James S. Carr
Bio
Just a writer from the hood telling my memories of my teenage years.
Stories (19/0)
Mom is Forever
If my mother could somehow perform three miracles, the Catholic Church would have to immediately sanctify her as a saint. The strongest substance that this woman has imbibed into her body is caffeine and ibuprofen. She did get married and give birth at the young age of seventeen years old, but that was over 50 years ago, so that isn't a dealbreaker. She is almost in her 70's now and she is raising her two great granddaughters, ages 11 and 12. Her oldest son was murdered when he was 20 and his daughter had died suddenly at the age of 30. In between those two, she lost her husband/soulmate after 35 years of holy matrimony, her daughter in law and her oldest sister. She did get a divorce from her first husband before she married my dad, but if she never did that, I wouldn't be here to tell her story.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in Families
People in my Life
Brian Mol was one of the first guys that I met when I broke my mom’s and my brother’s rules and crossed Franford Ave. He was in the old arcade that used to be on Trenton Ave right next to Frankford. Up until that point I always had a few friends but one best friend, and we were literally dorky loners, afraid of our own shadow. We went to the arcade for protection. We were all of 13 years old and some girls that my friend and I had known had made friends with older guys and asked them to beat us up. We were confined to the safety of Cumberland Street between Tulip and Memphis. We had heard, and told, all the stories of the gangs on the other side of Frankford Ave. and we had just become friends with Tommy Stierle so we had an in.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in Psyche
Life and Death
Life is too short. I am just starting to realize just how blessed I am at this for what has been a few years now. I think we all long for something more but having all that you need can be quite satisfying if it's realized just how few problems that you actually aware exist. Right now is how I would like it to stay forever. I've longed for my youth and the memories and people I hold in my heart but who I was then and who those people and places are, those that remain, they are as gone as the bad memories I have of myself. I can't hold on to one and release the other. Instead, I gather what is most dear to me, memories like photographs and relationships that are positive, and devote myself to God, myself and my family. The rest is scenery and bonuses.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in Humans
People in my Life
Most of what I write about are my memories and sometimes just my thoughts in general. So far it has been very uplifting and I am proud to say that my stories have been read over four hundred times so that’s something. This story probably should have come first, but Kevin Trost had been urging me to write for years so naturally I made him my first project. Trost was such a likable person and I have been writing about him for a while, so I chose to go the easy way. I've written about others that I care deeply for and still live on in my heart. More are to be written. This next person had almost the most influence on my life as a whole. This is my tribute to my dad, Big Jim Carr.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in Families
People in my life
Mikey Soders and Mikey Conway were two of the toughest teenagers that I have ever known. In a time that no longer exists, these two street fighters were a nightmare to those not skilled in the art. They were best friends but constantly fought one another. But when it was just the two of them against any amount of potential attackers, they had each other’s back and would not stop fighting until the opposition had fled. They were infamous for a short time for shaking down, well, anyone. They’d walk up to a corner where a bunch of people were hanging out there and they would tell them all to empty their pockets. Some would run, some would get beat up, some would try to go on the offensive only to learn that these Kensington dudes won’t quit.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in Humans
People in my Life
The stories that I write about are things and people that are important to me. They are memories that I have and seem to me interesting to share. I also write to connect my words with your eyes. I may have known you or have never met, but magically, our souls meet.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in Humans
People in my Life
This New Year's day of 2021 will mark the 30th anniversary of the violent murder of my brother, Joseph Vincent Hulse. Around 12:15 am, January 1st, 1991, a coward brought a gun to a fist fight. He also brought along a couple carloads of friends armed with golf clubs and baseball bats. My brother was only 20 when he died but he had an old soul and I always viewed him as an adult. He was only 6 years older than me but light years more mature.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in Families
A Farewell to Harms
Dear President Tump, I am writing to you to thank you and wish you all the success that you deserve in your future endeavors. You have helped to make this a greater nation and I mean that with all sincerity. I agree with you on the argument that God wanted you to be president. Everything is part of some grand scheme, even the unpopular things. And on a smaller scale, how better to find out that fire is hot than to burn oneself? I am going to write about a few things that this country would never have truly known about itself had you not been elected to be the leader of this great nation.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in The Swamp
Trauma and Hope
A story of hope for the new year. Let's enjoy it while it lasts. The holiday season is a dream for most children. The lights and pageantry. Telling Santa what they want most and how good they have been. It's an ingenious marketing strategy for a capitalist system. Money buys the stuff that the kids want and need. Christmas morning and presents from out of nowhere are under the tree. It's one of the greatest traditions for parents to watch their loved ones give and receive gifts. Shrieks of joy and surprise. The child gets older and it seems to lose momentum. Eventually, for a lot of adults, the holidays become a nightmare.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in Humans
People in my life
I grew up in the Kensington section of Philadelphia PA. The movie Rocky was filmed in parts of Kensington so that neighborhood got a reputation of being a place of toughness. Even the women were fierce. I'm pretty sure there's even a song called Kensington Girls. When I lived there it was a neighborhood not only of toughness but gangs as well. Nothing really serious. Just a bunch of teenagers calling themselves something.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in Humans
Cocoa girl
In 2013, I moved my family to Chester, PA. I was aware of its reputation but I had seven people with whom I am responsible for housing and basic needs. We had been living under my mom's roof since late 2010 and I had just started on my road to sobriety after a decade of decadence, or so to speak. I was attending group, got some work and things were really good for a while. Eventually life brought my mother and I to a falling out and she evicted me from her house. There was a lot of personal stuff going on that isn't even worth remembering but the point is that I had to find living accommodations for my family of seven.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in Petlife
Fly Eagles, Fly
A change of pace is always a good thing. I have memories and stories of my life, and it’s weird writing about it now because I have children that are my age when I was a totally different person. But their lives have played out way different than mine did. The one common factor in all of our childhoods were love. Everyone was loved and loved in return. This story is about my love for the Philadelphia Football Eagles. I can’t remember when exactly I fell in love with them, some say that I was born with it, but I can remember when I began to hate the Dallas Cowboys.
By James S. Carr3 years ago in Unbalanced
