in music and art.
I met a girl who liked TOOL, A Perfect Circle, etc... she happened to be one of those smart ones. Fashioning a Sonic cup filled with Vodka while
sitting in the back of Microbiology, she passed everything with straight A's. She became a nurse. I met her right out of her college experience and 8
years later, I proposed at the top of the Ferris Wheel at the fair.
EDIT - I should probably add that my family is largely built from independents. My grandfather was a Brig General in the Army, my dad and two uncles
both live comfortable lives with new toys and haven't had a boss in over 30 years. They are basic blue collar, but they are smart.
edit on 11-11-2016 by MarkOfTheV because: (no reason given)