Photogenic
Memory
Growing Up Gen X
Some people say their childhood is a blur, but I’m not that lucky. Mine isn’t blurry enough.
These stories are part of the ongoing, uncensored memoir of a certified G1 Gen-X prototype, born in 1965 and aging faster every day, served straight up, from my twisted brain to yours.
Join Childhood Me for every cringe decision, accidental insight and throat-tightening moment of hilarious shame that makes you say, “Tell me you didn’t actually do that” even though, yeah, I sure did.
If your own nostalgia’s tired, take a trip through mine as we unpack the 60s, 70s and 80s, living it all over again in happy-sad stories from a kid who saw too much and remembers it all.
My pain, your gain!

Not yet one and already worried.
- Prologue · Present DayBy Way of Introduction…
- 01In which the author answers the questions,“What is this? Who wrote this? Why?”→
- 02In which the authorapologizes to possible readers→
- 03In which the authorgeneralizes Generation X→
- Part One · 1969The Foundation. Age three to four.
- 04In which the author throws up from existential fearand becomes self-aware while watching The Beverly Hillbillies→
- 05In which the author finds love and loses it immediatelySchool teaches hard lessons, sometimes before you even get there.→
- 06In which the author learns the difference between good and eviland makes deadly poison→
- Part Two · 1970–1972A New World. Kindergarten through Grade Two.
- 07In which the author experiences both ends of the yardstickand a full range of Kindergarten feelings→
- 08In which the author believes the hypeand embarks on a poorly-thought-out quest for greatness→
- 09In which the author makes and breaks a bondand finds a new kind of rejection→
- 10In which the author learns about deathand has too many feelings→
- Part Three · 1973–1975Boy Wonders. Grade Three through Grade Five.
- 11In which the author is afraid of Santa Clausand grapples with holiday secrets→
- 12In which the author is half-way throughand suddenly sees the Big Picture→
- 13In which the author fears his peersand wishes he had the mumps→
- 14In which the author finds Godand He is Us→
- 15In which the author meets a pack of bulliesand learns a new bad word→
- 16In which the author considers pubertyand tries not to stare at real live boobs→
- 17In which the author is not ready to be a Manin spite of all that hair…→
- 18In which the author suffers ego deathand discovers a terrible new smell→
- 19In which the author opens the wrong door at the wrong timeand finds himself on a new path to success→
- Intermission · Present DayTrigger Warning?
- 20Intermission: In which the author breaks continuity for a momentto mark an ending and a new beginning→
- Part Four · 1976–1977Pubescence Unbound. Grade Six through Grade Eight.
- 21In which the author plans a Robot Summerbut embarks on a surprise road trip→
- 22In which the author is finally in Grade Sixand finally sees himself→
- 23In which the author loves musicand hates music→
- 24In which the author can’t take the bullying any longerunless it’s aimed at him→
- 25In which the author is told to read quietly at his deskand learns he is fat in Metric→
- 26In which the author goes shoppingand can only have the wrong pants→
- 27In which the author meets a New Kidlearns about spy radios, the Communists and will not drink pickle juice→
- 28In which the author doesn’t get anybody pregnantbecause he’s a chicken→
- 29In which the author is vagueand has a condition at the pool party→
- 30In which the author goes for Goldbut starts in Olive and this will not stand!→
- 31In which the author meets God……and realizes he is alone in the universe→
- 32In which the author arrives in Grade Eight……without fanfare→
- Part Five · 1977–1978Congraduations. Finally Grade Eight.
- 33In which the authorChapter 33Coming soon
- 34In which the authorChapter 34Coming soon
- 35In which the authorChapter 35Coming soon
- 36In which the authorChapter 36Coming soon
- 37In which the authorChapter 37Coming soon
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