Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

Pee in your pants funny!

If you are looking for a good beach or pool read for the summer, I highly recommend Bill Bryson's memoir of growing up in 1950s Midwest America, Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid.

I will warn you though, you will laugh out loud - often. I almost fell off the eliptical while reading this book and I am sure others near me thought I was nuts as I began laughing. Then I began crying because I was laughing so hard. I tried to surpress my laughter which only caused me to snort - - which is quite painful when doing a cardio work out.

Recollections of the jar collection under the sink and how his mother would bring one of the jars along when doing errands with her son - - in case he needed to pee - - and no restroom was convenient, reminded me of the collection under my grandparent's and own parent's kitchen sink. The funniest was when young Bryson pointed out to his mom that the jar the left over peaches were stored in was the pee jar.

Other stories that will have you holding your sides and crossing your legs: when Bryson breaks his arm, the attempt to sneak into the "girlie" tent at the county fair, a trip to the local swimming hole, and all the people the Thunderbolt Kid zaps.

If only my life growing up in Midwest America in the 1970s was as interesting and funny...who knows, maybe it was.