Friday, April 13, 2012

l is for little


i was thinking about my grand-kids today and remembering how i felt when i was their ages and of some of the special things i recall of those days---

it 's funny the things that stick out in a child's mind---like the day my aunt came to stay with us for a couple of days----i was her favorite, for some reason----she would always tell me when we were leaving my grandmother's house, her sister---”try to be good love”--

this one visit we went to the movies, i don't even know what we saw, but i remember vividly, stopping in the standard drug store after and dancing around in my black patent leather shoes, making them tap---i can still see the green smocked dress i wore---it was one of the best days ---

another memory is of my mother's mother, we went picking peaches---it was a hot day and i didn't really like peaches all that much, but again it was a grand day---

there are other days that i think about as very memorable but not particularly pleasant---

i have a vague recollection of being at the state fair—i was holding my daddy's hand ,when a man came up to me—my dad had his head turned looking at something---there was lots of noise---the man tried to take my other hand and pull me toward him---i drew back and huddled against my daddy---i don't think i ever said a word about this until just a few years ago---

another memory is forever a mystery, as both of my parents have no idea what i am talking about---i have tried many times during the past couple of decades, to jog their minds back to this night----

we were in an older hospital in our city---my grandfather was sick or either having some sort of surgery—that i am not certain of at all-----i remember the grand waiting area---which of course was where i had to stay----my mom and dad took turns with us while one visited with my grandfather--

there was this other mother and father and i guess a younger sister in the waiting area also---they had an older daughter who was a patient in the hospital—she was allowed, i assume now, because the younger sister couldn't visit on the floor----to visit in the waiting area---

i can see this girl now, at the time i would have said or maybe my mother told me, that she was around 17 to 19 years of age----she had a long pink robe on and lots of curly dark hair—she was very tall--

but what i have always wanted to know—is this-----my mother was so very grave about what was wrong with the girl, and it was like a hush hush situation----i inquired over and over at the time—as to what was wrong with the girl----i wondered was she pregnant ---had she tried to commit suicide---i am not sure what i think it was---but it has left an indelible impression to this day

so we never know what days may hold a memory for our children or grandchildren—not the birthdays or Christmases but the every day bit of time we don't even see except when we are little-

50 comments:

  1. That's so true! Sometimes I look at my kids, who are 2 and 5, and think to myself that it's sad that they won't remember some of the fun things they've been doing--but you're right. Maybe they will. :)

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  2. they very well could--if it's something we don't remember!

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  3. I think that kids can remember things in their cells. We took our son to disney land when he was 3, he is 7 now and can't remember a thing, but he does remember he was happy.

    I don't remember many gifts I got as a kid, or lots of vacations, but I do remember the special times I spent with the adults in my life.

    Kids remember the strangest things, but I think more than anything they remember the time spent with them, not the money spent on them.

    Great post Lynn!

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  4. i agree, it's the little things and yes they do remember strange things, things, we don't even notice sometimes--thanks zebsmom!

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  5. You did great with writing memories from being little; very interesting about the hospital memories. I did recently ask son what he remembers from certain times of his young life with our different moves; I have his earliest memory at about three years old.

    That was scary about the guy at the fair. I'm sure that stayed with you a lot through the years and influenced how you stayed close to your parents when out and about.

    enjoy the day

    betty

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    1. i am sure it did have lots to do with my wanting to be close to my parents, when we were in public--you bring to mind a time, when this may have been what was going on---there was a long long line at the grocery check out---my mom had finished checking out and i was stuck behind the basket---i started freaking out--i remember how the cashier reprimanded me for being such a baby, it was horrible---thanks for commenting!

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  6. Interesting. I have very short, specific flashbulb memories like that, too. I've probably forgotten bigger events in my life, but remember the little things like that much clearer.

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  7. Nice post - great to meet you through A to Z!
    I wonder about some of my memories from when I was young. Photographs trigger many memories, but then I wonder how much is really remembered, and how mych my writer's mind fills in...

