Childhood Memories

All of Us

* Me w/my new Diamondback BMX bicycle. Large plank of plywood. About 5 of dad's old car tires.

Siblings... laying on the sidewalk, side-by-side like sardines and El Bambino clearing each and every one of them. WITH millimeters to spare.

Carlos

* Visiting Tio Antonio & Tia Rosy in Dallas and thinking his truck (old, red hot rod) was the coolest thing - EVER.

* Walking to school (Paradise Valley Elementary) every day. One day, two bullies stopped us and blew cigarette smoke in my face but I FENDED them OFF with my Marvel Comics Superheroes lunch pail. "Run Carlos, RUN!" I think these kids thought I was psycho and let us go. But, I was always there to protect my lil' brother.

Claudia (Ana)

 * Dad buying us an album with colorful balloons on the cover. Out of all of the children's songs, Claudia was ADDICTED to "Johhhhhn, Jacob, Jingle, HEIMER-SCHMIDT, his name is MY name, toooooo!"

* Okay, okay... for the sake of her beating me to the punch, I'll say it (although it wasn't a GOOD memory); pushing her off our garage roof. BUT, in my defense... the grass was supposed to cushion her blow! How was I supposed to know it wouldn't? (Hey Sis, remember those tiny pebbles up on that roof, though? What was UP with that?!)

Felipe

* I remember the day mom and dad brought you home from the hospital.

I was SO anxious to give you the pillow from Mrs. Amend, my teacher. It was a brown and white pillow that looked like a dog (hound dog with big floppy ears). Mom still has that pillow. :)

* You riding on my bunny pegs as I toted you all around the neighborhood. For what it's worth, I'll always be there for you. Mean it. (Yeah, I'm feelin' kinda mushy).

* ninja dress up

* golf balls (dumping down the street)

Freddy

* Pee Wee. Nuf said!

Olga

*

Ruben

* Taking a trip down to Mexico one year after I had already been in the Service and we found a neat little statue of a man sitting cross-legged and flexing his arms (picture a midget... er, little person... trying to comb his hair and CAN'T reach).  Rubz sat down next to him and mimicked him. Spitting image!

Liking How Some Things NEVER Change.

In my last post, I mentioned my "To Do" list.

Well, in my effort to become even MORE efficient (although some prefer OCD - um... okay. I get it.),

I wanted to knock out another task.

My sister,Olgsmobile, posted this picture of Dominik (my nephew) in an outfit my mom made for him for Christmas last year.

It put a HUGE smile on my face when I saw her final product.

Click here to see why... ;)

{ Green Goblin }

 

A Spoonful of Sugar...

My parents were field workers when we first came to the states and I have fond memories of Carlos and I sitting on the tailgate of the station wagon while my mom and dad picked vegetables - working sunrise to sunset in the Minnesota fields.
 

Our only toys?
Rocks and dirt from the gravel road.
 

Then, as we came of elementary school age, my dad got "educated" (well... he went to a vocational tech school for automotive mechanics) and he was hired on by the uranium mines near Casper.
 

We moved from our white farmhouse (which we rented on the farm we lived on) to a trailer in a mobile home unit in Casper.
 

But, for us... it was moving UP in the world!
 

We had neighbors! Kids to play with. People to watch.
 

BUT...
 

It came with it's own fair share of danger, too.
 

There were now cars to be on the lookout for.

Dogs on the loose...

One day a large German Shepard chased us... barking HORRIBLY loud. We were SO frightened... mom took us inside and fed us each a spoonful of sugar.
 

Never knew why.
 

But, I CLEARLY remember the tears and sniffling quickly subsiding that afternoon.
 

The way Carlos and I looked at one another when she brought out that Tupperware dish... opening it up and he and I realizing what was happening.
"Are... WE... getting a SPOON FULL of SUGAR???"
 

Even now, it brings a smile to my face and my eyes swell as I think of the love my mom shared for us - daily.

"Love you, mom."

Green Goblin...

1st Grade.
What a time.
Just starting out in life.
As a student.
As a new friend.
As a stranger...
In a place that smells like new...
New books. New supplies. New people.

Just getting settled into the first few months.
Just getting into his "comfort" zone.
"I can do this."
"Last year was so hard."
"I didn't know how to speak this new English language."
But he learned. Very quickly, too.
Not knowing phrases like "comfort zone."
All he knew was that "it feels REALLY good to be here now."
"I'm not as scared as I was.... I can DO this."

And as with anything else that was new to his life,
It wouldn't be too long before things would change.
Halloween was upon him now and so was...
The School Play... "Ghosts and Goblins."

"How did I get myself to agree to play the Green Goblin?!"
"Of ALL characters... I had to choose the MAIN character!"
Well, since he was still in a very reserved shell,
It just worked out that way.
Ironic how you sit back and let the more assertive kids pick the parts...
"Let THEM go first. I surely am NOT going there."
... only to be left with the one part no one else had the guts to pick. Ugh.
No... double UGH.

My mom.
Oh, how I love her.
Last night. Staying up late.
Working on my costume.
I mean, doesn't everyone's mom sew their own?
Of course they do.
Not because we are poor.
I don't even know what poor means.
I mean... don't all parents work in the corn fields?
Hmmm...
Yup. Of course they do...
(mental note... get a patent for this field work concept... farm work... for 30 years down the road when fb comes out)
Loved watching her sew.
The green fuzzy material.
Yellow thread on the stitching.
Big, black buttons.
(NOT looking forward to wearing that pointy hat, though! And those SHOES?!)

The whirring of the sewing machine.
Looks so heavy!
But I love the black, cast iron look.
(reminds me of my train set that dad let's us play with on special occasions)
My favorite part, when she steps on the pedal (like a car... my mom can't even drive!)
And I watch as the chain of events unfold before my eyes.
Gears churning.
Wheels moving.
Needle poking.
Amazing.
Singer... must be the ones who make my train set.
Best part...
Of this entire process...
Watching the operator.
Studious. Concentrating. Determined to meet her timeline. Oh how she loves me.
My mom.

And after all that hard work....
I stand quietly.
Behind the large, red curtain.
On stage.
NERVOUS.
"Jose! GO!"
(oh, I am going to... how do you say... puke?)
My teacher... never seen her this way before.
Kind of funny. Yet, intimidating.
The way she is quietly yelling at us all.
Oh! At ME now!
Here I go... (gulp).

Look.
At.
All.
Those.
People.
(my face is red... stop thinking about it... making it worse)
They are chuckling.
AT ME!

Stepping out of my shell...

I go on to read my lines at this point.
For the life of me, I can never remember what those few, short lines were.
But, the feeling I felt when I was reciting them, reaching up with my hands and wiggling my ears on cue.
Hearing the roar of the audience. They are laughing WITH me!
I can do this. I LIKE this.

World.
Watch out.
Green Goblin...
Taking center stage.