So to start this crazy ride, I will tell you where I was conceived and that is The Socialist Republic of Romania back in 1981.
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My infancy was pretty regular, like all kids I grew up in a starving society that was concentrated on working and providing food for the family.
Nothing much was going on, the TV was showing our beloved ruler “Ceausescu” and the Communist Political Party and “Maria, Mirabela” which was the only cartoon we received. We grew up pretty fast, going to Kindergarten and then to school which was the 1-8 classes.
I remember when I became a “Pionier” for the Communist party and received my nice beautiful “bandana” which we would put around our neck.
The pride came from the fact that we were thought to behave like we are proud and obey the teachings of the party. Once playing in the courtyard this girl colleague of mine told the teacher that I hit her in the face with a snowball, she was in love with me but I didn’t like her so she lied because I was in the classroom at the time. Long story short the teacher believed her and she removed my “Pionier” bandana for 3 days! Since this bandana was so important we could not be seen at school without it, it was shameful so for the 3 days that I didn’t have it, I became sick 🙂
I remember my dear mother asking me what happened with it. I just said I lost it so she had to request a new one from the school, the good thing was that they never found out why I “lost it”
Nothing much happened in the meantime since we didn’t have access to any outside news, we didn’t know anything apart from stamping the bread card and eating that “Summer” Salami that was sold to us. We did have some perks, everyone had a home, a job, a car, and some money at the C.E.C but we didn’t have any place to spend it. My father bought in the communist period 2 brand new Dacia cars and a 3-room apartment which now is not possible anymore.
Summer was nice also, we received a free week at the sea/mountain paid for by the Socialist Party for everyone, the conditions were awesome the food was very good and we were taken care of. There were no incidents and the caregivers were very professional which could also be because they were afraid that if something happens to a child they will probably be sentenced to life in prison.
Christmas time we get green bananas and chocolate from the outside, we were also lucky as my father used to go regularly to Bucharest he would bring back with him a block of fresh butter and Pepsi Cola (1 liter was allowed). In my city, there was the official residence of the Prince and the next in line to rule us, Nicu Ceausescu, so we had a lot of visits and the city was kept always clean and safe.
The revolution came, from a peaceful and normal address to the people suddenly “someone” started to scream anti-communism words, then that same “someone” started to fire on the people that were in the square. This “someone” was able to change a country from being communist under strict rule and having all the outside debts paid to beautiful free Romania ruled by thieves and lackeys that took a prosperous self-sustained country to ruin by stealing everything and selling whatever was left to the lowest bidder. I didn’t like how communism worked but now that I am older and I understand how things are working we’ve been robbed.
Coming up is 9 to 18 in the next chapter of my life, there are some nice stories that I want to share so stay tuned.
Stay cool and family first.
