When I was 9 months old, dad got orders to go to Great Lakes, Illinois. They packed up the car and off we went cause... you know. December is a great time to move to the frozen world of Great Lakes.
Mom told me about the nice lady that lived next door who found out that a Japanese woman was going to move in. She made a lovely rice pudding for a welcome to the neighborhood gift and brought it over. The world is better now, but back then I guess people thought "hey... it's got rice and those people like rice, right?" Well, mom took that gift and thanked the neighbor lady. She put it in the fridge and after a few days, chunked it in the trash because really... who in their right mind would mix rice and sugar together? BLEARGH! She returned the bowl and thanked that woman, telling her that it was lovely and tasty. Naturally, this pleased the woman and later that week she made another bowl of rice pudding and brought it over. Mom did not lie to that lady again for fear of getting more ruined rice. She just thanked her, waited a few days, chunked it and returned the bowl.
In the winter time, dad would have to dig a tunnel from the front door to the yard so he could go to work in the morning. Apparently everyone used the tunnel system in this neighborhood. Why? Because the houses seemed to be conveniently facing whatever direction the wind came from and the snow drifts piled snow up above the roof lines on many of them. I really wish I could remember this because I bet it was fun playing in those tunnels.
As I got a little older and a bit more mobile I got my first tricycle. It was red. When spring came I got to ride that thing in the yard while dad was digging up the flower bed. It was still pretty cold out so I was usually bundled up in a poufy coat. I drove my bike into the flower bed and he got mad and made me stop rolling all over the future flowers. I'm told that this angered me. A lot. So much in fact, that my dad swears that he could see steam rising up off of my angry little one and a half year old head.
Dad claims that he was terrified to go to bed that night. They had just seen a movie about a baby that was possessed... and killed it's parents in the middle of the night. At least, that is what he said. Personally, I can't find any movie like that from that time frame... maybe it was a book. Anyhow, I giggle every time he tells this story. LOL! Apparently fear of being killed by a baby didn't really bother them THAT much, because soon there was another one on the way.
Next time - Evil, I mean my brother, comes to town
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