Random Memories

[Blade]

I remember sand spur and red ant hills and the smell of my grandmothers cat head biscuits. I remember all us kids racing home on our bikes, when we'd hear the "skeeter" truck coming, and we'd ride our bikes toward the sound of the ice cream mans truck coming. I remember those southern thunderstorms rolling across the sky, and sitting on the porch thinking how pretty the sky was all lit up. I remember catching bream, not big as a piece of fatback off of Pa's pier, eventually using a whole basket of crickets in a day and I remember standing on the banks of the river and catching a many crappie with my grandma. I remember laying in bed at night with the windows open and listening to the hounds baying off in the distance.

[Julien]

I remember standing by the screen door looking out at the rain soaked yard and the dark clouds rolling overhead. It was a weird quiet as if something else was going to happen. My parents were there looking out the door at the damage of downed trees, limbs and powerlines. Years later I knew I lived through a hurricane. It might have been Camile. It was the first hurricane that I can remember.

[Gemme]

I remember the smell of wood burning in the fireplace and the pop and crackle as things settled. On occasion, blue flames would leap up as the critters who were unfortunate to be inside, ignited. One time, the lizard that was inside a log lept out of the fireplace, onto the floor and out the door. I felt proud of the little guy. I hope he made it.

[cara]

In fourth grade, my parents signed me and my brother up for ski lessons. Each Saturday morning for two months, we loaded into the mini-van with our gear and two closest neighborhood friends to meet at the local junior high. From there, we'd take school buses up to Snoqualmie Pass for the day. I wasn't a very good skier and my friend quickly decided she wanted to hang out with the older, public school girls. After our morning lessons, she'd go ski with them and I'd go off on my own exploring the lodge, walking around the ski area, and heading back to the bus early to eat my lunch and bide my time. One afternoon on the way home, we were invited to sit in the back of the bus with the older girls. My friend was so excited. I remember them asking me questions about things I had no idea about. They would laugh at me and ask more questions. I remember being confused and feeling as if they were speaking to me in another language. At one point, they asked if I knew what a virgin was. When I said I didn't, they mischievously told me to ask my mom when I got home. "You're embarrassing me," my friend said in the van when we got off the bus. I was hurt and angry she didn't stick up for me and retorted, "YOU'RE embarrassing ME!" Later, I did ask my mom what a virgin was. Together, we looked it up in the dictionary. I still didn't understand and shrugged it off. I didn't really care and I'm sure she was relieved I wasn't asking any further questions.

[Turtle]

I remember sitting down by the harbor at night with my best friend - just sitting there and talking, watching the heat lightning over the water.

[always2late]

I remember going to the drive-in to see "The Poseiden Adventure"

[Princess]

I remember that big mud puddle and how much fun we had tossing eachother around in it...til those creepy guys with the red solo cups started to cheer us on!