All posts in category Childhood

Father Christmas

English: Thomas Nast's most famous drawing, &q...

English: Thomas Nast’s most famous drawing, “Merry Old Santa Claus” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In about the 2nd grade, there was a boy in my class who wore the same old, ratty shoes every day.  I remember finding out that his family didn’t have enough money to buy him a new pair.  We weren’t well-off either but I had shoes that fit, without holes, and more than just a single pair.

I don’t recall any details of how it happened, but my wonderful parents decided to buy this boy new shoes.  My dad came into school one day just before Christmas and waited in the principal’s office.  They called the boy out of class and presented him with his new pair of shoes.

What I do distinctly remember is that the boy, flushed with excitement, came running back to the classroom shouting “Santa Claus was here, and gave me shoes!”

Now, my Dad didn’t have white hair back then – it was more reddish – but he did have a full beard (also red) and otherwise kind of fit the description.  Close enough for a young boy to really believe that Santa came and brought him a present.

I’ve never been more proud of my family and, as a kid, I never told anyone who brought the shoes.  I still think about that boy at Christmas, and wonder if he still thinks of “Santa” too.

Leave a comment
by justmyyarns on December 22, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Childhood, Family
Tagged , ,

Posted by justmyyarns on December 22, 2012

https://justmyyarns.wordpress.com/2012/12/22/father-christmas/

Eek…

Redesigned logo used from 2011-present.

On her day off, one of my coworkers briefly dropped by the office with her 2-year-old boy.  She had something quick she wanted to get done before running to another appointment downtown.  After a few minutes, though, he was pretty bored.  I’m not great with kids (as I’ve previously mentioned) , but I offered to take him to Starbucks for a steamed apple juice and to get him out of her hair for a bit.

He was so sweet, and held my hand while walking through the retail section of our building (though he was VERY distracted by the toy store, and by Daiso – but who isn’t?!).  Wow, I’d forgotten how slooooooooowly kids walk…those short little legs!

Once at Starbucks we ordered our drinks (including one for mom, of course).  While waiting, he was staring out the window at the fascinating people (some would say loiterers), and rocking side to side.  It took me a moment but I realized that as he rocked, he was dragging his tongue along the glass…licking back and forth…back and forth…EEK!!

I was almost too horrified to tell his mom, but I figured if he contracted an awful disease she’d better know (and luckily his dad’s a doctor).  She told me that was actually his new “thing” – she’d recently found him licking the top of a bench seat at a restaurant.

Eeeuuuwww…..

Leave a comment
by justmyyarns on June 15, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Childhood, Work
Tagged ,

Posted by justmyyarns on June 15, 2012

https://justmyyarns.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/eek/

The most wasted of all days…

Lopez Island is my happy place.  You can have Disneyland, I’ll take Lopez any day.  Our family cabin may be rustic (i.e. unfinished walls and no running water), but some of my best memories are from family visits every summer.  I even called my Dad’s mother “Beach Grandma” because she had the beach.  (And I called my Mom’s mother “Little Grandma” because, well, she was little!)

Beach Grandma spent every summer at Lopez with her Dalmatian, Trisha.  (To this day my family calls Dalmatians “Trisha dogs”.)  Like most dogs, Trisha loved to roll around in things – the stinkier the better!  One summer she came back to the cabin reeking of a dead fish she’d found on the beach.  It was sooooo awful!  We raced around trying to catch her, trying to keep her from rubbing up against anything, or anyone.

With no running water there was no easy way to give Trisha a bath.  Instead, Grandma quickly grabbed for a can of Lysol to neutralize the stench.  Only after spraying down the poor dog did anyone notice that the can was actually hair spray!  Good ol’ Aqua Net.  It just sealed in the odor…and all we could do was laugh and laugh until tears streamed down our faces.

On the wall at Lopez is the poster below, that my parents purchased as a young couple.  It says “the most wasted of all days is the day when we have not laughed”.  Luckily there aren’t many wasted days in my family!

