Growing up in a blue-collar, working-class environment set the stage for non-stop macho conditioning in my youth. This, in turn, made me and my friends bizarrely aware of, yet oblivious to, the relentless threat of older males in our lives. We rarely, if ever, discussed it.
Mar 24, 2023·edited Mar 24, 2023Liked by Mickey Z.
It coulda gone so wrong. Good story. I was hitchikin with a male friend on the southside of chgo once and the driver flipped down the sun visor to show us a buncha straightrazors up there. We jumped out at the next light.
What a great (if somewhat disturbing) story! I grew up in the 60s and, looking back, it amazes me that we survived. Outdoors unattended all day, getting up to all sorts of risky mischief, and no-one had a clue where we were. I can well remember at least three encounters with pervy middle-aged guys, but we just shrugged them off and moved on with our day. And never, ever told our parents.
Wow…..I had wanted only to leave the word “yeeeeeup”. Close call there you guys I guess intuition leaps forth for some people. You sure remember the details. Stark, I must say. ……Many years ago in my 20s I went back and forth from San Jose and Santa Cruz on the twisty mountain road with my roommate. We worked swing shift and often were still wired after work so we would drive to San Jose for coffee., breakfast. Others came from all over, on weekends to the beach. I remember asking a teenager why she would hitchhike to the beach with no protection, and she answered, “We have our hair brush.” I always drove home alone, after being with my coworkers after work,, who yes, did drink. But I always had 7-up or coffee, and slipped off the stool for home, when he ordered another drink. More of a sure thing! When you think of the stuff happening now??!! Yikes, and poor family left behind. Sickening and all that stuff
Mar 24, 2023·edited Mar 24, 2023Liked by Mickey Z.
Place I worked once, for some years. They hired a new janitor out of a prisoner reform program. As I tended to work later than most, I would sometimes be in my part of the building alone. I looked up one evening to find this guy staring at me around a doorway with a crazy smile on his face. That happened one more time, a few days later. I really did not think much about it, then, I was about 30. A few days later the shop foreman (who had hired him) told me that he had not been told the severity of the guys crime before he was hired, but once he found out, he immedidately 'removed' him from employment. Whatever the ex convict had done was so bad, the foreman wouldn't even tell me. Then I got the chills.
I laughed reading your story as we were a group of 13-14 year old girls and we took rides from strangers all the time. We thought we were safe together even though we knew that the older ones were perverts and the younger ones hoping to get lucky. I have many clear memories of walking around a young teen and being constantly leered at, even by old men. Always just thought they were gross and didn’t think much of it.
One time we got picked up by some young guys and the car was so full I sat on some guys lap, (lol yuck). I realize now how even though we knew we were breaking the rules, we had no idea how dangerous it could be. I spent my teenage years being pretty reckless and I consider luck being the only reason I didn’t end up raped or worse.
I also had a couple scary hitchhiking adventures, including one where I punched the driver as he was driving on an interstate. Brave, but not so bright. I could have gotten us all killed. But he was so shocked (I wasn't very big, and I was a girl!) he managed to pull over and let me & my girlfriend out, in the middle of nowhere. I think during Henry Miller's time, hitchhiking was more common & less dangerous. But by the 80s, it was prohibitive.
But I do have to say, I prefer no cell phones & security cameras everywhere. I don't think those things have prevented crimes at all. Just made us all feel more desperate & frightened.
Can't remember the plot details, but this reminds me of the movie "Mystic River", this time with Tommy's face looking back at you while driven away, in an alternate timeline.
Thank you for sharing. A good experience, since Tommy and Ratt also made it safely (looking forward to this streetwise punk's story!)
Close call! That's quite a hair-raising encounter—and the best way to develop street smarts. Ratt was inspired when it mattered greatly.
Wow! What a story and a close call! Can’t wait to hear more about this Ratt fellow!
It coulda gone so wrong. Good story. I was hitchikin with a male friend on the southside of chgo once and the driver flipped down the sun visor to show us a buncha straightrazors up there. We jumped out at the next light.
Ratt was a good guy.
I got chills reading this.
As a mum to a young man with developmental disabilities, who is also growing up very handsome, this is a constant concern.
This has much the tone of my own Brooklyn younger days
What a great (if somewhat disturbing) story! I grew up in the 60s and, looking back, it amazes me that we survived. Outdoors unattended all day, getting up to all sorts of risky mischief, and no-one had a clue where we were. I can well remember at least three encounters with pervy middle-aged guys, but we just shrugged them off and moved on with our day. And never, ever told our parents.
But it’s weird how people used to hitch hike and not think anything of if and now no one would even consider it.
Exactly which is also very sad
Thank God for the Ratts of the world
Thank God for the ‘Ratts’ of the world
Wow…..I had wanted only to leave the word “yeeeeeup”. Close call there you guys I guess intuition leaps forth for some people. You sure remember the details. Stark, I must say. ……Many years ago in my 20s I went back and forth from San Jose and Santa Cruz on the twisty mountain road with my roommate. We worked swing shift and often were still wired after work so we would drive to San Jose for coffee., breakfast. Others came from all over, on weekends to the beach. I remember asking a teenager why she would hitchhike to the beach with no protection, and she answered, “We have our hair brush.” I always drove home alone, after being with my coworkers after work,, who yes, did drink. But I always had 7-up or coffee, and slipped off the stool for home, when he ordered another drink. More of a sure thing! When you think of the stuff happening now??!! Yikes, and poor family left behind. Sickening and all that stuff
Place I worked once, for some years. They hired a new janitor out of a prisoner reform program. As I tended to work later than most, I would sometimes be in my part of the building alone. I looked up one evening to find this guy staring at me around a doorway with a crazy smile on his face. That happened one more time, a few days later. I really did not think much about it, then, I was about 30. A few days later the shop foreman (who had hired him) told me that he had not been told the severity of the guys crime before he was hired, but once he found out, he immedidately 'removed' him from employment. Whatever the ex convict had done was so bad, the foreman wouldn't even tell me. Then I got the chills.
I laughed reading your story as we were a group of 13-14 year old girls and we took rides from strangers all the time. We thought we were safe together even though we knew that the older ones were perverts and the younger ones hoping to get lucky. I have many clear memories of walking around a young teen and being constantly leered at, even by old men. Always just thought they were gross and didn’t think much of it.
One time we got picked up by some young guys and the car was so full I sat on some guys lap, (lol yuck). I realize now how even though we knew we were breaking the rules, we had no idea how dangerous it could be. I spent my teenage years being pretty reckless and I consider luck being the only reason I didn’t end up raped or worse.
Engaging true story and well-told. Looking forward to hearing more about Ratt. Thank you, Mickey!
I also had a couple scary hitchhiking adventures, including one where I punched the driver as he was driving on an interstate. Brave, but not so bright. I could have gotten us all killed. But he was so shocked (I wasn't very big, and I was a girl!) he managed to pull over and let me & my girlfriend out, in the middle of nowhere. I think during Henry Miller's time, hitchhiking was more common & less dangerous. But by the 80s, it was prohibitive.
But I do have to say, I prefer no cell phones & security cameras everywhere. I don't think those things have prevented crimes at all. Just made us all feel more desperate & frightened.
Can't remember the plot details, but this reminds me of the movie "Mystic River", this time with Tommy's face looking back at you while driven away, in an alternate timeline.
Thank you for sharing. A good experience, since Tommy and Ratt also made it safely (looking forward to this streetwise punk's story!)