A brief look into my childhood

Memory of birth is foggy. The earliest recollections are around age two, what a cute baby. Running and jumping joyously in the light fluffy snow, swimming, walking, playing ball--ah these are memories of growing up in Thornton--especially one Christmas.

The brisk winds whipped the snow into a powdery playground of memories-memories of a birthday party--MINE! My birthday is right after Christmas-January 10th to be exact. Something was different this time. Dad was putting suitcases in the old Kaiser. Mom was all bubbly and bright, smiling and talking about her sister. What sister? Mom was an only child or so I thought.

Rhode Island--what was a Rhode Island and why did we have to go there? Doesn't anyone know it's my birthday in five days? Who cares about seeing relatives and sights--I just want to see candles, cake and presents!

Well, I'm gonna see Rhode Island whether I want to or not! Mile after mile the long black ribbon weaved in and out, up and down until finally squeaking and rattling the car rumbled to a stop. Without warning, this woman looking just like mom liked to have gotten me sopping wet with kisses. "Come on in and take a load off," she shouted. Who was that?

"That would be Mom's sister, Aunt Georgie," said Johnny.

Georgie, that's a boy's name but who am I to question old people. Johnny's smart for an eleven-year-old. I'll just stay outside and play in the snow. I'm going to make a snow Angel and call her Andrina. She's my special friend. She watches over me. She wouldn't forget my birthday! Of course that's another story, "what's chicken pox?" Aunt Georgie said all the kids have chicken pox. I wonder if I'll like chicken pox! Hope they have enough to share.

Mmmm-something sure smelled good. It smelled like apples and peppermint. Wow, let me in that's gotta be my cake. It is-it has my name on it. Snow angels will have to wait. Look at all those presents! And everyone was singing happy birthday to me. Come on let's open presents.

WHAT--oh no, Mom never said anything about sleeping here. What if I wet the bed? Well, if I do, I'll blame it on the kid sleeping with me.

Dad said we're going to New York City in a couple days. We're going to see some building called the Empire State Building. He said from the top of it you can see for hundreds of miles. Wonder if I can see home. I missed Grandma a lot. We used to live with them when I was two. Grandma prayed a lot. She taught me how to pray.

Ah-memories, how I love them! Can you imagine running away from home at age two? I sure can't; but I did. I guess I just wanted to see the world.

Mom said we were living on the Irv Brogan farm. That's where my Dad and Grandpa worked. Irv owned one of the largest turkey farms in Iowa. Grandpa said they were rich.

Irv has four kids, a boy, James, and three girls, Sarah, Mary and Jean. James had all kinds of toys. One was especially nice. The most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It was a bright shiny red trike with silver trim. Mom said all I ever did was ask to ride that trike. Then one day I just got on that trike and rode away.

Mom tells the story like this: The Johnson's from a couple farms south found me on their way to town. I fell asleep along side the road. I still had the trike. It was mine-I had laid claim to it.

"Why isn't that the little Miles girl from the Brogan farm?" said Mrs. Johnson. (Mom and Dad thought my long curly hair was so beautiful they just couldn't cut it. So, I was mistaken for a girl quite often.)

"I believe it is," said Mr. Johnson.

Well, they picked me up and brought me back to the farm. Everyone was excited to see me. The Johnson's said I was about a quarter of a mile away. Didn't get far did I?

Mom said she remembered Grandma saying a prayer and then singing Red Foley's new song, "Peace in the Valley," just as the Johnson's car pulled in the drive way. Mom said Grandpa bought me a tricycle after that! A red and white one with silver fenders and white spokes.

Colossians 3:20, "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord."

Ephesians 6:1, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."