Leave a comment
by justmyyarns on May 1, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Childhood, Family, Pets
Tagged , ,

Posted by justmyyarns on May 1, 2012

https://justmyyarns.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/the-most-wasted-of-all-days/

The Great Easter Egg Hunt

Easter eggs // Ostereier

Image via Wikipedia

When I was fairly young – probably about 7 – we went to my grandparents’ house for Easter.  I was looking forward to finding all the colorful foil-wrapped chocolate eggs hidden around their house – mostly because I liked the game, but also because I was the only grandchild and got to keep all the eggs for myself.

Unfortunately, grandma hadn’t had time to hide them yet.  She was busy in the kitchen (as she often was) and had passed the job – and bag of eggs – to my grandfather.  Oh yes, he of the dry wit.

I remember walking into the front room and starting to look around.  At first I didn’t see any eggs in the usual places.  None tucked behind knick-knacks, none on the table lamp, none under the coffee table.  I thought maybe they’d decided to make it harder since I was another year older.  I looked and looked and looked but couldn’t see a single egg.

I don’t think I burst into tears, but I’m pretty sure my voice edged into whiny territory.  And I’m guessing there was a pout involved too.  “Grandma, there’s no eggs!”

My grandmother came out of the kitchen and looked at my grandfather accusingly.  “I told you to hide them!”

Grandpa walked over to the fireplace, reached behind a clock on the mantle, and lifted up the bag of eggs.  Yes, the WHOLE, unopened, bag.  “I did.”

Grandma quickly shooed me out of the room and hid the eggs.  It was the best do-over ever.

Leave a comment
by justmyyarns on April 5, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Childhood, Family
Tagged , ,

Posted by justmyyarns on April 5, 2012

https://justmyyarns.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/the-great-easter-egg-hunt/

The Birds and the Bees

I’m sure everyone remembers the moment they learned about sex for the first time (fascinating? horrifying? both?). I don’t remember how old I was, but I know I hadn’t learned it in school or from a well-meaning-but-completely-misinformed friend yet.

When I was young (probably around age 7) my mom did daycare at home for a couple of younger kids. One day we built a fort in the living room with dining room chairs and bedsheets. When they went down for their afternoon nap I was still in the fort reading a book. Mom crawled inside, with a pad of paper and a pencil. She proceeded to teach me the basics about boys and girls, men and women – including illustrations (did I mention my mother was an art major?). My reaction was probably typical – “Eeeeuuwwww!!”

spedometer

We didn’t talk much more about it until I was a teenager. When I started getting into boys my mother would give me a more pointed “sex talk” – always while driving 55-MPH (there I go, dating myself again) – so there was no chance of escape. When it was just the two of us, and she turned off the car radio, I knew I was in for “the talk”. To this day I remember it word for word:

“I was the first person in our family to marry outside of my race, and that was really hard. My cousin was the first person in our family to get a divorce, and I’m sure that was hard too. I will take EITHER of those over being the first person in our family to get pregnant out of wedlock.”

Yes, ma’am!

Leave a comment
by justmyyarns on March 22, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Childhood, Family
Tagged ,

Posted by justmyyarns on March 22, 2012

https://justmyyarns.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/the-birds-and-the-bees/

They huffed and they puffed…

Flame

Flame (Photo credit: Samuelraj - Professional Photographer)

When I was around 7 years old I was playing in the garage with my best friend.  My mom was cooking, and my dad was still at work.  Jenny and I noticed something we’d never seen before.

Running into the house I yelled “Mom!  We found a tiny flame in the garage!”

Mom, distracted in the kitchen, just asked “Where, dear?”

“In the metal box along the wall, down near the floor.  We can just see it if we lean down real far.”

Mom was still distracted (did she not hear the word “flame”?).  “I’m sure it’s fine, honey.”

Disappointed in her reaction, I turned to Jenny.  “Maybe we should try and blow it out.”  We ran back into the garage and lay on the floor, pondering the flicker.

