Here we are,
coming up the one year mark of this blog.
Exciting!
I'll admit that looking back,
I've not written as much as I originally thought I would have.
However,
as I stated in the beginning,
this is really about me,
about when the urge to write hits,
about whatever happens out of my fingertips.
I sat down today to attempt to focus on some of the happier memories of my youth.
To share something positive from my childhood.
I assure you my father is not 100% evil.
He just failed me drastically as a father!
He worked two, sometimes 3 jobs at a time when I was growing up.
I understand a man needing to have a good work ethic,
needing to feel he's a good provider to his family.
I suppose that's it,
he thought he was a good father because he provided for us!
He just didn't realize that he wasn't really providing ALL we needed!
ANYWAY....
Today, happy memories!
Some of my happiest memories growing up,
the best memories ever,
are the ones where my parents didn't spend a penny!
Not the numerous trips to amusement parks,
not the hours spent at the stadium watching the Jays play,
not the almost endless camping trips,
not the seemingly never ending road trips to visit family in far away cities...
(Brockville is far away when you're a Toronto kid!)
The times I remember most fondly are the spontaneous silliness!
I remember giggle fits so intense my stomach hurt!
My step mother getting mad because we couldn't stop laughing.
Then hearing my father say to her,
"Just let them laugh,
their lives will be full of moments where they can't stop crying,
let them laugh!"
Who knew the old man was smart?!
I remember food fights during a big family dinner!
"Dad, can you pass me the potatoes"
was all it took to start it too!
And NO one was spared!
A handful of spuds, peas, spoonfuls of gravy,
whatever was on the table was game!
Advantage to coming from a big family,
clean up never fell to just one person!
It was such an awesome way to take out frustrations on each other!
Could never strike my parents,
but smash them with a handful of potatoes?
You betcha!
Back in the days before computers & video games to occupy us on a rainy day,
we ran in the rain & played in the puddles!
And what happens when the ground gets wet?
That's right, we played in the mud!
MANY photos of us covered head to toe in mud!
One warm early summer day,
June...
as each of us kids got home from school,
we'd each walk in the door one by one.
I was in the 8th grade, 13!
Walked in the door to be met by BOTH my Dad & step mother,
will a FULL pitcher of water each, and they drenched me!
"Good news, you're not the last one home,
go grab yourself a jug of water for the next one!"
That went on until each of us was home,
it was so much fun!
The best picture of my little brother Bobby standing there in the doorway SOAKED!
Bawling his eyes out!
Not because he was wet but because he couldn't throw water at anyone!
Those are some happy memories!
It would be nice to say I miss my childhood,
that because of those memories I wish I could go back...
But I don't!
And that's okay,
because I have kids too,
and I'm the queen of silly!
Honestly,
this is the first time I smiled as I wrote!
What a nice change!
coming up the one year mark of this blog.
Exciting!
I'll admit that looking back,
I've not written as much as I originally thought I would have.
However,
as I stated in the beginning,
this is really about me,
about when the urge to write hits,
about whatever happens out of my fingertips.
I sat down today to attempt to focus on some of the happier memories of my youth.
To share something positive from my childhood.
I assure you my father is not 100% evil.
He just failed me drastically as a father!
He worked two, sometimes 3 jobs at a time when I was growing up.
I understand a man needing to have a good work ethic,
needing to feel he's a good provider to his family.
I suppose that's it,
he thought he was a good father because he provided for us!
He just didn't realize that he wasn't really providing ALL we needed!
ANYWAY....
Today, happy memories!
Some of my happiest memories growing up,
the best memories ever,
are the ones where my parents didn't spend a penny!
Not the numerous trips to amusement parks,
not the hours spent at the stadium watching the Jays play,
not the almost endless camping trips,
not the seemingly never ending road trips to visit family in far away cities...
(Brockville is far away when you're a Toronto kid!)
The times I remember most fondly are the spontaneous silliness!
I remember giggle fits so intense my stomach hurt!
My step mother getting mad because we couldn't stop laughing.
Then hearing my father say to her,
"Just let them laugh,
their lives will be full of moments where they can't stop crying,
let them laugh!"
Who knew the old man was smart?!
I remember food fights during a big family dinner!
"Dad, can you pass me the potatoes"
was all it took to start it too!
And NO one was spared!
A handful of spuds, peas, spoonfuls of gravy,
whatever was on the table was game!
Advantage to coming from a big family,
clean up never fell to just one person!
It was such an awesome way to take out frustrations on each other!
Could never strike my parents,
but smash them with a handful of potatoes?
You betcha!
Back in the days before computers & video games to occupy us on a rainy day,
we ran in the rain & played in the puddles!
And what happens when the ground gets wet?
That's right, we played in the mud!
MANY photos of us covered head to toe in mud!
One warm early summer day,
June...
as each of us kids got home from school,
we'd each walk in the door one by one.
I was in the 8th grade, 13!
Walked in the door to be met by BOTH my Dad & step mother,
will a FULL pitcher of water each, and they drenched me!
"Good news, you're not the last one home,
go grab yourself a jug of water for the next one!"
That went on until each of us was home,
it was so much fun!
The best picture of my little brother Bobby standing there in the doorway SOAKED!
Bawling his eyes out!
Not because he was wet but because he couldn't throw water at anyone!
Those are some happy memories!
It would be nice to say I miss my childhood,
that because of those memories I wish I could go back...
But I don't!
And that's okay,
because I have kids too,
and I'm the queen of silly!
Honestly,
this is the first time I smiled as I wrote!
What a nice change!
