Childhood Memories

This is a picture of me (the red headed baby) and my family. All but my little brother who hadn't been born yet.

Pretending to be asleep as you hear the rustling of cellophane while the "Easter Bunny" sits your basket of goodies at the foot of your bed then softly tiptoes out. Running through the yard searching for Easter eggs.   Patiently waiting for the ice cream that my father laboriously hand cranked on the Fourth of July. Enjoying the fireworks in the front yard later that night.    Finally deciding on just the right costume for Halloween then going trick or treating in the neighborhood with your friends.    Going in the woods with my siblings to pick the perfect Christmas tree,then dragging it home. Mom always had homemade hot chocolate waiting for us. (None of that instant stuff,but with Hershey's Cocoa and marshmallows...MMMMM!)  Hearing the sound of jingling bells and finding a bag of candy that an "elf" (secretly my father) had left on the stairs for us to find. Gathering with the whole family on Christmas Eve anxiously awaiting the ringing of the "sleigh bell"  to announce Santa's arrival.                       Everyone's birthday was celebrated with a cake,ice cream and punch. There were never fancy or expensive gifts but that never mattered.  In the summertime we were outdoors playing tag,chasing lighting bugs,having sleepovers at our cousins.             I vividly remember a conversation I overheard between my parents when I was six years old. My father told my mother that he would love to paint me,but I would never be still enough. My father was a wonderful artist. But in my mind I pictured him sneaking into my room at night and dumping a can of paint on me. So for weeks I slept with one eye open! I never conveyed that fear to my parents.           It all seems so simple now as I look back. We never had much in the way of money,but the love we felt and the fun we shared as a family meant more to me than a vault full of gold.                             Reminiscing about my childhood of course makes me think of my dear parents and my beloved sister Janice,whom since have passed. I miss them so much,but they will forever live in my memories.

Reviews

[Tammy Hatfield]

Thank you Kim. This is the first one I wrote. Actually I wrote them all in one night ( except the one about The One) LOL

[Moon Torbett]

Tradition, endearment, and the humorous child's misunderstanding are a delicious recipe - I like this one best!

[Tammy Hatfield]

Thank you so much,Samuel Dickens! You are my first and only review. You were very kind and I appreciate that. That was the very first thing that I have ever written. My daughter said that it was good enough to share,so thank you again!

[Samuel Dickens]

This is great. Reminiscing about one's younger days can not only be cathartic for the writer, but it leaves a priceless record for future generations. I do this a lot, myself. Your writing is very good and easy to read. I especially enjoyed the bit about your fear of being "painted".