I was born at Humana Hospital in Hoffman Estates, IL on October 17th, 1983. My first home was at 855 Joyce Ln in Elgin, IL. A well kept small mobile home tucked inside a mobile home park located between Sadler Ave and Villa St.
It was a poor working class neighborhood. Small yards and narrow sidewalks. I came home to an older sister. 5 years and a few months the elder to be exact. Like most people I don’t remember much prior to 3 or 4 years of age.
I remember my mom a lot in my younger years. She was the center of my life. I recollect her getting me ready and dropping me off at the Elgin Community College Day Care so she could pursue an associates degree. Besides college classes she was a stay at home mom.
I don’t remember my dad as much in my early years. My earliest recollection is him working for an insurance company called Century (or Sentry?). I remember going with him to work at least once. I equate his presence with volatility in my early years.
My dad was an alcoholic and Rx pill addict. A functioning one I suppose. Early memories include him getting angry at me and knocking me off of a stool. I must have had a black eye or something because I remember my embarrassed mother explaining (or rather, making up a story) to other lunch ladies why i had the bruise.
I remember him calling my mom once while he was out of town. Telling her that he had relapsed or some shit. And I recall him being gone to get outpatient help- once for sure, possibly twice.
Sometimes I think about talking to my sister about what she remembers about her, and our, childhood. Namely, what things were like when she was younger- what things were like before I started forming memories. But I have not. I am carrying on the Wehrheim tradition of keeping things inside and not talking.
Eventually my dad got a job for an insurance company called Northwestern National. He was able to work out of the house as a claim’s adjuster. At this point his presence in my life becomes more regular in my memories.
Other early memories include getting a Christmas tree, listening to Christmas music while my mom did chores, opening presents on Christmas morning (including a Nintendo) long hot summer days swimming in our kiddie pool or running through the sprinkler while my mom laid out in the sun.
Strangely enough I also remember going with my folks to the polls to vote. So it must have been Nov 1988. I remember that is was the Bush vs Dukakis race. Don’t know who my folks voted for. But I know I couldn’t wait for them to get done because they had just bought my sister and I two new Atari games. So this must have been before we got the Nintendo.
I remember our neighbors. My mom’s best friend Kathy lived down the street. My best friends- Crystal and Joe- lived across the street. Their dad Bob coached my sister’s softball team with my Mom. Actually my mom was the head coach.
Early memories include Elgin American Little League ball fields. And Drake field where my sister’s team practiced. I learned from a young age, with an older sister, to entertain myself. I learned to operate in my own internal world. I had quite an imagination as a young fella.
My mom was a lunch lady at Huff School -which my sister attended. I remember a pack of fifth grade girls, friends of my sister (many of whom were on her softball team) that would let me hang out with them on the playground, would give me kisses, and called me their boyfriend. I loved that shit. They also anointed me mascot of their softball team which was cool.
Forgive me for going back and forth. There will be a lot of that.
Poetry and Politics 