Things I wanted to be when I was Growing Up

 

Growing up in rural Jamaica at a time when there was no electricity, which means no internet, as a child, your imagination was all you had. While other normal children were dreaming about becoming princesses, doctors, lawyers, astronauts and the likes, I was dreaming, well I was having desires of becoming other not so conventional professions. Here is a very short list of the things that I wanted to be when I was growing up. Please don't judge.

1. A Bank Robber: It is hard to deny the power and influence that television has on our lives, from its inception, its evolution to present. When I was about twelve years old, I remember watching a movie about a heist. I don't remember the name of the movie but I remember how impressed I was about the female bank robber suit. It was an all black full leather all -in-one suit that clinged to her body like a second skin, showing every definition of her female form and I thought wow! I want to become a bank robber when I grow up. I loved the precision with which they move, and how the female bank robber just glide down the rope hanging from the ceiling like knife cutting through butter. I didn't know what sexy was at the time but sexy and elegant was definitely what that was. I thought wow! That looked so fun.

2. Half donkey: When I was about ten years old, I wanted to be part donkey or at the very least have some of the cool characteristics that a donkey has. I wanted to be part donkey just for the mere reason that I was always coming last in races so I wanted to be able to run fast and win races at my school sports day. I thought at the time that if I drink the remainder of the water that the donkey drank then I could run faster and at a longer distance like a donkey. I also thought that I would be able to hold my breath for longer and be able to run longer without getting tired. I even used to talk to the donkey. I am glad it didn't answer me back.

3. A Singer/ Songwriter: From as early as I can remember, about ten years old, I have loved music and writing lyrics. However, I am not so good at the singing part at all. Imagine a goat on a hillside where there is no grass and it's maying ( I'm pretty sure that is not a word) because it's hungry. Okay, now imagine that same hungry crying goat being strangled by its rope, that is how I sound signing. I would still like to become a songwriter someday though.

4. A Teacher: I think most kids wanted to become a teacher at some point in their very young lives. I wanted to become a teacher so I could be in charge and beat my students because I thought that was what being a  teacher was about at the time. My students were sometimes the hibiscus plants and the banana trees. As their teacher I had to discipline them sometimes when they were talking in class or didn't do their homework which means that I had to beat the leaves off a them when they tried to back talk me. That was fun.

5. A Mother: Again, I wanted to be in charge so when I was playing ' Dolly House' of course I wanted to be the mother to make the rules and beat my imaginary children when they misbehave. It was fun cooking mud dumplings and make mud milo/ chocolate tea to feed them.

    

   What did you want to become when you were growing up? Leave a comment below.