“Half memoir, half travel, A Yank Back to England...is an absolutely wonderful book, not only about going home again but also about love and family and tradition and the passage of the years.”
—Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize-winning literary critic (Washington
Post)
To see the entire quote, click here.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

I'm a Limey Doodle Dandy

When I was about ten years old, I wanted my best friend to be a kid from an American TV show. Whether all of America was like Hollywood, or the other way around, I did not know or care. I just wanted to audition for it. I tried to be more American. I practiced for my role. I chewed gum, which I hated. I wore high top colored sneakers, which we called baseball boots and which got very smelly. I yearned for the blue jeans Mum would never buy me. Too rough, she said, look like a laborer! At least I could see the TV shows and avoid pullovers when I went out to play, even if it meant duckings of cold damp air.

5 comments:

Daffycat said...

***grin***

A Brit in Tennessee said...

You must have watched a lot of "Bonanza" or was it "Popeye"?
That is so sweet ;)

The Prodigal Tourist said...

Westerns, of course! Maverick, The Man from Laramie, Tenderfoot, and my favorite--Bronco with Ty Hardin. That's all I can remember but I still smile when I think about it! And I can still sing the theme songs, too!

Michelloui said...

Wow, I have never heard of a British person wanting to be more American! That's kind of cool.

Enjoying Miss Mapp!!

The Prodigal Tourist said...

M--the Beatles tried to sound American--need I say more? Actions speak louder than words, don't you think? So pleased you like Miss Mapp.