The Book of Me: Unexplained Memories

My husband thinks I have a photographic memory.  He may be right.  I have always had a good memory and if he asks me where something is in the house I can visualize it on a shelf or in a cabinet.  If we go somewhere together, I am better with finding places as I remember landmarks and such.  I was a good student in school and I think it was because of my memory.  I didn't have any trouble memorizing the different things I had to for school.

Once, my thyroid medicine was prescribed wrong and I was having memory problems.  My son, tried to get away with something and I said, I have my memory back, you are not getting away with that.  So, for a short period of time, I think my family was happy for my lack of memory.

I started thinking of some of my childhood memories and could not come up with any unexplained ones.  Any time I want to know more about my childhood I go to my mom.  She is 83 years old and her memory is still very good.  She has answered countless questions and helped me piece together my youth.

The Book of Me, Written by You is a new blog prompt series created by Julie Goucher at Anglers Rest blog.  Geneabloggers is adding support and encouragement to this 15 month blogging activity.  I write freely about the stories that bring my ancestors to life and look forward to exploring my life through writing.  I hope you will join me as I journey to my past.

Prompt 10 was to describe unexplained memories.

The Book of Me: Trick or Treat?

Linda and I, Halloween about 1960

Costumes, candy and fun describe the Halloween of my childhood years.  I remember celebrating Halloween as a child by going trick or treating in costumes.  I wasn't very creative when it came to thinking up costumes.  I remember being a monster, Casper the Ghost, Felix the Cat, a hobo, and a 50's bobby socker.

My sister, Linda, and I would go out house to house and have fun collecting candy.  We would get home and pour our goodies out on the living room floor to see what we got.  I remember candy corn, wax lips, wax pop bottles, pixie sticks, candy cigarettes, suckers and mary jane candy.  We would trade anything we didn't like with each other.

Eventually, I was old enough to go with friends, trick or treating.  I remember one year I was walking up the steps to a house and a boy was walking down the steps.  He grabbed a handful of candy right out of my candy bag.  I was shocked.  How rude!

Other Halloween activities were held at school.  We would bring our costumes to school and have a parade.  This parade would go through the downtown area of my small town, Deckerville, Michigan.  The parade was followed by a party with lots of goodies.

It was treats all the way for me.  I don't ever remember doing tricks when I was celebrating Halloween.

The Book of Me, Written by You is a new blog prompt series created by Julie Goucher at Anglers Rest blog.  Geneabloggers is adding support and encouragement to this 15 month blogging activity.  I write freely about the stories that bring my ancestors to life and look forward to exploring my life through writing.  I hope you will join me as I journey to my past.

Prompt 9 was Halloween.

The Book of Me: Love is Timeless

Our Wedding Day

21 March 1981

St. John's Lutheran Church, Palms, Michigan

Although, I have never made a time capsule, the thought of creating one intrigues me.  If I were to put together a time capsule, I would do a "Love is Timeless" one.  It would be in honor of my love for, and life with, my husband, Kirk.  I would like for it to be opened on 21 March 2031, the day of our 50th Wedding Anniversary, in front of family and friends.

The time capsule would be stored in an archival quality box in my closet.  It would hold all the treasures of our marriage and life together.  Here is a sample of what I would include:

• A letter explaining the meaning of the time capsule and how it was created.
• The match box from the restaurant where we had our first date, The Windjammer in Lexington, Michigan.
• The front page of a newspaper from our wedding date.  
• Our wedding invitation and wedding pictures.  
• Receipts, pictures, and post cards from our honeymoon in Toronto, Canada.
• Pictures of the homes we lived in throughout our marriage.
• Our first mortgage papers, from the home on Maple Street in Deckerville, Michigan.
• Mementos that were saved from the birth of our children, Kirsten and Travis.
• Other papers, pictures, etc. throughout the years together.
• Lastly, I would include a love letter written to my husband.

I want the time capsule to show how important the love of family is.  It started with two people falling in love and creating a life together that lasted through the years.  I want to show that Love is Timeless.

The Book of Me, Written by You is a new blog prompt series created by Julie Goucher at Anglers Rest blog.  Geneabloggers is adding support and encouragement to this 15 month blogging activity.  I write freely about the stories that bring my ancestors to life and look forward to exploring my life through writing.  I hope you will join me as I journey to my past.

The eighth prompt is Time Capsule.