It’s been almost 40 years since Jill
and her family moved out of my mom’s neighborhood. They are the first family that I remember
having moved.
It’s only been in the last couple of
months that I got in touch with Jill through facebook. She has since moved back
to Utah. I told her about mom and made arrangements for us to visit.
And so the other day Jill drove to
mom’s house and we visited for a while.
She told me how she and mom had spent many a days visting at each
other’s houses. And made it known (for
the first time) that her youngest had had a crush on me when we were
younger. Really?! Because I had had a crush on him and wasn’t
aware that he had felt the same way until Jill took us to lunch.
I think the greatest thing was
watching mom’s recognition when Jill first arrived – like nothing had
changed. But time has changed us
all. And mom didn’t remember doing lunch
once we left the restaurant.
This is a picture of the two
kindergarten classes, the principal and the two kindergarten teachers. It is the only colored class photo in my
possession. The rest are black and white
squares. But all the “class pictures” that
I have are not just class but entire grade. I like is that the picture included everyone
in my grade – and not just the class I attended.
I don’t know if mom wrote the names on
the back of this particular photo. I
forgot to scan them in if she did. But I
actually do remember. 45 years. 53 faces.
And I seriously am able to put a name to 43 of them. Not just first names, but last names as well.
Give me some time and I can get at least 6 more.
We had a lot of Lindas and a lot of
(last name) Nelsons – though I’m sure each was spelled differently. And I think Paul looks like a cut out. But they didn’t crop and Photoshop and insert
back then. So probably not.
I’m a little embarrassed at not having
recognized my neighbor from across the street – I don’t think it’s the best
picture of him. But I was able to pick
him out because of the sweater. 5 boys
in the family. I think each of them wore
it. I think it might have even been
passed on to the grandkids. That would
really be some super-strength fabric though.
I don’t know what happened to Mrs.
Cannon. I always wished that my teacher had been Mrs. Flinders. But she did not finish out the year with
us. Nor did Miss Nelson who followed
her. No, my kindergarten year
unfortunately ended with a Miss Wamsley – I’m quite certain it was Miss. Can’t imagine any guy purposely marrying that
old dragon. She was so bad that even the parents complained about her.
I wish Jenna could experience the
stability that seemed to exist in my own childhood. I suppose I am able to put first and last
names with so many of the faces is because I actually graduated high school
with most of them. Oh, there were the
occasional moves – but not like today.
When I was younger, I could step outside
my house at any given time of the day, and there was always at least twelve
other kids outside for me to play with.
Jenna doesn’t have that over here.
There are very few children in our neighborhood. And there are only a few on the street who stay
for more than four or five years. I hope
we will be able to move again – but because we want to – not because we have
to.
May I continue with this memory and
not ever have to burden my kids with a memory disorder – because it’s rough.
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