My Favorite Childhood Memory

My Favorite Childhood Memory

WRITING PROMP - Write about your favorite childhood memory.

BONUS CHALLENGE - Write in present tense.

My favorite childhood memory is from the 1970’s. I am playing at the cottage in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

I’m walking down the steps of the big cottage heading across the yard to my great-uncle Lynn’s house. I’m holding my Baba’s hand and we are both so excited that we are getting company today. My Nelson relatives (my dad’s family) are going to be here along with all of the Yoder’s (mom’s side of the family).

Baba told me that she has a surprise for me and I am so excited! When we get to Uncle Lynn’s, his son is there with a big box. Inside the box is a raccoon. Apparently I am supposed to love this animal – even though it is daytime, and I was told not to go to near raccoons during the day.

I run to uncle Lynn, give him a great big hug, and he takes me inside for a banana popsicle. We sit on the porch swing eating Popsicles until people started showing up. At that time, Uncle Lynn is supposed to do grown-up things and tells me to sit on the swing until I’m done with my popsicle.

I remember seeing Aunt Evelyn, Aunt Lori, Aunt Dorothy, Grandma Nelson, and even Great- Grandma Nelson. I know that other Nelson aunts, uncles, and even cousins are there, but I don’t remember exactly who shows up this time.

Great grandma Nelson is sitting in a rocking lawn-chair by a picnic table under a huge pine tree. I remember watching her rock back and forth sipping something out of a large glass. She looks relaxed and happy as she watches her great-grandchildren running around, shrieking, and having fun.  

My Yoder cousins are also running around and life is starting to get hectic, as it does when two gigantic families gather together. Even though we are outside, it seems crowded and loud. Maybe a little too loud and crowded for my liking. 

I walk over to the tree swing at Catherwood’s cottage. This swing is where I go when I feel overwhelmed.  Baba is already sitting there staring off into space. I climb onto the swing and put my head on her lap. We swing there for what seems like hours – listening to the sounds of nature and blocking out the noise of the gathering happening behind us.

As I am lying there on that swing, I realize that in a place full of people, I was most happy, and that particular swing with that particular woman. She has a way of calming me when I feel overwhelmed. As I look back at this time, I realize that while she was comforting me, I just may have been comforting her, too.

I find that when I am around too many people, their energy zaps mine. I mean, I do okay in crowds, but sometimes I need to find a place to be quiet and recharge so that I can be my best self around people. And I’m starting to believe that my grandmother has the same issues.

I am so grateful for the memories of this day. I am grateful for the realizations I came to because of that day. And I am so grateful for the memories of my time with my grandmother on that swing. Sometimes when my life gets too hard, I lie on my hammock and pretend I’m lying on Catherwood’s swing with my head on Baba’s lap.

How many people do you know that can say that both sides of their family get along so well, that they spent time together, and we that they feel like one big family? I know I’m blessed to have those memories. I know that most people don’t know their entire family and I not only know mine, but they feel like family to each other, too.

I am also grateful I have so many memories of my great-grandmother. She didn’t spend a lot of time with us, but I do remember her being there. I remember what she looks like and how proud she was when she talked about her family. I have many cousins who never got to meet her or just don’t remember spending time with her. It feels great knowing that I got to spend some time with her and make a few memories – even if it’s only for a small amount of time.