OK, I admit, I've gotten away from the healthy dieting thread. There is a method to my madness. I'll get back to you on what that method is. :-)
Today, I was in the car with Emma, her friend Sofia, Lee, and his friend, Max. We were driving home from a soccer game that I coached along with a great assistant coach. The kids were high on game endorphins and talking nonstop.
Emma and Sofia were telling me about their adventures during Lee's game. We were in a small town in WV, and the field borders a small stream and a large mountain. The girls went exploring when we were playing, and they were full of stories of why they were wet up to their knees, how Emma saved Sofia's life, and how Sofia saved Emma's life. They also found many mystical creatures and endangered species while they were exploring. Sofia suggested that they write down the stories of the cool adventures that they have had together and call it the "Best Friends Scrapbook." I was grinning from ear to ear.
I told the kids that these are the things that they'll always remember. Being on the soccer team with their best friends. Exploring the woods with their best friends. Emma and another really close friend were exploring the woods about 4 years ago, and they both found a creek. They were 6 and wanted to go in, so we just let them take their clothes off and play. They had a blast, and now, 4 years later, they are still talking about it and remembering it fondly.
It got me remembering some of my fonder memories from childhood, and I thought I'd share.
I remember living on Halley Street in Erie, PA, when I was less than 5 years old. We lived across an alley from an ice cream place. The alley was paved in asphalt shingles, and in the summer, they got really hot and squishy. I sooo remember the smell of the tar combined with the smell of the fresh cones and ice cream from the shop. I remember that on VERY special occasions, my parents would let me go there and get ice cream. I would get vanilla with those sweet nut crunchy things on top. I'll never taste anything so good, I don't think, as long as I live.
I remember living on Station Road in Erie, PA. One great memory was staging a play - The Fox and the Grapes- with my brother and some friends of ours, the Laroux's. We invited the entire neighborhood and they all came. We charged 25 cents or something, and put on a great production. It was one of the few times that my brother and I worked together without trying to kill each other! Also, at that address, I remember laying in the back of my father's old pick up truck and staring at the sky. I was convinced that I was staring at Aurora Boorealis (sp?) I also remember walking with my brother and my best friend, Jill in the woods behind that house. We heard a really loud, horrible noise. We thought it was a bear. We started running really hard out of the forest. I tripped and fell, and Timmy picked me up and kept running. Jill was 2 years older than me, so she could run faster. Turns out, it was a wreck on the interstate near us, but is sure sounded like a bear!
I remember travelling back East with my family when I was 12 or so. We went to Ohio for a family reunion with my mother's family. My cousin, Matt, and I got to know each other a lot better on that vacation. Mostly, I remember walking with Matt through the forest around his house. We found all kinds of cool vegetation and fauna. I wasn't used to the lush forest environment - growing up in Texas - it was WAY cool.
I remember so much from my life in Texas. I had great friends and great times. I loved laying in my brother's pick up truck and staring at the stars. NOTHING is as beautiful as the night sky in Texas. As I got older, I loved sharing that with my boyfriend at the time. (I didn't have a lot of boyfriends, mind you. I was really a one guy girl.) It was so very peaceful. I would often go out there and write poetry. (Yes, I was THAT girl) I also loved going to lake Amistad with my friends - especially Ramon (who is now deceased, and missed every day). We would take a half 55 gallon barrel, put a grate on it, cook fajitas, and drink beer. We had so many great nights at the lake doing that.
College was a blur of some of the most wonderful times of my life. Many of those wonderful memories surround the Delta Tau Delta (Phil's frat) house and the brothers there. I couldn't even begin to list the wonderful memories I have from then. I will, however, relay the best one. Phil and I had been dating for about a year. We used to sneak out the window in the bathroom of the restroom on the top floor and sit on the roof together. (Lots of people did). From there, we had a great view of the campus and McDonough field where they would have concerts and such. One night, we were out there by ourselves - again, looking at the stars - sitting on a cheap lounge chair. Phil had his arms around me, and he'd been quiet for a while. He finally said, "You know what? I think I love you." I said, "I think I love you too." He kissed me, and we've been blissfully happy ever since. Of all my wonderful memories from college, this is still the best.
I have so many more stories to tell about our marriage, kids, life in general. These are just some of them that stood out when I was telling my kids to enjoy this time with their friends - these are the things we'll always remember.
