Strawberries

There was an elderly couple that lived across the street from my parent's first home. They noticed my brother and me playing in the yard. They invited us to pick strawberries. When we visited their home, they had no backyard as you'd think of a backyard. Their entire backyard was one big strawberry patch. They were kind. They invited us to pick berries every season. My Mom made strawberry smoothies and ice cream. It's one of my earliest happy memories of my hometown. I suppose it's why I crave berry smoothies when I feel sad. It's my connection to a happier time.

Priorities

I was talking to a friend about security challenge questions. One of them was, "best friend in first grade". She said, "what the heck! How am I supposed to remember that? Do you remember yours?" I chuckled and told her to pick a name she liked and would remember, an imaginary friend. It's safer that way. Thankfully, she laughed it off. If I'm being honest, I do remember.

I didn't attend kindergarten. I tested out and skipped it.

First grade: Dawn

Second grade: I was out ill most of the year but probably Pete

Third grade: Francis

Fourth and Fifth grade: Michelle 

Sixth grade: Jane

Seventh grade: Rebecca 

Eighth grade: Sean

Ninth Grade: Glenda

Tenth Grade: Tammy

Eleventh grade: Todd

Twelth grade: Matt

In college I had a very small circle of friends. My best friend through college, if you don't include my brother was Alf.

First Job out of college was college professor. My best friend was an intern who's still one of my best friends today: Chris.

Next career change, The Franklin but hired by AIG. Best friend at work was Mikki.

Next career change, The Federal Reserve Bank. Best friend at work... Okay, you got me. It's very strongly Jeff. However, it could be Marge, Joe, John,... This was my home.

Next career change, I'm not certain how to label it so bear with me. Best friend, I'm going to say Jodi. I have a lot of friends. However, Jodi and I talk extensively about non work related things.

Best friend as an adult: if you don't take into account my family members of which there are many, I can name several but don't want to leave anyone out. If I had to name one or a few, I'd go with Stacey, Franky, and Chris.

It's not that you can't remember. It's that you unconsciously prioritize what you remember. That's why if you ask me the day and date, it might take me a minute.

Oh and if you require someone to hate on about those obnoxious security questions, I used to help write those. 

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It's never too late

I was married once. It didn't end well. However, we've always maintained friendly terms with his family. I still think fondly of them. One of the things I remember well is talking with his father. He once told me he was proud of me for graduating high school with honors. I was college bound. I didn't think anything about it at the time. Later, he explained he never graduated high school. He told me he and his wife eloped in a different state when she became pregnant. She lost the child; but, he stayed. I found that admirable. He worked until he was old enough to join the military. He served overseas. They were stationed in Germany. Upon returning, he had tradeskills that allowed him to become a lineman for the telephone company. He worked his way up from there. Along the line, they had their only living child, their son. He was pensive. A while later, he informed me he was attending night school for his high school diploma. After all those years, he really wanted his diploma. He did it. He graduated. It was my turn to say I was proud of him. It's never too late to attain the things you really want in life.

Gato

When we were young, we used to live with our grandmother. I remember my cousin Jojo asking all the little children if we wanted to meet his pet. He told us he had a kitten. That was a silly question. Of course, we wanted to meet his kitten. It was small and black with blue eyes and fluffy fur. We asked him what he named it. He said, "Gato". My cousin Gene snort-laughed but covered it with a coughing fit. Apparently no one noticed except me. I raised an eyebrow at him.

Later, I asked Gene if he laughed because Jojo named his baby kitty, "cat". Gene raised his eyebrow at me and asked who taught me Spanish. I shrugged my shoulders. I said, "I don't speak Spanish". Gene nodded then explained that Gato meant Cat in Spanish. Yes, he did find it funny. He said Jojo was so weird. He could've at least come up with a more creative name. I thought about it for a moment then replied, like Noire, Salem, or Midnight? Gene laughed. He said, let me guess. You don't speak French? I replied, like fries? He said, no like the language but that answers my question. 

He asked me why I chose Noire. I said it's because of the color of the kitty. He said right, in French. I just stared at him. He said, "okay then". Then he explained Noire meant black in French. I nodded my head. He guessed I picked Salem because of a certain television cat and Midnight because it's dark outside like the kitty's fur. I responded he was half right. Salem and Midnight were both black television cats. 

Over several weeks, all the little children grew fond of playing with Gato. I was always examining that poor little kitten closely. My cousin Odie noticed and asked me why. I explained the kitty's eye color, size, beans, ear shape, and fur texture keep changing. I told him, I didn't think it was the same kitty. It was an innocent observation. I was by nature very curious. Odie, Gene, and Lando went out to investigate. Apparently, the garage where we kept the boat was filled with cats and kittens as was a barn in the field behind my Grandmother's home. They were all named "Gato" because he couldn't tell them apart.

The interesting thing was they were all black cats except for a basically black siamese cat. It was shy and didn't come near people often. Out of the blue, it started hanging out with the other cats and people. It made its home in the garage. It became a family favorite friend. Then it disappeared. My Dad and Uncles looked for it. They found it beneath the boat cover. My Dad speculated that it knew it was dying and not having long to live, it no longer wanted to be alone. I suppose people are a lot like cats in this way.

The Lettermen

Five letter girls said, "we love you" Baby, Dell, Vangie, Boots, and Rocel too. And the three Lettermen who we love and adore, they always give us back our love and more!

This is a song my Auntie and cousins made up and sang while they got ready for Lettermen concerts. I remember they recorded and sent it before a concert in Evansville. I may have saved a copy of this recording. I enjoyed being the little tag-a-long. 

I was just a child. However, I loved hotel amenities. This is likely where my children get this characteristic. I also, loved music and concerts. I have an old lockbox someplace. One of my most prized possessions is a card that appears to be handmade. I was having brunch with my Auntie before a concert. One of the band members, Tony hand delivered my birthday card really early. It was my birthmonth but my birthday was at the end of it. 

What made it memorable was that I didn't even think they noticed I was there. For a member of their band to hand deliver a birthday card to a small child is something I can't put into words. It goes beyond being kind. For me, it embodies what it means to truly be seen as someone special. That's why I keep the card.