I expect that most, if not all, families have traditions. The holidays are filled with them. Growing up my family had ours. I don’t know how they originated, but they were truly a part of our annual holiday celebration. My Grandpa Barner made homemade custard. It was rich with eggs and cream. We …
Category: Childhood Memories
Peeing In The Pool
Be honest. I expect that each of us has peed in a pool at least once in our life. If not as an adult, you probably did so as a child. When you’re a kid playing in the water, even if some of it comes from you, it’s more fun than getting out, walking to …
Trick or Treat
I’m not a big fan of Halloween. I’m OK with the fun stuff but not the scary stuff. I think it stems from the first Halloween that I remember. I was six and invited to a Halloween party at a friend’s house. I don’t recall the friend other than I know she was …
The Hallway
The hallway in the home where I grew up is about fifteen feet long. That’s five “giant steps” for me in a current game of “Mother May I”. I was almost three when we moved into the house, so it seemed much longer. It hasn’t grown, but I have. I believe that Mom and …
Pimples and Armpit Hair
Everybody goes through puberty. It’s a basic part of human development. Growth spurts abound, resulting in monthly trips for new shoes and jeans. Voices deepen and/or squeak. Hair appears where no hair appeared before. And pimples erupt overnight. It’s a fun time. When I was in the eighth grade (on the entry-level side of my …
Mort and Stubs AKA Dog
My dad and Uncle Harry Mac were best friends for most of their lives. My dad described Uncle Harry as more of a brother than a friend. I’m not sure how or where they met. I know that they loved and respected one another until their final days. Their friendship began in their teens. They …
Three More Reese’s Pieces
Volcanoes We studied volcanoes in fifth grade. Although Michigan is volcano free, it was a part of our study. Mr. Reese didn’t just talk about volcanoes. He had built one to share with his students. Talk about cool. That was the coolest. Mr. Reese’s volcano was an honest to goodness, as real as it gets, …
Mr. Reese
Mr. Reese was my fifth grade teacher. He was the first male teacher that I had and the teacher that every fourth grader hoped that he would get. All of my other teachers had been “women”. I was happy that I was finally getting a “man” teacher. Don’t get me wrong, I liked all …
Mustard Lids
Several years ago, my friend, Jim, and I were waiting for an airplane and noticed the large number of people talking on their cell phones. We understood that we were witnessing the beginning of a revolutionary, societal change. Ruth and I took our grandson, Brady, to California for the past few days and everywhere we …
Shop Around
My grandson, Brady, turned 13 today. (June 2, 2018) We celebrated last week-end. While we were together we talked about BIG birthdays. I told him that I thought 10, 13, 16, 18, 21 were BIG ones. 10 because you have to write two digits when you write your age You won’t add another …