Week 2: Favorite Childhood Memory

It's been over two years since I responded to this prompt, way back in 2001.  A lot of memories have surfaced over the last two years, some good, some not so good.

But this is about a favorite childhood memory.

So let me tell you about the times that my mom would go out for the evening.  I can't say how frequently this happened, but I do remember it happened often enough for me to look forward to our daddy-daughter date nights.

It was when I was between the ages of four through six.  My mom would go out for the evening, and as a special treat, my dad would let me stay up a little later than usual.  He'd put my brother to bed, and then the fun began.

We had this really old wooden chess and checker set, one where the pieces stored inside the board.  We'd sit in the kitchen, which was mostly white, and covered in white wall paper with a pointillism-like cloud pattern in greens, reds, blues, and yellows.  We'd sit at the kitchen table, which is the same kitchen table still present in my parents house.

And we'd play checkers.
Just me and my dad.

Even more special was the treat my dad gave me while we played.

Bubble gum.

The real, pink, sugary, bubble gum.  Something my mom never let me have.

We'd play a few games, with me happily chewing on a piece of gum, and then I'd get tucked into bed before mom came home, so our evening's events remained a secret just between me and my dad.

Week 2: Favorite Childhood Memories

I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to find quite a few happy childhood memories! 

(insert wavy, psychedelic, Austin Powers inspired, digitally enhanced time travel transition here)

I remember having backyard camp outs in the summer... All my friends at the time were the kids of my parents friends, and we'd sleep in sleeping bags in the tent in the backyard, roast marshmallows over the grill, and eat powdered sugar donuts for breakfast.

This was the little playground near our campiste.

I remember camping trips as a family, stopping at the IGA on the way to the campground, it was a great old fashioned place and no camping trip was complete without a stop there.

Mini version - just right for little hands!

I remember Saturday mornings, where my parents slept in and we got to get our own breakfast, which was specially set up the night before.  They would leave bowls and spoons set at the table and our favorite cereal boxes waiting for us. There were little pitchers of milk in the fridge with just the right amount of milk for our little hands to carefully carry to the table and pour ourselves. I always felt quite grown up those mornings!

I remember sitting in my room, entertaining myself for hours with my record player and records and books and crayons. Captain Jane was my favorite record, and years and years later, when I actually found the book that went with the record, I could hear the record playing in my mind as I read and couldn't help but smile.

I remember escaping into the world of books, from the time I was in grade school until now. Books have always been an escape for me... as I joined Francie Nolan in Brooklyn while reading from atop a perch in my favorite tree... Ramona as she skipped along Klickitat street in her musical shoes... Kristy and her babysitters club full of big ideas...
 
I remember fun babysitters we had, who were practically family... visiting my favorite Aunt where she always had animal crackers and tootsie rolls for us...
going to the sledding hill at the park... building forts out of couch cushions and blankets...  reading Calvin and Hobbes on the back porch with my neighbor... roller skating in the basement... playing on the swings for hours on end... picking raspberries from the neighbors garden...snuggling with my favorite blanket on the couch in front of the fireplace...

I like ending on a positive note, so I'll just wrap it up there...