After our very brief stay in Nevada, our next move took us next door to these grandparents. I remember how convenient it was to have a gate from our backyard to theirs. I don't think we ever played in our own yard! Baby brother, Kim, was just 6 months old and I was allowed to babysit him. I am sure that was because Granny was right next door!
My favorite stories about little Kim are the number of times he would mess his diaper while he was supposed to be taking a nap. When I checked on him, he had taken off his diaper and "painted" himself and the crib with the deposit he had made in said diaper!!! Now, most kids would be throwing the baby out the window and burning the bed, sheets and clothes! Well, what clothes were left on him! But I thought it was fun to plop him in the bathroom sink and scrub him from head to toe! He smelled so clean and sweet afterwards! And I loved combing his hair and dressing him up!!! Looking back, as a mother, I would never have left my almost 10 year old alone with a baby knowing that this 10 year old would have to do this! Even if Granny was close by! For some reason, this did not ever change my mind about how many babies I wanted later in life!
Now enters Kim into the life of a student. School now was part of his daily routine. His imagination worked over time apparently all during the day as he was stimulated by everything in the world around him. This caused him to have nightmares. What better place to run when you awake with these dreaded dreams? Big sister's bed!!! One recall on the nightmare odyssey occurred when I was in 9th grade. We lived in a ranch house in Hemet (California) and it was the house that Jack built...it had continually been added on to. My bedroom actually had an outside door as well as the regular bedroom door. One night I was awakened by a thump on that outside door. Talk about adrenaline rush!! I screamed and bolted straight up in bed, ready for flight. False alarm! It was just little brother needing refuge from a nightmare!!! There was an incident a few years later in another house, another location. Only at that time, my little sister and I were sharing a double bed. Coming out of a deep sleep, I realized I was sleeping on the very edge of the bed and felt so crowded. Heather must have really kicked and moved during the night. I look over and no wonder! Kim had joined us during the night!!! This active imagination has never left him but I don't think he is having nightmares any more!
Another new school for 5th grade. The only things I remember from this school...earthquake drills (get under your desk!)...writing in class many, many times..."I will not talk in class when someone else is talking." It was usually 50 times a pop! I went through a lot of paper!!! For our physical education...square dancing in the classroom. I loved it!
This was February of 5th grade. I was a flower girl in my mother's cousin's wedding. It was a Catholic wedding and took forever it seemed to a little girl!!
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