Written as a reflection of life's momentous occasions and turning points, Wisdom's book candidly shares his journey from a young boy experiencing adventures and the traditional sibling rivalry to becoming a mature member of the Air Force. More than anything else, the narrative is a transparent reminiscing of a bygone time, one filled with the sweetness of memories and harmless mischief that reads like a series of "Dear Diary" journal entries.
Fittingly titled, Wisdom's narrative transports readers throughout moments in his life in almost Back to the Future fashion, with his words being the Delorean readers will take to Wisdom's fishing trips in one moment and then, in another, unveiling an Air Force career that was full of its own shenanigans during downtime. Though there are numerous points to settle on and pinpoint as identity markers, Wisdom's life is marked by camaraderie. First, it is the camaraderie of his two siblings—his older brother and sister, but especially his brother. A tight-knit relationship with his mother and a family fixture in the stick-chasing family dog, Stubb, rounds out those that Wisdom had to rely on as he developed and grew into his own skin.
In all parts of the book, what is most noticeable is Wisdom's ability to be distinctly himself, unafraid of what someone else may think of him. One particular moment that resonates is the author's refusal to listen to his brother while riding their bike and the near-catastrophic outcome that is narrowly avoided as a result. Later, amid the backdrop of the Vietnam War, Wisdom bucked the trend of Army enlistment and joined the Air Force, a four-year tour of duty that featured a continuation of shenanigans during downtime, including but not limited to swimming and body surfing. Marked by nights of drinks and conversation, Wisdom's Air Force buddies became a continuation of his childhood brotherhood.
While many characters and sequences are portrayed in the book, perhaps no person is shown as more impactful than Mom. The honesty with which Wisdom describes the power of mothers to understand their kids and at the same time not hesitate to chide them is compelling. Wisdom is the representation of everyman in how he rekindles the nostalgia of a mother's cooking. For him, the "pies and the warm white or yellow cake" are not only remnants of his childhood but also symbols of his haven, a place where he knew that he could turn to without judgment.
Jumping around in the narrative instead of following a chronological timeline gives Wisdom's work a stream of conscious feel that keeps the work organic. Readers can be certain that the author is "keeping it real." From school days and botching a first crush to working at the machine shop and playing donkey baseball, Wisdom keeps audiences on their toes in anticipation as to what tale they may encounter next. At its core, Wisdom's work is a simple retelling of fond memories. However, it is simultaneously a key that unlocks the door to the audience's own past experiences, compelling them to revisit the moments that made them who they are.