Dr. Mindy
Today, I was in the car with Emma, her friend Sofia, Lee, and his friend, Max. We were driving home from a soccer game that I coached along with a great assistant coach. The kids were high on game endorphins and talking nonstop.
Emma and Sofia were telling me about their adventures during Lee's game. We were in a small town in WV, and the field borders a small stream and a large mountain. The girls went exploring when we were playing, and they were full of stories of why they were wet up to their knees, how Emma saved Sofia's life, and how Sofia saved Emma's life. They also found many mystical creatures and endangered species while they were exploring. Sofia suggested that they write down the stories of the cool adventures that they have had together and call it the "Best Friends Scrapbook." I was grinning from ear to ear.
I told the kids that these are the things that they'll always remember. Being on the soccer team with their best friends. Exploring the woods with their best friends. Emma and another really close friend were exploring the woods about 4 years ago, and they both found a creek. They were 6 and wanted to go in, so we just let them take their clothes off and play. They had a blast, and now, 4 years later, they are still talking about it and remembering it fondly.
It got me remembering some of my fonder memories from childhood, and I thought I'd share.
I remember living on Halley Street in Erie, PA, when I was less than 5 years old. We lived across an alley from an ice cream place. The alley was paved in asphalt shingles, and in the summer, they got really hot and squishy. I sooo remember the smell of the tar combined with the smell of the fresh cones and ice cream from the shop. I remember that on VERY special occasions, my parents would let me go there and get ice cream. I would get vanilla with those sweet nut crunchy things on top. I'll never taste anything so good, I don't think, as long as I live.
I remember living on Station Road in Erie, PA. One great memory was staging a play - The Fox and the Grapes- with my brother and some friends of ours, the Laroux's. We invited the entire neighborhood and they all came. We charged 25 cents or something, and put on a great production. It was one of the few times that my brother and I worked together without trying to kill each other! Also, at that address, I remember laying in the back of my father's old pick up truck and staring at the sky. I was convinced that I was staring at Aurora Boorealis (sp?) I also remember walking with my brother and my best friend, Jill in the woods behind that house. We heard a really loud, horrible noise. We thought it was a bear. We started running really hard out of the forest. I tripped and fell, and Timmy picked me up and kept running. Jill was 2 years older than me, so she could run faster. Turns out, it was a wreck on the interstate near us, but is sure sounded like a bear!
I remember travelling back East with my family when I was 12 or so. We went to Ohio for a family reunion with my mother's family. My cousin, Matt, and I got to know each other a lot better on that vacation. Mostly, I remember walking with Matt through the forest around his house. We found all kinds of cool vegetation and fauna. I wasn't used to the lush forest environment - growing up in Texas - it was WAY cool.
I remember so much from my life in Texas. I had great friends and great times. I loved laying in my brother's pick up truck and staring at the stars. NOTHING is as beautiful as the night sky in Texas. As I got older, I loved sharing that with my boyfriend at the time. (I didn't have a lot of boyfriends, mind you. I was really a one guy girl.) It was so very peaceful. I would often go out there and write poetry. (Yes, I was THAT girl) I also loved going to lake Amistad with my friends - especially Ramon (who is now deceased, and missed every day). We would take a half 55 gallon barrel, put a grate on it, cook fajitas, and drink beer. We had so many great nights at the lake doing that.
College was a blur of some of the most wonderful times of my life. Many of those wonderful memories surround the Delta Tau Delta (Phil's frat) house and the brothers there. I couldn't even begin to list the wonderful memories I have from then. I will, however, relay the best one. Phil and I had been dating for about a year. We used to sneak out the window in the bathroom of the restroom on the top floor and sit on the roof together. (Lots of people did). From there, we had a great view of the campus and McDonough field where they would have concerts and such. One night, we were out there by ourselves - again, looking at the stars - sitting on a cheap lounge chair. Phil had his arms around me, and he'd been quiet for a while. He finally said, "You know what? I think I love you." I said, "I think I love you too." He kissed me, and we've been blissfully happy ever since. Of all my wonderful memories from college, this is still the best.
I have so many more stories to tell about our marriage, kids, life in general. These are just some of them that stood out when I was telling my kids to enjoy this time with their friends - these are the things we'll always remember.
Dr. Mindy
No comments:
Post a Comment