The House With The Plastic Curtains
I went past a house today and a memory struck me smack in the head. I looked at this house I was passing and there they were, those gawd awful plastic curtains.
This brought me back to the house I remember as a young child of seven, I’d say. I don’t for the life of me recall much of my childhood, if any before that age anyway. But, the one thing out of many that I remember is my mother buying those plastic “drapes”. She’d come home and take them ever so carefully out of the plastic wrap and slide them on to the curtain rods. She would stand back to check and see if the pleats were even enough. Then, she would look at me and say, “Don’t you touch these curtains”.
Our house was old and very simple as many were back in the 1950’s. The outside consisted of tarpaper shingles which were a bit bigger than the roof kind. They were tan and brown speckled as I recall. We had a porch attached to the house on one side. There was also a huge maple tree in the front yard the kept the house shaded some. I loved that tree for some reason.
On the end of the porch was the ‘outhouse’. Yes, we had an outhouse back then. We were fortunate enough to have cold running water that came straight from the well across the road. At one time, we had to carry buckets from the well to the house.. so this was a big deal when we got the running water. The outhouse, well, that was just the way of life back then.
After a while we did end up getting an inside bathroom as well. Now, I can tell you, that was a huge deal!! Inside plumbing all the way around!!
My mother would have to heat the water on the stove in the kitchen for the hot water, but that was okay. The cold came out of the faucet! Sometimes I remember standing there watching my mother run the cold water and plop, out would fall a big old black salamander. My mother would bring the hot water over and scald it to death. I was in amazement as I would stand there and watch the poor thing shrivel and squirm under the scalding hot water.
One day, I was looking out the living room window watching the neighbors go by on their horses. I loved horses, even back then. Sometimes the riders would stop and let me pet one. How I wished they’d let me go for a ride. This day, though, I was inside. I was standing there ever so excited watching them all ride by. Of course, as any child, I didn’t realize I had pushed the plastic curtains back so I could see. I leaned against the window until the horses were out of sight. It was then that I realized I had pushed the plastic curtains out of their perfect folded pleated way.
I was frightened that my mother would see that I had touched her curtains and was for sure I would get into some serious trouble. I did the best I could as a 7 year old to fix them, and left it at that.
It must have been a couple days later, my mother noticed the curtain. “Who touched these brand new curtains” she hollered with scorn. She looked right at me, as my brothers stared at the window blankly. “Did you touch these young lady?” She asked.
“I was trying to see the…… “ Smack, right across the head. Ouch that hurt I thought. “Now get over here”. She said. As I approached my mother, I knew what I was in for… the belt. “Not only did you mess up these curtains… you ripped a hole in them, brand new curtains.” “I am sorry mommy, I didn’t mean to do it”. I cried.
The next thing I felt was the sting of the belt as it kissed the skin on the back of my legs, leaving a nice red welt. “Now young lady, go to your room and stay there. You are such a bad girl.”
To this day, I hate those plastic curtains. Of course, you don't see them much any more. Do any of you remember them? They were awful looking!
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quietone posted on Aug 15, 2009
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Comments
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mobil said on Aug 15, 2009....
Well of course I would remember them, old fart that I am. I remember ours being red with a flower pattern on them. There were others, but the red one sticks in my memory.Doesn't sound like you had a happy childhood Quiet, I hate to hear when someone's childhood wasn't fantastic. Every kid should have the right to happiness in childhood. Sadly it ain't so. -
Me-Myself&I said on Aug 15, 2009....
Hello Quietone. yes i remember the plastic curtians. We didn't have them, mother always made her own. I also remember the sting on my legs and back from the belt too. There were no accidents allowed, at any age.
You know something, you came out of a hellish childhood with a wonderful soul, be proud lady! (hug)
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quietone said on Aug 15, 2009....
mobil ~ hi, nope no happy childhood here, but you know, I have learned a lot through the years, and come to accept what I can't change! Unfortunately, memories remain, and the curtains were ugly green things with white flowers or paisly looking design! Good to see ya!MeMy ~ hi friend. yes, like I said to mobil, I have come to accept what I can't change and just make what I can a better world today. :) -
wishyouwerehere said on Aug 15, 2009....
Quiet - I am sorry you had to recall such a painful memory. I hope you are able to touch the place where that little girl still lives inside you and tell her it's ok.Hugs - Wishy -
Hegemone said on Aug 15, 2009....