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    1. could be very true--hazards or benefits of being a writer, huh ;)

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  8. It's interesting how much or how little we remember about certain things. Saying hello from the A - Z blog
    http://sallys-scribbles.blogspot.co.uk/

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  9. I love writing from a child's perspective as their world is so tactile-- at least when they are really little. Too little yet to experience true hurts that distract them from the joys of the moment.

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  10. Those 'little' memories can be strange but heartwarming.

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  11. So true. One can never predict the lasting impressions we receive and put upon our children. Excellent post.
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  12. Great post, in part because it can't help but propel us into our own memories of being a child. It is so crazy what we do and don't remember! To encourage the parents of small kids - perhaps even if they don't remember specific events from their very early days, they will have a general impression of having been loved. That's good enough, don't you think?!

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    1. yes, it's more than good enough--thanks elaine :)

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  13. The interesting thing about memories from my early days is that often my mother can't recall anything like that happening. But memories are like that. What one person recalls vividly, another can't recall at all.

    I loved your mention of picking peaches. Those kinds of simple shared moments are precious.

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    1. i know, isn't that funny about memories---yes the simple things can sometimes seen like the best memories--thanks for reading :)

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  14. I love this post. Isn't it funny what we remember. I find myself remembering more of my childhood since I have gotten older.

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    1. i remember more too, and my daughter is always wanting my dad to relate old stories to her---thanks :)

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  15. Great post, Lynn...thanks for the trip down memory lane!

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  16. 'i have a vague recollection of being at the state fair—i was holding my daddy's hand ,when a man came up to me—my dad had his head turned looking at something---there was lots of noise---the man tried to take my other hand and pull me toward him---i drew back and huddled against my daddy---i don't think i ever said a word about this until just a few years ago---'

    Wow, that is frightening!

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    1. i remember being frozen against my father--i guess maybe i tried to tug at my dad to tell him--i don't really know--like i said, it was so much noise--thanks for reading!

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  17. I often wonder what my children will remember when they are older. I have many of those "little" memories, too.

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    1. i know my kids remember every little thing i did wrong!!

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  18. You remember a lot! I think a lot of people assume that young children don't remember things, but I disagree. I think children take in a lot more than what we give them credit for.

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    1. i think they must too---yes right now i have a great long term memory!

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  19. Wow! What an unusual memory (in the hospital waiting room). Obviously it made an impact for you to remember the girl so vividly. It's likely you'll never know what the circumstances were. You know, this post kind of gives me hope that just when you think no one remembers you, a stranger just might.

    :) Have a grand weekend! Thank you for sharing with us.

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    1. i hadn't thought of it that way---that's kinda neat---thanks, you have a great one too :)

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  20. Sometimes my cousin reminds me of little pieces and memories while she stayed with us when she was about6 years. I can't even remember those memories. The memory does hold alot. sometimes something triggers the mind and bam!the memory flows.

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  21. Great post and how true it is. We never know what kids will store in their memory banks.
    until next time... nel

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  22. thanks for reading, nel--yeah until then :)

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  23. Yes I'm constantly amazed at the less than pleasant thoughts that seem to be so vividly recalled while the many sunny filled days of innocence glom together in a blur, perhaps the element of adversity tends to help us learn?

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  24. that could be true--not exactly the same, but you always hear, that we learn more from our failures than our successes

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  25. Great memories, Lynn. What was wrong with the girl intrigues me. It's amazing what we retain. :)

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  26. i know, i wish i knew---if i had to say, i would guess, she had tried to commit suicide --thanks jennifer

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  27. Thanks for stirring up some lovely old memories. I don't remember any holidays with my grandparents but I remember the porch swing, the creek with crayfish in and playing under the grape vines.

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  28. Memory is a difficult thing, what we remember, what we don't. I know the more stressed I am, the less I remember, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. :) The good memories are worth remembering.
    Kate
    Follow & A to Z Visit http://whenkateblogs.blogspot.com/

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  29. Very introspective post, Lynn. One person's internal rating system may not be the same as the next person's.

    Some of those memories help us form our principles, when what we see meshes with what 'feels right'.

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  30. D.G. put it well: introspective. It is funny what we remember and what we don't. The things that stick in our mind forever. I hope that life was no so sad for that girl you remember.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z

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