My Personal Childhood Web

This is a picture of my grandmother and me at her 80th birthday party.  My grandmother was the most influential person in my childhood.  She is the one who gave me unconditional love until she passed.  I was twelve when she died and inconsolable.  I had to repeat kindergarten because I went to so many places with her and missed much school. That didn't happen as much the 2nd time around.  Some of my favorite memories are shopping and stopping at Friendly's Ice Cream Shop with her.   She would always order a chocolate cream soda and I would have an ice cream cone. She marked my milestones by taking me to fancier restaurants as I became old enough to eat in them.  My favorite memory is going from Connecticut to Utah by car with my parents, my sisters and my Grammy.  She was a generous person and passed this value onto me.  She was a beloved teacher and influenced me to be a teacher. She also spent hours playing card games with me and I love playing card games even now. This is the only picture I have of her and me together.
This is the only picture I have of my parents. I developed a love for music from my father.  My father can play the piano, the organ, the trumpet, the accordion, acoustic guitar and singing saw all by ear.  I grew up listening to him play the same song in different arrangements and keys mostly on the piano.  I am able to transpose songs very easily because of listening to him.  Whenever I visit with him, we sing together while he plays.  We go to the assisted living facility my mom is in and sing for her and her fellow housemates on Thurs. evenings.  I also loved the few times, we would play strategic games together when I was supposed to be sleeping but wasn't. I also loved our camping trips to the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  I love camping and canoeing to this day.  We also liked exploring caves and sailing together throughout my childhood.  My husband and I like hiking, canoeing and caving together.  My father could at times make me feel special during my pre-teen years by spending time with me and encouraging me to do things better.  He came to most of my recitals and choir performances.  We would spend many happy times singing duets together.  

My mother has great sense of humor.  She can still make me laugh with her even when I want to cry as she now has alzheimers.  My mother drove my grandmother and me on our road trips.  My mother and I were very close until my grandmother passed away.  One of my favorite childhood memories, is spending time with my mom and my grandmother in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.  We went to a clambake and lobster fest, took a pontoon boat ride around the Harbor and had fun swimming and playing at the beach.  My mother instilled a sense of exploration in me as we would sometimes get in the car and just follow roads going nowhere but enjoying the scenery.  I loved the impromtu foliage trips to New York state and getting fresh smoked cheese and meat from a small farm. My mom was a caterer for the Lion's Club and I would help her set up the tables and carry utensils.  She could cook for large crowds of people and I have a tough time cooking for two but no problems cooking for a crowd. She and I were able to go to Ireland in the early stages of her alzheimers.  I am so grateful that I had that time with her as I was able to bond with her, adult to adult.

 My Uncle Ronny was another adult who gave me unconditional love.  He also instilled in me his love for politics and his love for animals.  My cousins would bring home any hurt young animal they found.  We took care of kittens, birds, baby skunks, dogs, cows and calfs and other animals.  I loved going to his house and play with all the animals.  Due to my sister's allergies, we couldn't have any pets for long at my own house.  I can remember many of the cats at my uncle's house.  When I was in the fourth grade, I borrowed one of his cats for a science project.  I had researched the anatomy of cats and drew the skelelton of a cat, labeling all the major bones.  I have 4 cats, a dog and a pet blue jay.  All of these animals are either strays, rescued from neglectful owners or wounded when young.  My uncle was a newspaper publisher and would publish stories about civil rights, write editorials standing up for the underdog in high profile cases.  He would  stand up for me when my sisters picked on me or tried to be my parents.  My uncle taught me compassion for those less fortunate especially animals.  He also taught me to stand up for those who didn't have a voice like children with disabilities.  I took care of him once a week after his chemo treatments when he developed cancer and he showed me the dangers of smoking.  I don't smoke because of the pain he went through.

My friend, Donna, is still a part of my life.  We met when we were both 13 years old.  She has spina bifida and gets around in a wheelchair.  Her home was a safe haven for me when I needed to be away from my own home.  She let me talk to her about the loss of my grandmother and we went through similar crushes on boys.  She inspired me to see beyond labels put on people.  I never thought of her as handicapped and still don't.  There were many times I would ask her if she was ready to walk to the nurse's office where she received assistance after lunch, and she would always reply, "you walk, I'll roll."  Her mother drove her from South Carolina to Florida this past Dec. so they could both be here for me as I underwent major surgery.  Donna and I went shopping the day before my surgery and helped me pick out nightgowns to wear while recuperating.  She listened while I poured out my fears and rejoiced with me when the Dr. said he felt that my ovarian cysts were benign and I didn't (and don't ) have cancer.  Donna and I have helped each other through many tough things. She has held jobs off and on throughout her life.  Many times, she has reassured me that I am a worthwhile person despite the turmoil with my own family.