Throwback Thursday – Teenage Hijinks

Can kids get away with now what we got away with back in the day? These days, you can track teens with a smartphone app. In my youth, my parents just had to hope I’d do what they taught me and survive. 

I was a good kid, always torn between the values of my upbringing and wanting to fit in. That’s pretty typical, isn’t it? Sometimes you find yourself in situations where you haven’t done anything wrong, but you’re in trouble because of the people you’re with.

Rick VanderWoude was one of my best friends for a time in high school. He’s the reason I didn’t go to my prom! He launched a boycott over the cost of the ticket and I joined him, although secretly I really did want to go and I hoped he’d change his mind at the last minute. He was a lot of fun but also a bit of a rapscallion! He had a brush or two with the law, nothing serious, but he was one of those guys who didn’t sit still for long and found some sort of trouble to get into.

Like this outhouse. Well, it used to be an outhouse at Chippewa Provincial Park near where I grew up, and where we teens all gathered every May 24th weekend to camp and build pyramids out of empty beer bottles. (I have photos of those somewhere too!)

An outhouse leaning to the left, with a lanky teen sitting inside, holding a beer bottle and smiling broadly

Woody may not have even been involved in the destruction of this potty. Over the course of an evening, it was sacrificed by all of the guys who were keeping the (illegal) bonfire going. Yes, that’s a breakfast beer in Woody’s hand. When park officials made the rounds and saw what we had done, we were kicked out. Most of the group took off as soon as they realized we were in trouble. No one was charged, that I can recall. I remember thinking the whole thing was kind of funny because I hadn’t done anything but drink my share of beer and enjoy the fire.

Woody lives out west now and we’re not really in touch anymore. He got seriously ill many years ago but the last time we emailed, he was battling back. We had a lot of adventures together as pals, and he always found the humour in everything, even the approach of pickups containing unhappy park wardens.

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