“Okay, Jenny.  On the count of three, let’s blow.  One…two…three.”

Wwwwhhhoooooosssshhhhhh!

Nothing – the flame was still there.

“Let’s try again.  One…two…three!”

Wwwwhhhhoooooooooossshhhhhhhh!!

Hmm, still nothing.

“Okay, one more time.  One!  Two!  Three!”

WWWWWHHHHHOOOOOSSSSSHHHHH!!!!!

That did it!!  We were very pleased with ourselves (and a bit lightheaded).  Running back inside, I shouted “Mom, mom, we did it!  We blew it out!!”

My mother, with realization finally dawning, said “I’m calling your father.”  After dialing (on a rotary phone…with a cord…)  “Honey, the girls just said they blew out a flame in the garage.”

Dad, realizing immediately that she was talking about the furnace’s pilot light, calmly told her “Get out of the house.  I’ll be right home.”

The gas company was skeptical (obviously they didn’t realize how much hot air two little girls could be full of) but agreed to send someone to meet him at the house.  I remember being unceremoniously rushed out.  I mean really – where was our congratulations?

Dad had to wait many years, but he finally got payback.  My husband and I were having our house painted.  Apparently the painters didn’t recognize a gas water heater vent when they saw it, and proceeded to mask it off.  My husband (not the handy one in the family) was home and it was my turn to receive a call at work – “Honey, I smell gas.”

I flashed back to that day oh so many years ago and replied “Get out of the house.  I’ll be right home.”

Leave a comment
by justmyyarns on March 15, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Childhood, Family
Tagged ,

Posted by justmyyarns on March 15, 2012

https://justmyyarns.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/they-huffed-and-they-puffed/

Poker Face and the Round-Up

English: A Round up amusement ride at Stricker...

Image via Wikipedia

My grandfather has a wicked sense of humor.  Gamblers would KILL to have his poker face.  Occasionally there’s a brief twinkle in his eye, but usually he gives nothing away.  And sometimes it’s not terribly entertaining to be the focus of that amusement…

As a kid, my mom, grandmother, and grandfather took me to a County Fair.  I distinctly remember putting money in a slot to see a chicken play the piano.

After wandering the Fairgrounds, my mother and grandmother left me with grandpa with instructions for him to “take me on the rides”.  What on earth were they thinking?!?

Grandpa bought me one ticket for a ride.  ONE.  Then he pointed at the scariest contraption I’d ever seen and said “If you ride that, I’ll buy you more tickets.”

It was called the “Round-Up“.  Riders stood in individual “cages” that circled the perimeter.  The ride spun, centrifugal force pushing you back against the outer cage wall.  The whole thing then tilted vertically on an arm so as you spun you alternated between seeing the sky and seeing the ground.  IF you had your eyes open that is…

I was TERRIFIED.  And just barely tall enough to get on the ride.  But I was stubborn too.  So I grabbed that ticket, got on that ride, and screamed my lungs out.

True to his word, grandpa bought me more tickets.  And I went on that Round-Up again, dammit!  It’s now one of my all-time favorite amusement park rides.

So take that, grandpa!

Leave a comment
by justmyyarns on March 8, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Childhood, Family
Tagged , ,

Posted by justmyyarns on March 8, 2012

https://justmyyarns.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/poker-face-and-the-round-up/

Merv Mouse Goes on a Trip

I don’t know why, but I never really pictured myself having children. Even as a kid I wasn’t one to play much with dolls, I was more into cops and robbers. As a teenager I envisioned my future self power-walking to my office in a business suit (complete with 1980’s shoulder pads) and tennis shoes, a pair of heels in my briefcase (did I mention it was the 80s?). I knew you could work and be a mom, I just never saw it for my own life. (Luckily my husband feels the same way, so we’re content with our cats.)

