In 1973, my family moved to Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. I was in first grade. I lived there until I went off to college in 1985. It was a pretty idyllic childhood, with a fantastic family in a safe suburban community. Kids, in general, were considered a lot more competent than they are today, and so we had a great deal of freedom and independence.
Here's my Jill Berry-inspired map of the key features of my town.
(according to my childhood self)
I used a variety of my own paste papers as backgrounds.
Each of those little squares is actually a door.
(oooh! flappy!)
If you've got really good eyesight (and the inclination) you could read what I wrote under each flap.
But if you don't have good eyesight, here's a key:
- House: I lived here from 1973 to 1985 and for as long as my parents continue to live here it will be home.
- State Route 140: Be careful of the curve. (Yes, mom)
- Spring Street School, Grades 1-6: The first person I met in this building, in 1973, is still my good friend today. (She calls me Bitch every time I talk to her.)
- Mountain View Cemetery: We smoked our cigarettes here. (see Pizzeria)
- Hale's Drug Store: This would have been a better place to buy candy if the lady wasn't so mean.
- Shrewsbury Public Library: my first job was shelving books here for $3.12 an hour. I secretly wish I still worked here.
- Shrewsbury Pizzeria: They had a cigarette vending machine. In 6th grade we pooled our change and made Christine go in and buy some. (see cemetery)
- Center Dairy Bar: best place to buy candy and chips. (green apple flavored Bubs Daddy bubble gum!)
- Maple Ave Sidewalk: Got asked out by a boy for the first time ever. He carried my books. We broke up 20 minutes later.
- Shrewsbury Jr. High: 7th and 8th grade. Enough said.
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P.S. Even though I've since lived in New Hampshire, Western Mass, Seattle and Greater Boston, the lure of "home" was too strong to resist. I moved back to Shrewsbury in 2004 and live 3 miles from my parents. Max is having an idyllic childhood, though I hope to god his map doesn't include cigarettes in the cemetery.
P.P.S. I both started and ended my smoking career in 6th grade.
P.P.P.S. good old spell check has informed me that ONCE AGAIN, I have spelled cemetery wrong, as well as pizzeria. I could go fix the map, and rescan it, and repost it here, but instead we'll pretend I did it on purpose for the sake of childhood authenticity
P.P.P.P.S. Does this count as one thing or ten things?
