17 is old enough to drive but too young to get drafted. 17 is young enough to be living with your parents but not old enough to drink alcohol (legality). 17 is limber enough to do all the dances and perfect to model teen magazines. 17 is being carefree without being responsible.
I remember 17. Not so worried about what college to beg me in. Not carrying about SAT scores. Most of the time was making an effort of getting a ‘date’ and finding a party to go to. The rest of the time was listening to the English Invasion music and trying to figure out the chords on my cheap guitar.
17 was living at home but staying out all night. 17 was obeying the family rules and attending weekly seating at the house of my father’s denomination waiting to get home and have friends over to play cards and listen to records.
17 was picking out your own clothing that didn’t match or fit but you had change in your pocket. 17 was finding out what the back seat in a drive in was about without considering the consequences. 17 was hanging out with folks your parents did not approve of. 17 was being cool until you got in trouble and had to depend on someone else to get you out of it.
1 comment:
We had very different 17s Clyphord. I was behind for my age, socially that is, I was 16 when I had my first date (my choice, not a family rule), I was 18 when I decided to get my license, I never knew what the back seat in the car was for (I was a virgin when I married Carolyn at age 24), when I was 17 and 18 I hung out with nice kids, church-going guys like me (4 of us ended up going into the ministry), and some girls who were our friends but not our girlfriends... so, I really enjoyed reading about your life at 17, a much more common experience in the USA then mine, I suspect.
I've missed your messages and clever comments of late. Hope all is well my dear friend. Burd
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