Several years ago my mother went through some old boxes in their basement and brought me a stack of my old school projects, report cards, and other memorabilia. In it I found a story that I wrote (and illustrated, eek!) in the 6th grade – about a country mouse who visits the city.

I think it’s hysterically insightful, particularly about what I was (and still am!) most afraid of.

Here is, word for word, what I wrote:

One day Merv Mouse wanted to go an a trip. He was tired of playing in the woods and sitting in the shade. He wanted to leave the forest and go on a trip.

Merv Mouse

Merv started out the next day. He had packed the day before and now was leaving. On his way out of the forest Merv met Sally Squirrel. Sally asked ‘Where are you going Merv?”

“I’m going on a trip!” answered Merv.

“Where are you going on your trip?” asked Sally.

Merv said “I don’t know.”

“Why don’t you go to Texas?” said Sally.

“Too far.” answered Merv.

“Well I’d like to talk but I’ve really got to go.” said Sally.

“Bye.” said Merv.

“I wonder,” thought Merv, “If I should go to California? No, too far and too busy, I’d get stepped on. I know, I’ll go to Seattle!” And with that he left to go to Seattle.

It was only a short walk but it was long for Merv because he was so small.

When Merv got to Seattle Merv was very tired. He laid down on a cold sidewalk. All of a sudden Merv heard a rumbling noise! A baby carriage was coming at him!

Well Merv took one look at the carriage and ran all the way back to the forest.

THE END

Leave a comment
by justmyyarns on March 1, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Childhood
Tagged , ,

Posted by justmyyarns on March 1, 2012

https://justmyyarns.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/merv-mouse-goes-on-a-trip/

A Sober Announcement

My Dad doesn’t drink. Alcohol, I mean – he drinks plenty of Diet Coke. But all the alcohol he’s ever consumed could fit into a wine glass. It’s only small sips of champagne at weddings, simply for form’s sake. I don’t know why. Whenever I ask he just says he “never developed a taste for it”.

One Christmas Eve morning, when I was 12 years old, I started my period for the first time. Thankfully my mother was prepared, and after my traumatized shout she took care of everything with minimal fuss. Luckily my little sister was too young to ask many questions.

That night, as is our tradition, we had dinner with my father’s side of the family. Back then it was just my Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle, baby Cousin, and my family.

After a big meal we settled into the living room to open presents. At which point my Dad (completely sober) stood in the middle of the room and announced “My daughter has just become a woman.”

Gee…thanks, Dad…

Leave a comment
by justmyyarns on February 23, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Childhood, Family

Posted by justmyyarns on February 23, 2012

https://justmyyarns.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/a-sober-announcement/

“What would you like for Christmas, little girl?”

Pink, Frilly, Girly Santa photo

My girly pink Santa photo

Until the age of 40 I had a Christmas picture taken with Santa every year.  (The only exceptions were when I was was a newborn, and at two years old – because apparently I screamed too much the year before).

When I was a kid, Santa pictures were a big deal.  For this, my parents made the once-a-year pilgrimage into the “big city” of Seattle.  Santa sat in the window of a large department store, with all the lined-up families peering in to watch the other photos being taken.  There were even microphones to pipe the audio to those outside.  We waited in line, watching and listening to the children as they told Santa their Christmas wishes.

The year I was three, my mother decked me out in a pink frilly dress, all girly and demure.  When it was my turn, Santa turned to me and asked “What would you like for Christmas, little girl?”

My pink, frilly, girly response broadcast to all those waiting?  “A dump truck.”

Darned if I didn’t get it though – a blue Tonka Dump Truck.  And I still have it!

Leave a comment
by justmyyarns on February 9, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Childhood, Family
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by justmyyarns on February 9, 2012

https://justmyyarns.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/santa/

« Older Posts

  • Just me

    Telling stories about my life.

  • Recent Posts

  • Creative Commons Copyright

    Creative Commons License
    justmyyarns is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. (Meaning you can share content for non-commercial use, but only if you give credit back to justmyyarns!)

  • Categories

  • Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

  • Archives