Six of One, Half Dozen of Another: Twelve Stories about Family, Indiana Kidhood and Other Goofy Stuff

by Mike Redmond

Mike Redmond's outrageously charming and funny style captures the universal experiences of anyone who grew up in the '50s and '60s: the torment of Valentine's Day, the "delight" of sharing time with older siblings, the value of having the best firecracker arsenal, discovering exactly what to do with a dead skunk on the bumper of a car, and more.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1578601134
• ISBN13: 9781578601134
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Clerisy Press, Guild Press of Indiana
• Length: 104 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

How warm and fuzzy can one get?

I stayed warm and fuzzy and laughing hysterically throughout this book......what memories this book brought back! Michael catches all the childhood memories anyone wants to remember and then some....thank you for making me laugh again!

Back home in Indiana with the Mackenzie clan. . .

For those of us who followed Mike's columns and commentary in the Indianapolis daily papers over the last decade or so, this book brings him back full circle to writing about what he knows (and loves) the best--his wild, crazy, and wonderful family. He gives us twelve great chapters here, each devoted to a family member or family custom such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. While he mentions so many of our regional influences (including a certain basketball coach now in the Lone Star State), I think that anyone who grew up a. during the 50s and 60s; b. as part of a large immediate and extended family; c. anywhere in the middle of the country; will relate to Mike's stories. I do need to warn you though: if you've seen "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and thought Nia's family of 27 first cousins was huge--well, just hold on. The MacKenzie clan (Mike's mom's family) boasted 50!! And like Nia's family, there were some real characters amongst the MacKenzies as well. Each of his three siblings gets a chapter, as does his mom. He often wrote about his brother, mom and older sister in his weekly columns for the Indianapolis Star, and this book gives you their "backstories." Mike's father was also a newspaper reporter for the Indianapolis papers, but Mike never wrote much about him except for one column when the Indianapolis News ceased publication. He also gets a chapter here. While most of the time Mike's writing makes me laugh out loud, this chapter made me cry. And to me, that's the true worth of Mike. He can touch your heart through his humor--and through his sincerity as well. If you'd like to read more of his commentary, he has a column on his website. No, I don't work for him and I'm not related to him. But I think he's in a class with Dave Barry and Mitch Albom. If you like their work, check his out. Enjoy this book and pass it on to your own cousins at your next family reunion.

Growing Up in Northern Indiana

I enjoyed Mike Redmond's essays about growing up in northern Indiana during the "boomer" years because of the true pictures painted with his words. His book brought forth memories of places I know myself (having come from the next county over) and times when life seemed simpler, without being sappy or gushy. My Arizona cousins who like "local color" will enjoy this slice of Hoosier life.

A Baby-Boomer's Must Read

Finally! Now the rest of us can enjoy what has, up until recently, been a Hoosier best-kept secret. I have read Mike Redmond's humor columns in The Indianapolis Star for years during numerous trips to Indiana. This book reveals his rare talent for taking his readers back to their own "kidhoods", with all the embarrassments, traumas, and antics that define growing up. His ability to recall the uniqueness of coming to age in the 50's and 60's makes this a book that all baby-boomers can relate to - no matter what part of the country they grew up in. If you like good story-telling, if you want a good laugh...this is the book for you.

Small town life at its best!

Mike Redmond has a powerful writing style that lures the reader into a behind the scenes look at rural Indiana family life-- the chapter on his basketball and Bobby Knight 'crazed' Mom sums up life in Indiana and being a Hoosier fan. A great book and a fun read.