My Favorite Childhood Memories

I wrote today’s post as part of the WOW-Women on Writing’s “Everybody’s Talking About Favorite Childhood Memories” mass-blogging event celebrating the release of Finding Emma by Steena Holmes (www.steenaholmes.com).

Steena is a woman who believes that 'in the end, all things succumb...to the passions of your heart'. Steena's life revolves around her family, friends and fiction. Add some chocolate into the mix and she's living the good life. She took those passions and made them a dream come true by pouring her heart into each of her stories.

Finding Emma has quickly become a bestseller. Proceeds from each book will be donated to The Missing Children's Society of Canada - an organization dedicated to reuniting families. Visit www.mcsc.ca for more information.

If you comment on today’s post on this blog or any of the others participating the "Everybody’s Talking About Favorite Childhood Memories" day, you’ll be entered to win a signed copy of Finding Emma! 

To read Steena’s about childhood memories and view a list of other blogs participating in the "Everybody’s Talking About Favorite Childhood Memories" day please visit http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

I am blessed with artillery of wonderful childhood memories. Each time I started this blog, another story infiltrated my thoughts. I stopped and prayed for the Lord to help me choose the one to post, as part of today’s tour yet not one seemed to stand out in comparison.

Over the past, couple weeks I have looked through some of my Gram and Aunt Nancy’s old photo albums. Many pictures have been scanned for future blogs while others simply brought a smile to my face and memories to the surface. Although not all the scanned photos will be shared on the blog, they did help me determine my favorite childhood memory.

Drum roll please…

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The favorite childhood memory I will share is a location, not an event. Double digits of photo albums helped me realize with the exception of some memories, most involved my family and time spent at my Gram and Aunt’s house. Gram’s farmhouse was the hub of our family activities.

Instead of telling you about the time my father taught me to drive his new rider lawnmower only to watch me run into and up his woodpile, I have decided to focus on memories of Gram’s house. In case you are wondering, I did not mow the lawn again. If anything, Dad encouraged me not to help.

Do you remember when businesses were closed on Sunday? I do. Instead of running errands or going out to dinner, our entire family gathered next door at my Gram’s. No one need RSVP, just show up. If you had friends over, bring them with. Gram and my aunts took care of the food and drinks. This was a time to come together and enjoy each other’s company.

The adults played cards, watched television, or simply visited around the kitchen table. The kids retreated to either the front porch or the attic when the weather was bad but if we could be outside, we were. Swimming, hide and seek, running in the pasture, and kick ball were some of our favorites. As if this was not enough, Gram always made sure there was a family activity for us to do. Sometimes this was done ahead and judged on Sunday and others, we did it once there.

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The best part about Gram’s house, we did not have to wait until Sunday to be there. My cousins Missy and Shawnacy and my sister Heidi, and I were at Gram’s house one day when the power went out. Although it was daylight, our drama intensified because it was dark in the house.  Gram knew how to solve this problem.

“Girls, if you make a tent in the living room using the extra sheets and blankets, you won’t notice how dark it is.”

We didn’t need her to tell us twice, we got to work. She even let us rearrange the furniture. The dark stairwell of horror from earlier became a rescue tunnel as we ascended with flashlights to find treasures hidden in the linen closet. With our tent complete, we hauled in books, crayons, paper, coloring books, and our flashlights. I do not know how long we were in there but time did not matter anymore, and neither did the lack of electricity.

Before we knew it, Gram leaned with a plate of her chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies for us. Gram replenished our empty dish a couple times before we realized something was not right. Without a word, we exited our hideaway and transitioned to towards the kitchen surrounded by darkness until we neared the kitchen. Light and the aroma of Gram’s cookies greeted us half way.

“When did the lights come on? Why didn’t you tell us?”

Gram smiled and laughed at us. Her only reply, “How did you think I made the cookies? I thought you would figure it out.”

We all laughed now, until my Aunt Nancy returned.

We stayed in the kitchen with Gram while she entered the living room. “Girls, what happened in here?”

Before we could speak, Gram came to our rescue. “Leave them alone, I told them to do it.”

Gram to the rescue so we did not get in trouble. Aunt Nancy helped us clean up and never complained about the mess again, at least to us.

My favorite childhood memories reside on County Route 6A at my Gram’s and parent’s homes. I pray my daughter will look back someday and have difficulty choosing just one too.

Do you have a favorite childhood memory?

Will you share with us today?

To read my book review of Finding Emma ~ read my blog June 14th.  

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