The August list
Aug. 6th, 2003 10:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sereneI decided to go all nostalgic in the August list and try to list something memorable from every year in my life, starting with my first memory. Thirty-one days should get me from age 3 to a few years ago. That'll work.
Age 3: I remember going to see my mom in the hospital when she had my brother, so it must have been in Bremerton, WA. I remember that she had on bright, red lipstick and was smiling at me through a window. At one point, she told me that I couldn't be remembering right because of the window, but now she remembers it as I do -- I don't know whose memory of reality was correct.
Age 4: I remember reading the Childcraft Encyclopedia out loud at the kitchen table because my mother was too busy with the baby to read to me, so she told me to try to do it myself. I did it, and was reading actual books by the time I started kindergarten.
Age 5: Mrs. Urbanek was my Catholic-school-kindergarten teacher. She had two favorites in our class, and I swear I remember their names as Jack and Jill. Anyway, she gave out yellow tickets to us any time we misbehaved. During naptime, Jack and Jill handed them out if our eyes were open. I've never been able to sleep on command, so I got one almost every day. At the end of the day, Mrs. Urbanek used a yellow paddle that matched the tickets to spank you as many times as you had tickets. I was spanked every day. One day, I decided I was not going to be spanked. I closed my eyes tightly, and when naptime was over, I kept them closed. The other kids tried to wake me by shaking me, and even hitting my head with blocks, but I wouldn't wake up. I have always been kind of proud of my stupid little protest.
Age 6: Got my legs operated on (I was born severely pigeon-toed, and could barely walk by the time I was six). The doctor gave me bright pink casts.
Age 7: My mom and dad were separated, but I didn't know it -- we were told he was out to sea, which was common. We lived with my Aunt Sandy in Philadelphia, and I was terrified of her. My dad brought me a large, stuffed turtle for my seventh birthday. I'm not sure how his presence was explained to us.
Age 8: Moved to Spain, started fourth grade by walking into the right classroom, but since there was a substitute and she wasn't Mrs. Friedman, thought I was in the wrong room. Started off the day confused and embarrassed, but met the girl that would be my closest friend in Spain that day, and I still hear from her from time to time.
Memory lane is fun.
Age 3: I remember going to see my mom in the hospital when she had my brother, so it must have been in Bremerton, WA. I remember that she had on bright, red lipstick and was smiling at me through a window. At one point, she told me that I couldn't be remembering right because of the window, but now she remembers it as I do -- I don't know whose memory of reality was correct.
Age 4: I remember reading the Childcraft Encyclopedia out loud at the kitchen table because my mother was too busy with the baby to read to me, so she told me to try to do it myself. I did it, and was reading actual books by the time I started kindergarten.
Age 5: Mrs. Urbanek was my Catholic-school-kindergarten teacher. She had two favorites in our class, and I swear I remember their names as Jack and Jill. Anyway, she gave out yellow tickets to us any time we misbehaved. During naptime, Jack and Jill handed them out if our eyes were open. I've never been able to sleep on command, so I got one almost every day. At the end of the day, Mrs. Urbanek used a yellow paddle that matched the tickets to spank you as many times as you had tickets. I was spanked every day. One day, I decided I was not going to be spanked. I closed my eyes tightly, and when naptime was over, I kept them closed. The other kids tried to wake me by shaking me, and even hitting my head with blocks, but I wouldn't wake up. I have always been kind of proud of my stupid little protest.
Age 6: Got my legs operated on (I was born severely pigeon-toed, and could barely walk by the time I was six). The doctor gave me bright pink casts.
Age 7: My mom and dad were separated, but I didn't know it -- we were told he was out to sea, which was common. We lived with my Aunt Sandy in Philadelphia, and I was terrified of her. My dad brought me a large, stuffed turtle for my seventh birthday. I'm not sure how his presence was explained to us.
Age 8: Moved to Spain, started fourth grade by walking into the right classroom, but since there was a substitute and she wasn't Mrs. Friedman, thought I was in the wrong room. Started off the day confused and embarrassed, but met the girl that would be my closest friend in Spain that day, and I still hear from her from time to time.
Memory lane is fun.
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no subject
Date: 2003-08-06 09:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-07 11:47 am (UTC)(But can I say it freaks me out a little that you were born when I was in the 7th grade?)
(I'll be 37 in September.)
no subject
Date: 2003-08-07 05:34 pm (UTC)I know. Why do you think I mentioned it? *grin*