I guess I'm young enough to have missed the plastic curtain rage. Really, there have been no memorable curtains to me at all. I do remember getting some pretty despicable whippings though, so I feel for you there. Just things to not do to my own children when I get there someday. Sorry you've got such a bad memory of something like this. -
quietone said on Aug 16, 2009....
wishy ~ you know there was a time when I would be sad and feel sorry for myself about all my childhood pain, but now, it is just a memory.. really. The little girl that lives inside is much happier and loved.. she is a little devil at times... still ... and I like that! LOLHege ~ I am so glad that you missed the plastic curtain rage!! I can tell ya, you missed nothing!! Sorry to hear you had to endure some whippings yourself. And I agree, to remember not to do the same to your children some day. :) -
wishyouwerehere said on Aug 16, 2009....
Quiet - I like to think the little girl inside me is what keeps me going - never lose that mischievious sense of adventure and joy! -
raindove said on Aug 16, 2009....
i have not really seen such curtains but ouch, that must have hurt quietone!
i didnt get beaten up much as i kid as i grew up in a boarding school.
childhood memories stick to us for a long long time, im sorry it was hard for you. hugs quiet.
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gingersoul said on Aug 16, 2009....
Quiet......but why your mother wouldn't fish out those poor salamanders instead of let them boil to death??.......just curious...
I have been lucky to grow up in a house with no plastic curtains and with hot water and bathrooms. And i have never been spanked...but, you know, some words and some looks can badly beat your spirit as well....
All in all your childhood doesn't look that bad.....you had a huge maple tree and beyond those awful plastic curtains you have been able to see the horses and then the world and you grew up just fine.....:-)
And still having your adventurous little girl alive is a treasure.
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quietone said on Aug 16, 2009....
wishy ~ yes, I like that little girl... she can be quite fun.raindove ~ it still must have been hard being away from, your family in a boarding school too. we all manage one way or another don't we. :)ginger ~ you have such good memories, I remember reading a lot of them about your home in Italy... the women that carry the fresh baked bread and such.. This sad to say, was nothing among memories of my childhood. This is just the beginning of a story I wish to tell in sections... but in a good way, I am not sad, or am I anything of the sort... I could say a suvivor, but I think it is much more than that even... I feel I grew up (finally) okay. and I feel good about that and have no anger toward my parents either. thanks - we all do the best we can with what we know. :) -
queenparanoia said on Aug 16, 2009....
i love reading posts about the past... :-)
awww your mommy hit you with a belt??? my parents do that when i as little too...
anyway, plastic curtains... lol... theyre not that popular here... :-)
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quietone said on Aug 17, 2009....
queenie ~ awe, I am sorry you have also felt the sting of the belt too. :( I think this is what makes us so extra sensitive to others and ourselves today... what we go through as young children. I am glad you don't have to look at plastic curtains! LOL -
wombat said on Aug 17, 2009....
I read this and it took me back to my childhood, and also made me wipe at a tear for you, too. For one thing, you lived in the same kind of house we did. Everything sounded the same except our one big tree was an oak. We had the well and the outhouse, and never did get running water before we sold the land and had the house bulldozed down. I know we've talked about this before, but we sure did have similar upbringings.
I mostly got the "switch" but also remember some of the other stuff. I don't feel like I can go into it, and your post isn't the place, anyway. Just know that I know where you are coming from--or rather, where you came from.
One thing we didn't have was the plastic curtains, I don't think. I thought I could remember everything about that place, but I can't remember the curtains. Still, I don't think they were the plastic kind. Who knows, maybe we didn't have any. Ha.
We've both come a long way, huh? Maybe we can touch on this subject next time you come here to see me, but not if it's a downer for you. I am glad to see you say you have moved so far past the memories and are so able to deal with them. There's so much to say, but I won't. Just that so many younger people who grew up so different from the way we did back in the late 50's and early 60's have no clue, do they?
But a hug between you and myself is in order on this one.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{wombie}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
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alabamagirl said on Aug 17, 2009....
I don't remember the curtains, but I do remember the outhouse! I was born in the late 70's and raised by my grandparents and while we did have indoor plumbing by the time I was born, they still had the outhouse in the back yard! It was torn down when I was a child but I will never forget it.
We used to have well water also before the city came through and installed water lines. I always thought the well water tasted better, not sure if it was any better for us.
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quietone said on Aug 17, 2009....
wombie ~ yup much the same indeed. And who knows, maybe it was an oak in my front yard as well... no 7 year old is going to know what kind of tree it was.. All I remember it was big and gave us lots of shade! no, I guess no one would know, unless the lived it - but then... the same with us regarding the 1800s, we would not have a clue either! and so it goes! :)alabamagirl ~ I myself think well water is so much better than city water. At least the closed in wells, not the ones that are open for all natures creatures to enjoy! LOL At least well water is pretty much pure, no man made minerals added! :) also glad you missed the plastic ugly curtains!
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