Sins I Had to Avoid

Flavius B. Hall, Jr.

Sins I Had to Avoid is everyone's story of growing up and then reflecting back on the manner in which they were raised. In reality, does a parent's particular rules of discipline actually build the special loving ties that help develop an individual's life?

Author Flavius Hall, Jr., better known to family and friends as "F.B.," grew up in New Bern, N.C. in the 1950s and 1960s, with his three sisters Wanda, Martha and Sarah. From his years as a small boy he knew, without a doubt, that there were several major sins: stealing, disobeying, lying, cheating, murder, greed, drinking, jealousy, fighting, selfishness and many, many more. During those tender years he still didn't know anything about the sins of illegal drugs, fornication, premarital sex, adultery and lust. This information didn’t come along until much, much later in life.

F.B. was faithfully taught about the various sins and The Ten Commandments through his weekly Sunday School lessons at church. However, along with the teachings on Sunday, his parents, and especially his mother Myrtle Hall, had a list of "extra sins" that he and his sisters had to definitely avoid. For example, his mother had her own unique list of "bad words" that should never be spoken or even thought! In addition, reading comic books or paper backs, as well as playing cards, were also on his mother's "extra sin list." And what does resting on Sunday really mean to a nine year old boy?

Remembering his days as a pre-teenager, F.B. chronicles his love for dancing the Cha-Cha and the Bop, although for him dancing was one of the major sins he had to avoid. Of course, as he grew older, there was the issue of the length of his hair - don’t forget that F.B. became a teenager during the Beatle’s "mop top" look of the 1960s. Add to that all the issues his sisters had to encounter with the dawn of miniskirts, bikinis and Bouffant teased hair.

Right from the first chapter the author makes it absolutely clear that this book is not in any way meant to judge his parents or their "extra sin list" or to criticize in any way the manner in which he was raised. With tenderness and humor, F.B. refers to his childhood from about five through sixteen years old as The Missionary in China Era.

He explains that during that period of growing up his mother's extra list of sins was meant to make certain her children did not make wrong choices or become negatively influenced by the social scene of the times. As each nostalgic section unfolds the author jumps back into the skin of his youth, and recalls questioning his parents’ motives. But now, as an adult, he looks back with much love and affection for the Christian direction and guidance his parents offered.

You’ll laugh along with the author as he finally "comes clean" and confesses several of his never before revealed childhood sins, such as "Stealing - My first Real, True Sin ... I Think," "Not Owning Up to the Truth," "I Will Never Be Cold Again," and "The Sin of Envy."

For those of you that remember the 50s and 60s, especially if you grew up in the "South," you will be sure to relive those magical years on your own "Middle Street," watching your first television program, going to the Saturday night drive-in movies or buying your favorite 45 records. If you were one of the unfortunate ones and were born much later, never experiencing those unique decades, never fear. By reading this book you too can have a wonderful journey through the hills and valleys of true American history, taken from the ever famous Baby Boomers’ perspective

So, hop in the backseat of the Hall’s 1953 blue Plymouth, enjoy the ride and, at the same time, ponder if your parent's too had an "extra sin list."

To buy this book ($25.00) Email Flavius Hall: f.hall@comcast.net