memory....

Remember when that, and Castle on the Cloud was sung at every elementary school talent night? Maybe that's why I always liked Eponine better than Cosette.

So now I'm officially old - closer to 30 than 20, and that, my friends, is O - L - D. Paulywogs told me that I'm now older than Monkey-butts. Bless his little heart.

In celebration of this, an historic day, (sorry - I like the feel of saying 'an historic'), well, and it may be an historic day if the Cardinals, sorry, words of faith, When the Cardinals win the Super Bowl.

Okay, new paragraph.

I decided for my birthday that I wanted to share 26 (No, not 25) 26 memories that I had, because many involve you, my intrepid readers, and also, for my future records. Remember, I'm older than monkey-butts, and they can't remember very well.

1. One of my very very earliest memories is grandma rocking me in her pink rocking chair, and singing to me, singing I am a Child of God.

2. Next memory is standing in out living room, with my dad using his fancy industrial design markers on a yellow apron, to make it look like a Hummel doll. Combined with that was mascara being put on - this may be when I was in the hotel room.
Matthew and I were in a Hummel contest somewhere in California. He won first place, and I won second. I had always thought that I had lost to Matthew, which, isn't so bad. But not too long ago I was told the truth - I lost to a girl who cheated. I didn't realize there were two divisions.
I guess it was good I didn't realize the truth, because I wouldn't have been able to handle it.

3. I remember driving to Strawberry in the years before I could make it 2 hours in the car without going potty...grandma fashioned a portable chamber pot so we didn't have to stop.

4. This is a story that I was reminded of: We were in a van. No, Matthew, and Dad were in the front seats of a van, and I was in the very back, in the car seat. (The middle bench was out, probably due to the paper route.)
As the story goes, I, as the brilliant mastermind that I am, managed to unbuckle my carseat, so at the next light, I ended up wedged between the two front seats.
I guess I didn't like being left out.

5. There was this ancient horse, Favory Responda. I got her to lope, up a hill.

6. I remember in 5th grade, having started my book report on Madeline L'Engle, when I found out another boy from the class was doing the same author, I changed my mind, and reported on Susan Cooper.
I still remember drawing my book cover, and using Prismacolor pencils, because there were the metallic colors. Ms. Cooper, my teacher, liked it. I really hope I didn't change to Susan Cooper to brown nose to Ms. Cooper.
I don't think I was that devious.

7. Ms. Schirtzinger. She was my elementary school music teacher. We sang such songs as What's Up and Triangle Man, and the Mmm...Mmm...Mmmm.... song.
And recorders soaked in antiseptic. Tasty.

8. Mr. Baedke. He always wore a glove when he played his trumpet. And some flute player next to me hit my reed with her folder. And didn't even notice.

9. That reminds me of my ninth grade sewing class, when I sewed my finger. The needle made a hole in my fingernail. Someone saw me tearing up in the bathroom, but I lied and said I had allergies, or something.

10. Mom telling me we were moving to Utah. I wasn't very happy. Then she said we weren't taking the puppies. She was wrong. I think I threatened to put up Dog Hater signs, like Matthew put up Dog Killer signs when Willy was put down. Poor mom.

11. One day I was walking home from school, to find a circle of kids looking down at something in our orchard. I come over to join them, and see my cat Felix, with his tummy strewn open.

12. I remember Snowball coming into my room through the heating ducts. As ornery as she was to everyone else, she always remembered who I was, and would come to have me pet her. Even after we moved to Utah, and left her with grandpa.

13. I remember Cousins John, Paul, and brother Matthew and possibly Cousin Liesl teaching me a funny word. I thought I'd be helpful and teach it to the wee-er cousin. Too bad the wee cousin's mum didn't appreciate my kindness.

14. Paria Canyon. Cousin John put a rock in my pack. Through women's intuition, I knew it was there. Why else would he have stayed back with me? I wasn't as slow as the parents, but I definitely was not a quick hiker. Still am not.

15. I wrote a haiku about Bedbugs. Oh my. I wonder what my teacher thought of me!

16. In second grade, a contemporary asked me if I liked Vanilla Ice. Of course I liked Vanilla Ice Cream!!
It's like when a friend's current squeeze mentioned he liked Player Piano. I was surprised - I like player pianos, too.

Well, I think that's enough for now.