Tag Archives: memories

My Life as a Not-Really

Posted on September 15, 2026 by mitchteemley

Ben Hur (1957), Spartacus (1960), YMCA logo, Boy’s Camp My Real Memoir: My Life as a Not-Really We weren’t “Nones,” to use the modern term for people who claim no religious affiliation. We were “Not Reallys.” For my parents’ generation, … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

An Ode to Hamburgers and Dads

Posted on September 8, 2026 by mitchteemley

The oldest surviving McDonald’s, in Downey, California My Real Memoir: An Ode to Hamburgers and Dads Until I was seven, the longest walks I ever took were to a unique little burger joint called “McDonald’s.” Mommandad counted every penny in … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir, Storytelling | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 54 Comments

I Was a Daredevil Paperboy!

Posted on September 1, 2026 by mitchteemley

Left to right: Schwinn Wasp “Newsboy Special” bicycle; 1950s Japanese transistor radio; Los Angeles Herald Express; authentic(ish) illustration of my paper route My Real Memoir: I Was a Daredevil Paperboy! As a result of my reckless adventuring and frequent self-disfigurements, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 53 Comments

Of Newspapers and Talking Birds

Posted on August 11, 2026 by mitchteemley

Left: ‘Welcome Dodgers’ headline, Los Angeles Evening Herald Express, 1958. Right: My 2nd Grade class photo My Real Memoir: Newspapers and Talking Birds Dad Was Ambitious to a Fault But he’d dropped out high school to shoot bad guys who … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

The Day We Entered the Tunnel of Doom

Posted on July 7, 2026 by mitchteemley

Source: urbexiam.com My Real Memoir The Day We Entered the Tunnel of Doom: There are severe limits to how far you’re allowed to wander at age 7. Hence, to legendary adventurers like Rory, Jeff and me, “Don’t cross [insert name … Continue reading →

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Where No Kid Had Gone Before!

Posted on June 30, 2026 by mitchteemley

Photo courtesy of riotdaily.com My Real Memoir It Wasn’t Just the Forbidden… …that fed my hunger for stimulation. It was the unknown. I think, at age seven, my real, underlying desire was “to go where no kid had gone before!” … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 53 Comments

On Being a Real-Life Father

Posted on June 18, 2026 by mitchteemley

Image by Illia Panasenko Father’s Day is Coming A fact that evokes a sense of gratitude in many. But not everyone. Being a real-life father, almost by definition, means being imperfect. I know this because my dad was imperfect. And … Continue reading →

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The Day I Discovered Girls

Posted on June 16, 2026 by mitchteemley

Photo by Gerrie Vernon My Real Memoir The He Man Woman Haters Club The day I discovered girls came shortly after, inspired by the Little Rascals TV show, Jeff (of Jeff-and-Rory fame) and I formed a “He Man Woman Haters Club … Continue reading →

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A Tale of Two Best Friends

Posted on June 9, 2026 by mitchteemley

Left to Right: Me, age 7  –  Jeff a.k.a. “Sunshine”  –  Rory-the-Dauntless  –  La Mirada, California My Real Memoir Hello Sunshine This is a tale of two best friends, one full of sunshine, one full of clouds. We’d moved to … Continue reading →

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A True Friend Is Always There

Posted on June 2, 2026 by mitchteemley

‘Boy in Field’ by Rachael Crowe   —   ‘Tabby Cat’ by Adél Grőber My Real Memoir We’d Moved… …and I was alone again. Or so it seemed. But I was soon to learn that a true friend is always there. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 61 Comments