My childhood wasn’t typical, but it wasn’t all bad either. Yes, I couldn’t wait to get away from the Alaskan commune where I lived with my single mother. But there are things I’m thankful for.
First what I didn’t like about growing up in a commune:
·
The strict gender roles.
Granted, there were reasons for divisions of labor. And some of it made sense.
But I wasn’t into wearing dresses and staying on site to perform domestic
duties. Although sometimes I admit to feeling really hungry for the butter I
reluctantly used to participate in churning.
·
The outdoor toilets
It gets cold in Alaska during the winter. And during the summer there are large
flies or mosquitoes or gnats, depending on the month. In addition, I didn’t
like having people know when I went to the bathroom.
· Lack of privacy
The commune was like a mini village, everyone knew everything about everyone else. There was no place to get away and be alone. It wasn’t safe in the woods, and every square inch of indoor space was considered public. I had a tree near the compound that I used to climb to get away. But I could still hear and see what was going on, and maybe everyone could see me – I don’t know. At least it felt like I was on my own for a little while.
·
Not enough books
Reading was considered being idle, so it was discouraged. There were, however,
a few books – mostly classics – in our small library tucked away on the second
floor of one of the two communal buildings. It took some doing, but I would
manage to occasionally sneak up to “borrow” a book. One of my favorites was
Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
·
My mother
My mother wasn’t a bad person, but she wasn’t very motherly. She left my
upbringing to the other females in the commune. And they all had their own
children as their first priorities. What I usually received from them was
“discipline.” (I notice that I’ve referred to my mother in the past tense. She
may be alive, but I haven’t been in touch.)
On the plus side:
·
The Alaskan wilderness
Whenever I got the chance to tag along on a trip into town or to pick wild
berries or to haul back meat from a hunt, I jumped at it. On those occasions I
would hike up my dress (we were allowed to wear jeans under our dresses when
out-of-doors) and stride out, breathing deeply of the forest smells and
listening for birdsong and hoping to catch a glimpse of an animal.
·
Learning about self defense
Even girls were taught how to handle guns and defend themselves against wild
animals and intruders. There were never any intruders than I was aware of, but
I had eavesdropped enough on adult conversations to know that the commune had
its enemies. So we were prepared.
·
Self-sufficiency
From an early age I knew I had to fend for myself. First at the commune, and
later when the state insisted the children from the commune attend a local high
school. After years of home schooling it was both a blessing and a curse. I
knew how to read and write, but there were some huge gaps in my education. And
there were a lot of bullies who targeted us commune kids. But I was tall and
tough and never turned down a fight – verbal or physical. By the time I was a
senior, everyone knew I wasn’t someone to be messed with.
Looking at my list of likes and dislikes, the dislikes don’t seem as significant as the likes in shaping who I am. Perhaps if I’d felt loved as a child, I might be more social and less prickly at times. But I’ve come a long way since childhood. And I am very happy with my life, my home, my friends and my two cat companions. What more can someone ask for?
About Bogged Down
An ancient bog hidden away in a forest is the perfect backdrop for murder…
BOGGED DOWN is a mystery set on Vashon Island, a place that has been described as Mayberry-meets-Burning Man. Its motto: Keep Vashon Weird.
Lavender (Lew) Lewis moved there because it is only a twenty-minute ferry ride from Seattle, yet light years away in tempo and character. She grew up on a commune in Alaska, joined the army at 17, does woods parkour for exercise and HR investigations to earn a living. Life in her waterfront cabin with her two food-obsessed cats is predictable and relatively stress free. Until she leads a tour group into an ancient bog on the island and discovers a body.
About Charlotte Stuart
In a world filled with uncertainty and too little chocolate, Charlotte Stuart has a passion for writing lighthearted mysteries with a pinch of adventure and a dollop of humor. She began her career in academia, spent nine years commercial salmon fishing in Alaska, was a partner in a consulting group, and a VP for a credit union. Currently, she is the VP for Puget Sound Sisters in Crime and lives and writes on Vashon Island in Washington State’s Puget Sound. She spends time each day entertained by herons, seals, eagles, and other wildlife.
Thanks for spotlighting my book. It was a fun book to write - hope readers enjoy it.
ReplyDelete