Sometimes a Girl Needs a Little Mind Bump

There are times when I rack my brain for inspiration on what to write. I love to write, but sometimes I just can’t form a concept.  I discovered Mind Bump and love looking at all the ideas submitted.  Today, I feel the need to write, but all of the things I want to write about are a little unformed, unfinished or off limits, so I decided to bump my brain and see how it goes…

“Describe one of your favorite childhood home memories. Can you remember the colors and the smells?”

One of my favorite childhood memories is my 5th birthday party. We had the party in the backyard of our house on Phelps Lane in Mountain Home Idaho. I remember streamers and balloons, paper tablecloths and a cake, but none of the specific details about any of those things. I can see the yard clearly if I close my eyes, the grass, the picnic tables, the swing set. But what is most vivid in my memory is a creepy, crawly daddy longlegs spider.

My friends and I were sitting on a blanket on the lawn playing duck, duck, goose. 10 little girls in party dresses, giggling and playing games, not a care in the world beyond who would be “It” next. I remember folding my pink dress over my legs just so, giddy at the though of being “goosed” when suddenly a spider had the nerve to crawl up over the edge of my hem.

To say I was scared would be an understatement. I had a full blown panic attack, complete with shrieking, tears, and jumping up and down. My dad ran over and squashed the little bugger for me.  Here’s where the details come in clear as day. 

1. I remember my dad kneeling down in front of me and hugging me while I cried.
2. I remember that he was wearing a white, v-necked Hanes t-shirt.
3. I remember that he needed a haircut, the little hairs on the side of his neck tickled my nose.
4. I remember him telling me it would be ok, not to be upset.
5. I remember the way his neck smelled like Brut aftershave.
6. I remember thinking my Dad could make everything alright.
7. I remember knowing he was my hero.

Details like that may seem insignificant to you, but to me they are priceless. My father died when I was 13, I have very few vivid memories of him from my childhood that stand out as clearly as that one.  The images of my father that are most easily recalled are from after his cancer diagnosis. I can pull a picture of my dad’s gaunt pale face out of the depths of my brain before I can pull up a healthy one. It hurts.

The point is if you are lucky enough to still have your parents, look at them. Soak them in. Absorb everything you can while  you can. I have scads of pictures and wish I had more.

My childhood memories are all slightly tarnished by the fact that they were gone too soon. It’s probably why I am so insistent on giving LW every opportunity for new experiences. Why, even though he’s not yet 5, we have over 10,000 pictures of him on our computer. I can’t stand the thought of him having the “What if’s.”

Have a good week peeps…stop and smell the roses, hug your kids and call your parents just because you can! 

XOXOXO