Childhood Memories
Cool, dry air.
Cold sand running through my fingers.
Digging in the sandbox until I hit clay.
Molding the clay found beneath the sand into shapes.
Picking clover and Sour Grass. The sharp, sour-sweet green taste in my mouth.
Dandelion wishes carried away in the breeze.
Gentle spring rains.
Splashing in the puddles.
Foggy mornings and dew drops.
Warm sunny summer days.
Eucalyptus trees. The pungent, intoxicating scent of their leaves as they crunch beneath my bare feet.
The honeysuckle vine growing on the fence in my backyard. It's sweet nectar on my tongue.
Playing on the cool cement driveway by the pink oleanders.
Taking mud baths in the mud pit my sister and I dug in our backyard.
The Twirl-Go-Round at Miss Kathy’s.
Being in a kazoo band. (Yes, that was a real thing.)
That infamous Care Bears record I played again and again. Sorry, mom and dad.
Waking up to the sound of the street sweeper. What a wonderful swooshing sound it made.
The Altadena milk man.
Lemon cake and square dancing.
Field trips to the local dairy farm.
Fresh Chocolate milk.
Star Wars, Labyrinth, and The Neverending Story.
Melissa, Jennifer, Janine, and Scott.
Scott was such a bad boy, like John Bender from The Breakfast Club. He really made me laugh.
My cat Furry. She was so soft, fluffy, and warm. I loved her brown, orange, black, and white fur.
Our dog Schwartz, the crazy German Shepherd. He talked in his sleep and snored. He was a good boy.
Halloween in Thousand Oaks was always fun. You could really feel it in the air back then, the spooky excitement of it all.
That song I learned in preschool… 5 little witches flying through the air…
Listening to spooky music, and my mom reading me Dorrie the Little Witch books.
Driving through the Central Valley.
Golden hills and grapevines.
Trees and open cow pastures.
That Denny’s we always went to with the gift shop.
Hathaway Pines.
Breakfast made by Grandma Jean. Oatmeal, shredded wheat, and the wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Saturday morning cartoons.
Soap operas and Jeopardy.
Climbing the red clay hill behind Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
The peacefulness of the mountains.
Actually seeing the stars in the night sky.
Getting the best sleep every time.
Splashing in the creek in Murphys.
The park.
Stories in Stones in Murphys.
The Murphys Hotel.
That year we spent in Colorado.
Watching Pinwheel.
Canned green beans, boxed mashed potatoes, Alice Through The Looking Glass, and Harry and The Hendersons at after-school care.
The mountains.
The view we had of the city lights from our bedroom window.
Snow!
Eating crabapples. So sweet and tangy.
My crazy best friend, Michael.
Kissing Vincent under the stairs.
Moving back home to California.
Swimming in the pool.
Bonfires and barbecues on the beach.
Hamburgers made on the grill at the beach always taste the best.
Crashing waves, gulls, sandpipers, and sand crabs.
Tide pools filled with sea anemones, starfish, and sea urchins.
The sailboat races near Catalina.
Jem, Cyndi Lauper, Tiffany, and Madonna.
The old man and his rose garden.
Being truly happy.
Our last big move to FL.
Thick, wet, hot air.
Staying at George and Suzie’s.
Petting their big orange cat, Whizzer.
Listening to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack on George’s turntable. Stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive, eeh-eeh-eeh-eeh, stayin’ aliiive!
Swimming in the pool and relaxing in the hot tub.
Grabbing a Burger and Fries at The Hour Glass.
Making new friends.
That time, Sarah and I sailed down her street in a huge cardboard box during a summer rainstorm.
Hanging out at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach.
Loitering inside Uncle Milty’s and Monique’s.
Meeting my other best friend, also named Mike. We could talk for hours, and he really could make me laugh.
Maya the Bee, David the Gnome, Gummy Bears, Talespin, Ducktales(woo-ooh!), and Nickelodeon.
Hungry Howie’s and Pet Safari.
The spectacular lightning storms and heavy summer rains.
Our cats Tommy and Elvira.
Our babysitter, Yvette, and her massive crush on Rico Sauve.
Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place.
Orange Blossom Groves and their soft-serve ice cream.
Staying up late listening to the radio and drawing.
Roller Skating to Janet Jackson, Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey at Rainbow Rollerland. Eating Rolos and pizza.
Ice skating at the mall, and the time I fell on my ass while checking out a cute boy.
Good times.
