Growing Up in Flip Flops

John Petty
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Stories of a young boy growing up in small town 1960’s Florida.  

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  1. EPISODE 1

    Say Something

    Send us a text If there is no penalty to answering a question on a test or in the classroom, say or write  something, anything.  You might surprise yourself and be correct.    There's something there about rather being lucky than good.

    6 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Adventures in Vocabulary

    Send us a text Sometimes we should keep our thoughts private.  Sometimes we say things we shouldn't have. Sometimes we learn the consequences of saying something.  I learn all of these lessons in one very quick moment.

    8 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    My Most Embarrassing Moment

    Send us a text Thankfully, my most embarrassing moment occurred for me during high school.  Not many people saw the moment or were even aware of its occurrence at the time. Those factors didn't take away from the embarrassment for me at the time.  It still left a mark, so to speak, all these years later.

    7 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Just a Name

    Send us a text I discover that not everything that happens in our life has a discernable reason that we can readily understand.  Not everyone that has an impact or effect upon our life acts in the wisest or most intelligent or selfless manner.  But, that is no reason to stop living a purposeful and directed and loving life.  Others are looking for someone exactly like you.  Don't stop.

    10 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Sweet and Sour

    Send us a text In this episode, I transform from the sweetest image possible to a mean teenager.  I also make a public apology to all the marching band performances in which I interfered.  And please don't use the information that is included in this episode for evil purposes.

    8 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Celebrity Encounters

    Send us a text Three celebrity encounters are remembered and things I learned.  Not for a moment did I think of asking for an autograph or such, but instead a simply having a genuine conversation on a variety of subjects from types of pizza, to the movie Young Frankenstein, and Richard Nixon saying "Sock it to me." Lots of fun.

    13 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    My Weekends

    Send us a text While we didn't have surfing on the Gulf coast of Florida, (although skim boarding and boogie boarding did exist), we had other activities that kept us heading to the beach. And there were those ever present girls in bikinis that added to the attractiveness of going to the beach.

    10 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    The Benefits of a Nearby Motel

    Send us a text Just three houses down from the house in which I grew up was a motel which had both a swimming pool and a shuffle board court.  Both of these were open to my sister and I due to our mother's friendship with the owners.  In addition, we visited another of mother's friends at another motel and those visits are imprinted on my memory. And it's interesting to me that a fun little escape for me in childhood has remained an interest all these years.

    9 min
See All Season 2 (23)

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Stories of a young boy growing up in small town 1960’s Florida.  

Information

  • Creator
    John Petty
  • Episodes
    53
  • Seasons
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Growing Up in Flip Flops
  • Show Website
    Growing Up in Flip Flops