Things Remembered

The older I get, the harder it seems to remember important events in my life, scheduled appointments, birthdays, or even someone's name. Thank goodness we live in a technological era and that we can live off of our Palm Pilots, Treos, and crapberrys, I mean Blackberry. I recently decided to start writing some of these events down in hopes that I can continue my list and later it will help jog my memory.

Here's a short list of events that I remember and hope to retain:

My mom's 23rd birthday. I was 3. The cake was chocolate and my dad used green and white numbered candles. It was at night and he turned off the lights so that the room was dark. It was beautiful. She was 7 months pregnant with my sister.

My sister fell into our pool while my dad was mowing the lawn. He couldn't hear me screaming for him because of the lawnmower. I had to run all the way to him. She fell in with her tricycle. My dad ran and jumped right into the deep end and pulled her to safety. She was still holding on to the tricycle. She was 2.

Broke my arm when I was 9 after falling off a horse. We had just recently moved and my parents couldn't find the hospital. My mom couldn't stop crying.

My sister's glasses were accidentally thrown into the lake where we lived. My dad hooked them with his fishing line as he cast out. She is considered legally blind. My dad swam in the bottom of the lake looking for the glasses all night, knowing it took 2 weeks to order new glasses and she would go that length of time not being able to see. They were never found. I still feel terrible for him to this day. She was 6.

My first pony, Sunny, decided to stop, lie down, and roll over while I was still on him. My grandpa watched, laughing hysterically, as I thought I was going to be crushed to death. I was 11.

My dog Gatlin was hit by a car in the middle of the night when I was 8. My parents picked us up out of bed and we drove to the 24 hour vet. I was terribly embarrassed the entire time because I had worn my dad's white undershirt as pajamas that night. It was as long as a dress, but I wasn't prepared for the
public. :)

My best friend invited me on a summer vacation when I was 12. My grandfather gave me $100 privately and said "don't tell your mom I gave this to you, keep it for an emergency and just give it back if you don't use it". My mom had already packed a certain amount of money for me in envelopes marked "Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday"… etc. When I returned from my trip, I had not spent the $100, so to keep the secret I placed it in my Verve' perfume box. I kept it in my room. I planned to return it to him on Sunday after church. Two years later, I was cleaning out my room and found that box; the $100 was still in it!! I secretly returned it to him, 2 years late, and he whispered, "Just keep it".

I remember my first kiss. It was terrible!

Holding Jacob for the first time. He was warm and soft and I never wanted to let him go. And according to Tom, I most likely never will.

Seeing Tom for the first time. I remember his black leather jacket and tan skin. He was introduced to me and from that moment on, the game had begun.

The first time I saw Brody's face. He was born puckering his lips, as if he was ready to give his momma a kiss.

As I write some of these memories, I get that warm and fuzzy feeling. Maybe these memories will help on a bad day too, when I'm not feeling very warm and fuzzy.

And as my list grows, I'll be able to look back, with no pictures needed and remember my fond memories.

And one day, when I am a grandmother, I will cross off each story as I tell it. That way I don't keep repeating myself over and over and over, like most grandparents. J

Have a warm and fuzzy day!