This is the Queens Library on Main Street, Flushing. I did not get a chance to go into this library but I do love visiting local libraries around the city. When I was a kid, my parents would leave me at the public library by myself every Saturday morning and come pick me up right before lunch.Obviously, this was at a different time and place when it was safe to leave children alone at the library. But guess what I read at the library? I read all of Jackie Collins' trashy novels before I was 12 years old.
So what naughty things did you do as a kid?
18 comments:
Oh Ming you naughty boy! (no more Peking Duck pics?)(snicker, snicker)
When we were kids, my sis and I would fight a lot. I would iritate the crap out of her and she would beat the hell out of me. And then my mom would give us 'Landu Chicken' ie whipping (my family lingo) One day after taking a hammering from Jacq my little sis, I sat, brooding, thinking of how I can get back at her.I went to the kitchen, brought out the red food coloring and dabbed some on the corner of my mouth. (inspiration from chinese kungfu movies) I went to jacq and said, "I think you really hurt me this time.ihave to go to the hospital" Jacq was so terrified of the trouble she'd get with mom, she said, " Oh Chere,(big sis) I'm so sorry, Please don't tell mom". For two whole weeks, she was sooo sweet to me, she made my bed, shared her lollies..you get the idea.I felt so guilty, i decided to go to her and confess. I remember wishing I hadn't done that as she gave me the pounding( she was a strong 6 year old!)of my life!
tres belle librairie et j'aime beaucoup les reflets dans la tour.
Bon Weekend
very beautiful bookshop and I like much the reflections in the tower. Good Weekend
That building looks huge. Bet they have alot of good books in there. Too many stories to tell when I was a kid.
He he! So, did your parents find out just now, from your blog? Poor, unaware, trusting parents... *shakes head*
i give KUDOS to anyone who can make ghetto flushing look beautiful, just like your pictures. i was born and raised here, so i have a love-hate thing going on but i've never seen the library looking that good. maybe it's you pan down to the street and it's just madness.
What a monumental building!
As soon as I go in a library I'm transported back to childhood and, no, I was never naughty there it was my escape tunnel.
Didn't Carnegie do such a good thing when he funded all those public libraries with his fortune?
Angela
That's fantastic! Not too naughty. I think I was too goody-goody to do much that was naughty...I used to read under the bedcovers way into the small hours. I stole a small cheap object from a shop once on a dare and have been guilt-stricken ever since. Thankyou for hearing my confession! (Not being Catholic I never even got to confess before!)
Ah Ming, so you would we share with world how naughty we were eh? I was terrible so I have many episodes thate concern me. Talking about libreries and book I can say that at twelve I found and secretely read: "Fanny Hill or Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure" :-)
In my "tween" years I had a particularly slutty friend (by 12 year old standards) would go to the library to make out with her bf's and let them go to "third base"...I was her dumb friend who went with her and had to wander around the library while she did her thing.
I would look through books of Marilyn Monroe photos and yes...I too went the trashy novel route and read "Hollywood Wives"
Ming - this makes me remember NYC libraries from when I was a kid. The local branch for Sunnyside was on Greenpoint Ave., I think. Is it still there? I tried to check out a copy of Ulysses when I was 12. The librarian refused to give it to me (not that I would have understood a bit of it). On many Saturday mornings,my father would take me and my sister to the main public library at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue for story telling hour. We were fascinated.
Bob
St. Louis Missouri Daily Photo Blog
It's strikes me as great that your parents would encourage reading. Any child that is shown the worlds of literature (yes, even trashy books) or music or theatre or film, as a child, is rich indeed.
I used to walk one side of the pavement, a friend on the other and we'd hold a piece of fine string between us and trip people up. And I'd clamber out of the bathroom window (my mother having locked me in) to visit my boyfriend. Obviously my mother didn't approve of him. I thought he was Christmas.
That's enough of a confessional for one day.
Meanwhile, lovely photo, Ming. I love your blog.
I skipped school & then was dumb enough to "hide out" in the playground right up the street from my house. Of course someone saw me...of course I got in trouble!
This library looks very modern. My local library looks so dilapidated compared to this. Dilapidated..but it's got that old library charm.
I actually don't visit the library so often since I HATE to do the return part after the borrowing.
I do too many naughty things as a kid to remember.
hahahaha you're funny Ming... when I was a little girl me and my friends use to go to a little candy shop and get "by the free way" lots of sweets... one day the owner saw us and called to our parents... oh, what a telling-off...
I'm a believer that kids should be able to read whatever they can find in the library. I think that reading is the great educator and that good, critical readers learn to engage with ideas and challenge them or accept them. I think your parents did you a big favor by giving you that gift of weekly library time. And look, it paid off in your academic achievements, didn't it!
I used to, actually still do, spend hours at the library - and I too hold a PhD.I guess that's not the naughty thing you were asking about though.
I read all those naughty novels too.... at boarding school, well away from the eyes of parents or teachers. I still remember Valley of the Dolls... it's amazing what you can learn from those trashy stories!
I also love library. Beautiful photo with amazing reflection!
libraries used to be places where everyone's suppose to be quiet, no eating.
nowdays, libraries in Singapore have kids section that are so lively! Kids sitting all over and shouting. ( i hate the screaming kids, they should be kept quiet. hahah...)
university libraries have rooms for taking mobile phone calls, an area where you can eat and make noise, wifi connection.
things have changed so much!
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