Memories

[Zazzy]

I was talking with some friends over drinks a few days ago, and they were discussing their earliest memories, and seemed to have a lot of them from very early on. I don't. I can't even begin to think of my first cogent memory, and sometimes I wonder how much of what I remember is actually memories and how much is constructed around family photos.

But I started to think about BIG childhood memories- the ones where I grew up a little and learned a life lesson. I have a crystal clear memory of being about 7 years old, and pitching a hissy fit in a chinese restaurant, and being suddenly and awfully aware that I was too old for that kind of behavior and that I was embarrassing myself. I must have had lots of public tantrums and never felt embarrassed by them before that, but that was the day I learned public shame over my own behavior.

What memories do you fine folks have of big realizations in your childhood- those moments that changed you?

[Chad32]

I remember grade school pretty well. Probably the most memorable thing in kindergarten was the teacher, and the fact that she used this plate on a stick as a visual reminder of her mood. One side happy face, one side frownie face. One time the day ended with the frownie face, and the next day it was still turned that way, so some of us were getting worried that she was so displeased with us yesterday, that she hadn't gotten over it by the next morning.

Also one teacher had a golden ruler that she used to spank the kids with, and two of them got into trouble so often that the ruler became bent over time. This of course was when spanking was standard disciplinary action, and teachers didn't get restraining orders for spanking students.

[Kayenneh]

I have memories from about 2 years of age.
I freaked out my parents, when we were taking a cruise to Stockholm. They put me and my sister to bed and went to the cafeteria to grab a snack. I woke up thirsty, didn't dare to wake J up (because she was always very cranky when I did), and I thought that I could find my way to where mum and dad was. They had put the child lock on the door, but it was really simple to open up and I was on my way. I however did not find them in the cafeteria, so I asked a (probably) Russian woman in baby-Swedish if she could get me a glass of water. She couldn't understand me of course, and I thought her very rude for not helping me. I carried on, started to climb the stairs to the next deck, in hope to find my parents. (I still to this day remember how high the stairs were, what ugly red, black and orange carpet covered them, and my favorite blue and green Sandman jammies I had on.) During this time my dad had a funny feeling, went back to the cabin, only to find the door open and me missing. Fortunately my short legs hadn't carried me too far and dad caught pretty quickly up with me.. on the 9th deck

Though there was no major life-lesson involved, I learned not to wander off, before at least telling J were I was headed

[Chad32]

It must have been confusing speaking to the possible Russian person. Even your best Swedish couldn't be understood, and your little two year old brain not knowing there was such a thing as other languages.

I remember when I was young, and at the cabin they had a latch on a gate leading off the porch. I figured it out without my older sister knowing, and went out into the yard without her. Not telling my sister how to do it just infuriated her to no end, so of course she ran to our parents and told on me.

Nothing really happened, though. I forget if I was still afraid of the water at that age, so I was probably just wandering towards the woods. Not that that's entirely safe for a small child either.

[Kayenneh]

and your little two year old brain not knowing there was such a thing as other languages.

Not quite true. I live in a bilingual country, it's hard not to understand that there are lots of languages for a young child, especially if you have good parents who tell you about stuff like this

[Michelle_Patton]

My 2 earliest memories are of me feeling really stupid and embarrassed:

My father came into the lounge and asked if I wanted to see hail, so I grabbed his hand and walked to the back door with him expecting to meet a man called 'Hail'. I just remember feeling like a complete idiot when Dad pointed out the huge chunks of ice on the lawn!

The second one was when I grabbed what looked like chocolate cake crumbs off the bench and put them in my mouth to discover they were bits of dog food I felt more stupid in retrospect when I realised there was no chocolate cake in the house - I'd have known if Mum had cooked one!

Not sure exactly how old I was, but I would've been 4 or 5 ish.

[Chad32]

and your little two year old brain not knowing there was such a thing as other languages.

Not quite true. I live in a bilingual country, it's hard not to understand that there are lots of languages for a young child, especially if you have good parents who tell you about stuff like this

Oh, I see. I didn't grow up in a bilingual area. Still, how dare she not know how to speak Swedish.

---

One of the good memories I had with my dad was going fishing, and catching a bass big enough to be mounted. It just about pulled me out of the boat, but fortunately my dad had good reflexes. He had to take the fight out of the fish before I could reel it in.

It wasn't my first bass, since I remember it being too small to keep. Still, I was happy to catch a new fish.

[Captain Colostomy]

My earliest memory was a nightmare. Literally. It dealt with fire. I remember waking up crying. My pajama had firetrucks on it, fat lot of comfort they gave me, though. I remember also shaking the crib rails because my mother hadn't rescued me soon enough to my liking. I was 1, 1-1/2 years old.

I also remember DisneyWorld like it was yesterday. I was 20 months old when we went.

Truth be told, these old memories are nice, but nowadays I'd prefer just having the ability to recall where I left my glasses, my wallet, my phone...

[Zazzy]

I was about 5 or 6 when Star Wars came out, and we went to see it in the theater, and I remember having this weird feeling in my stomach every time Han Solo came on screen. Of course, later, I identified it as my first crush!

And hence a lifelong love affair with starship captains started.

[Chad32]

I watched Secret of NIMH and Land Before Time when I was a child. Don Bluth really knows how to scare kids, though it helps if the ending is happy. I don't think anyone could get away with showing that to today's kids.