LJ Idol Topic 4.1: Favorite Childhood memory

[puppetmaker]

This was a tough one for me to do. Not for the reasons that most people have. I had a great childhood. I have so many good memories from that time that it is very hard to pick one. I was very luck in the parent department and I know it. Both of my parents are still living and still married to each other for more than 45 years.

When I was young, my mother took care of me. I spent a lot of time with her like my daughter spends with me. We did the things that needed to be done around the house and she would play with me. We did lots of crafts together. We baked cookies and cakes. We did all those lovely domestic things that make for an enjoyable childhood.

In the summer we would visit both sets of grandparents who lived in Ohio. I didn't know until later how big Ohio was and how long it took to drive from Akron to Bridgeport. But they kept us amused in the car. My maternal grandmother had a working farm. She boarded cattle for people in town. She had an incredible strawberry patch along with blue and black berry bushed and red raspberry thicket.

Those summer vacations at the farm are probably some of my favorite memories of my childhood. I remember how proud I was that I was finally strong enough to pump well water. There were a couple of dogs on the farm that served as herders and guard dogs. My favorite was a little brown dog named Happy. I couldn't have a pet because my father was allergic to animal fur but for that week I had a dog because Happy would follow me around the farm. I can remember going out on the porch after dinner and then having to go back in and get the adults because the deer were in the garden or one of the cows got out. I learned that you don't name farm animals because eventually they will be part of your dinner. I learned how to pick vegetables and fruit and how to tell if they were any good or just going into the bucket for the cows dinner.

There is nothing like eating fruit just picked off the vine or bush when it is still warm from the sun. I am spoiled in terms of how tomatoes should really taste.

We always had plenty to eat and a lot of room to play. These are my fondest childhood memories and they still bring a smile to my face when I think about them. I still use the lessons I learned on the farm to this day and am grateful that I had that time to just be a kid with a dog and a lot of land to run around on.

Comments

[rosepurr.livejournal.com]

I, too, loved my summers on the farm. These are great memories. Thanks for sharing them with us!

[anchasta.livejournal.com]

Simple and sweet!

[popfiend.livejournal.com]

Amen.

[elva-undine.livejournal.com]

Lovely! I never appreciated those simple pleasures until I was older; how wonderful that you could enjoy them so young. :)

[lilmissmagic71.livejournal.com]

there are many special lessons you can only learn on a working farm... thanks for sharing your memories!

[1-rhiannon-1.livejournal.com]

I learned that you don't name farm animals because eventually they will be part of your dinner.
I always had a problem with that - I insisted on naming every animal we ever had and just couldn't cope with the thought of Spot ending up as dinner =S I really enjoyed reading this! =)

[wildcatwrites.livejournal.com]

Summers spent on a farm are just great aren't they!

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

That sounds like so much fun - thanks for sharing!

[wherdafux-d-cat.livejournal.com]

I am spoiled in terms of how tomatoes should really taste.

Hear, hear!!