I did a lot of stupid stuff but did not hang out with the wrong crowd . If I sensed trouble , or was uncomfortable , I split .

It’s a miracle I lived through my teens and early 20s. Got drunk every weekend for 5 years, starting when I was 17 . Wouldnt drink when I worked though, which was good because farm machinery and alcohol dont mix.

I would do reckless outdoor things, which caused me to nearly drown 3 times. I remember falling out of trees, getting hit in the head during rock fights, having bb gun wars, playing very rough tackle football with no pads, you name it… We even had a game as teens where we would wrestle underwater. I got pinned in the mud face down once and nearly drowned before my friend let me up.I  Would drive drunk and have no idea how I got home, wake up next day bruised and battered from the fights and falls of the night before.  I nearly passed out one night while swimming underwater drunk. I drag raced, and would go carousing around on dirt roads and somehow never hit anything. Never got arrested doing all that but I should have sometimes. I had the best parents on earth , and their love , discipline , and spiritual guidance eventually helped me to a spiritual rebirth at age 22 .Haven’t been drunk or in a fight since, but have had my share of trouble. I figure life is hard enough without you doing stupid things to make it harder…

I may not have looked it at the time (1980s), but I was pretty boring from the sound of it compared to most - lol.

 

10 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

I may not have looked it at the time (1980s), but I was pretty boring from the sound of it compared to most - lol.

 

In this case 'boring' may have meant mature and having an IQ larger than your shoe size. 

A-Jay

On 11/24/2021 at 12:47 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

My biggest flex is I made it this far without ever sampling any illicit drugs, not even weed.

That kinda reminds me of my friends and I, no drinking / drugs but lighting fire works indoors? Sure! What about riding a minibike at night on a actual road without a helmet? Yes sounds like a good idea to me!

On 11/25/2021 at 6:09 PM, N Florida Mike said:

It’s a miracle I lived through my teens and early 20s. Got drunk every weekend for 5 years, starting when I was 17 . Wouldnt drink when I worked though, which was good because farm machinery and alcohol dont mix.

I would do reckless outdoor things, which caused me to nearly drown 3 times. I remember falling out of trees, getting hit in the head during rock fights, having bb gun wars, playing very rough tackle football with no pads, you name it… We even had a game as teens where we would wrestle underwater. I got pinned in the mud face down once and nearly drowned before my friend let me up.I  Would drive drunk and have no idea how I got home, wake up next day bruised and battered from the fights and falls of the night before.  I nearly passed out one night while swimming underwater drunk. I drag raced, and would go carousing around on dirt roads and somehow never hit anything. Never got arrested doing all that but I should have sometimes. I had the best parents on earth , and their love , discipline , and spiritual guidance eventually helped me to a spiritual rebirth at age 22 .Haven’t been drunk or in a fight since, but have had my share of trouble. I figure life is hard enough without you doing stupid things to make it harder…

I didn't see bottle rocket or roman candle wars listed.

I'm  d**n embarrassed to write this but thankful I lived to write this. 

 

I was a functional alcoholic from my mid 20's until I gave it all up at 50. After the divorce at 37 I drank everyday that I didn't have my children. I never got a dui and have no idea why. I wrecked a few vehicles but never to a point I couldn't  get them home. I was the life of the party, so much so that I was happy to be a drunk. I never missed work and was active in the community. I was very active in my children's lives and coached youth baseball for a number of years.

 

The turning point was when I met my current wife. She talked to me at length about my lifestyle and the pride I took in being able to drink for hours on end. In short she planted a seed. 

 

The end came when I woke up at home and had no idea how I got there. My truck was not there and I had no recollection of much of that night. It turns out I passed out on the side of the road taking a tick. I was talking on the phone to my girlfriend(future wife) and when I didn't  come back she found me in the ditch, truck still running. She got me home and hid my truck.

 

That was my bottom... I might have a couple of beers a year... it's  not the same. 

 

It was a life changing thing and it's  amazing to be clear headed , happily married, and thankful I never killed others. 

19 hours ago, slonezp said:

I didn't see bottle rocket or roman candle wars listed.

We didnt do that… We made up for it with things like the post below…

Another thing we did was drive around with a Q beam spotlighting stuff, including humans. Usually it would scare the crap out of people, ( Im not proud of this).

One friend had bought a horn that played animal sounds ( and Dixie of course). We would pull up behind a overweight person, and he would play the cow horn…. Mooooooo!!

Sometimes he would play the panther scream and that would always  get quite a reaction! It’s really miraculous we didnt get shot for those kind of things we did, especially where we lived.

At least we didnt go around shooting cats with a bb gun like some other friends did. 

No sense in trying to justify stupid though…

 

I'm not sure I'd be able to appreciate the wisdom I've gained by making all the mistakes.  All the mistakes, lol. I wouldn't trade it for anything, but wouldn't wish it on anyone either.

I was kinda lucky to work and fish my way through high school.