Sunday, June 3, 2007

Childhood Memories



Well, I was "tagged" twice for this meme and I have really enjoyed reading about everyone's childhood memories -- so here goes...

1. Spending time at my Uncle Rick's house (especially for holidays and birthdays)...he lived out in the country with chickens and horses. Us kids would go out back and swing on a tree rope and go out to the barn and jump from the top window into piles of hay.
2. Spending New Year's Eve at my grandma's house so my parents could go out. She would let us stay up to watch the ball drop at midnight. I also remember her sitting in her chair in the living room smoking her cigarettes and I don't remember ever thinking anything of it.
3. On the subject of my grandma ("gramcracker")...I remember her always having fudgsicles in her freezer, date cookies in her cookie jar, mints in her candy dish on the counter and wrigleys spearmint gum in a bowl in her cupboard.(?) I loved her so much and have soooo many memories with her in them. She died right before I graduated from High School.
4. Summer vacations in Traverse City. My family went with my grandma, my aunt and my cousin. We went every year for 10 years, I think. We stayed in the Holiday Inn on the bay and we always had the time of our lives. I remember swimming while listening to Van Halen's "Jump" on the radio and jumping over the rope everytime the word jump was sung. Playing in the arcade and meeting cute boys. Renting a jet ski and being very unsuccessful at riding the thing. Trying my first sip of a frozen strawberry daquiri (yum). Falling in the bay and getting my hair caught on the wiring around some rocks and having my aunt jump in (cutting her foot up quite badly) but saving my life!
OK, It looks like I could go on forever on this one. Let's just say these vacations were the best. (aside from the near drowning experience, of course)
5. Playing with neighborhood friends -- climbing trees, playing 4 square and kick the can.
6. SOOOOO many sleepovers. Watching movies and talking about boys. (I was always super boy crazy)!
7. Sixth grade I remember writing notes to the boys I liked asking them to rate the girls in our class on a scale from 1 to 10 on looks/body/personality.
8. Eighth grade I remember falling hopelessly in love with J.H. We "went together" for about 2 weeks and then he broke up with me. I didn't fully get over him until my senior year in highschool. (did I mention I was boy crazy?)
9. Halloween I remember going to the penny candy store with my parents because my mom didn't want us trick-or-treating...she believed Halloween was evil.
10. In elementary school I was bussed to another grade school one day a week to partake in the TAG (Talented And Gifted) program. We had cool classes like cooking and future problem solving. I was considered smart once upon a time!

It's amazing the things we remember, isn't it? But, I always wonder about all of the things that I have FORGOTTEN? Makes me wonder what Lily will hang on to.
*the picture is me (on the right) and my sister (on the left) and my mom in the distance.*

17 comments:

Sugar Cookies And Hope said...

Ahhhh, writing notes to boys in sixth grade. How cute are you?
Now, boys and girls MSN each other...no more love notes.

kitchu said...

Oh me too- boy crazy that is! Love your #7 that followed- did you put yourself on that list too??!

Polar Bear said...

I went out with a boy in sixth grade. I wanted to break up with him because he wanted to kiss me. LOL!!! I left a mean note in his desk because I was too chicken to break up with him.

This has been so much fun. Reading everyone's memories has even sparked a few of my own that I had forgotten. Like the note for Jimmy P. and playing four square. That is the BEST game.

redmaryjanes said...

I was boy crazy too. Derek Albright, my 8th grade camp true love. I still have his picture around here somewhere.

Daniella said...

I'm there too with the boy crazy memory - loved reading about your memories.

Beckyb said...

How fun!!! Great memories!!

crazylady said...

I was low on TAG friends. So glad you showed up when you did.

Steffie B. said...

Ok....you and I would have been great friends in school! Loved reading all these little memories!

Tracy said...

Very fun post --- I love reading your blog!

Elizabeth said...

I was SO boy crazy some girls were not allowed to play with me!
In fact I made it into our local paper at age 12 cuz I told the reporter that for my New Years resolutions I wanted to "meet lots of boys!" My parents were mortified!

Emmie said...

talking about boys..psh! We never do that! lol

Anne Marie said...

Oh my gosh..at first I thought I read that you sat in your grandma's chair smoking her cigarettes and thinking nothing of it!

I think 2 weeks was as long as 8th grade "relationships" lasted, not that I had any personal experience. I think I was latently (not really a word) boy crazy -- wanted to be, but was too shy!

kerri said...

My first kiss from a boy was in grade six, must of been a little boy crazy too. Same year I shaved my legs and tried a ciggie (yuck), my cousin was a terrible influence(I always blamed her, she blamed me).
Do I have to refer to you as gifted smarty pants,all kidding aside I loved your memories. Thanks for sharing.

dawn said...

I love your list and getting to know you a little bit more.

aimeeg said...

Ah, good times! I love reading these.

Gee Gee said...

Oh Nik, I loved reading about your memories...and you have so many!!

Jody said...

Oh the memories, I'm right there with you on most of those. Love sharing all those great times toghether!