Do you have a vivid memory that is associated to something you still regularly do? I have a few – hot dogs for instance will always be tied to the one time I was made to eat one by a babysitter we had even thought I told her I wasn’t feeling well. You can guess how that one ended.
Or the smell of a radiator (which I don’t see/smell often anymore) will forever trigger the memory of falling down the stairs and knocking into the radiator with my head. The lady (she was a nice lady!) watching us thought I wasn’t hurt and just wanted to get sympathy (I’m pretty sure I was a dramatic child…), but later she finally looked at my head after I showed her my bloody hand. She jammed my head under the faucet trying to clean it out to get a better look at the cut. I was fine, but the smell of a radiator instantly takes me back to that night.
However, there is one particular memory that the moment I step onto a boat dock I can’t help but to relive it. I was young maybe 7-8?? We were in Lake Geneva WI at our family cabin and we’d taken a friend’s boat out for the fireworks on the 4th of July. It was late and I brought my baby blanket with me. (don’t judge – I love that freaking baby blanket!).
In the summer fireworks don’t start until dark which is easily close to 9pm. By the time they were over, I was so tired. We finally got back to the boat dock, and as we were stepping off the boat, I stepped into the water instead of on to the dock. I went right between the boat and the dock.
I can remember the cold being shocking, and opening my eyes and it being so incredibly dark. I can still feel the seaweed wrapping around my legs. The only thing I can remember thinking was “don’t let go of your blanket”. I was a good swimmer, but I didn’t even try to get to the surface, or maybe there wasn’t time. I know a hand reached in and pulled me out, and I remember scrapping my leg on the dock. Even after I was out of the water, I remember thinking why I didn’t try to get to the surface. I do know that I was never scared. So odd to be so little and in a scary situation, but not to have felt scared for myself by only upset that I could have lost my blanket.
After all these years I still get teased when we are waking on a boat dock. Over this past weekend my family rented out a water taxi for a private tour to celebrate my Dad getting married, and everyone had to remind me about that time I fell into the water. When I think of it it’s like it was yesterday. Cold, dark, and that seaweed. I can still feel the seaweed on my legs.
Do you have a vivid memory from your childhood?
I’m blogging everyday in August (BEDA) with Emma from Outmumbered.
Catch up on my previous posts!
- BEDA: Day 1: An Introduction
- BEDA: Day 2: 20 Facts About Me
- BEDA: Day 3: My Favorite Quote
- BEDA: Day 4: In 10 Years (<– One of my favorite blogs in a long time!)
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I remember swimming in a community pool in a foreign country. There were sharks painted on the beams — too frightening.
Honestly, not that I can really remember.I think I had a very boring childhood.
Gosh, do you have any non-accident memories?! Poor you! I remember mainly good scents, and places.
I love the idea of blogging every day, good luck! I can’t think of just one childhood memory to share, I have a few vivid memories both good and bad.
I have a vivid memory of butter on biscuits from when I was a kid. I had some horrible stomach bug, mom gave me butter on biscuits and I lost it. Yeah, to this day I can’t have that without getting sick to my stomach.
I have one vivid memory from when I was about 4 and I broke my arm. I remember swinging at my school and trying to lean back on the swing like the bigger kids. I leaned back too far and landed on my arm. I waited in the Director’s office for my parents to come and I remember staring at the popcorn ceiling while I was crying. Ever since then, whenever I see popcorn ceiling, I’m reminded of breaking my arm.
I have a vivid memory of the smell of bathroom cleaner. My mom had just used her favorite bathroom cleaner to clean the tub when I decided to tightrope walk on the edge. It was still slippery so I fell and busted my chin open.
My childhood summer memories are most vivid from the town pool we used to go to every day. We frolicked with friends all day while the moms sat and relaxed, and occasionally fed us. I enjoyed this time much better than the school year!
My most vivid memories of childhood revolve around my Gram. She’s always been right there whenever I need her.
Sunscreen always brings back fond memories for me. All of the most fun moments of my life have involved sunscreen.
I have a young daughter, so the high pitched voices of children’s television always brings back a memory of something adorable that she’s done. I’ve really learned to love preschool television.
I have lots! My kids love hearing me tell stories about when I was little!
I remember trying Indian food for the 1st time. It always makes me think of Banana Milkshakes. The family that lived next door to us made some, and served it with the milkshakes, which I always thought of as dessert. It was so spicy for me as a kid, that milkshake was necessary for the tongue! Funny now…
Oh wow so scary! I have a vivid memory from my childhood – I would visit my grandparents in Chicago every other weekend or so and often spend the night. My grandfather would get up early and leave while the house most everyone was still asleep. But sometimes I would wake up early and I remember sneaking down the hall to see if he had left or not. I was maybe 6 years old and had learned where the creaks were in the wood hallway. I would tiptoe on the non-creaky boards and go look at the clock in the kitchen. If it was past the time when he would leave I would crawl into bed with my grandmother and her dog.
Every time I hear or see a seagull on tv I immediately think back to my Summer vacations in Cape Cod. We went every summer and had a beach house, so I would wake to the sounds of the seagulls… it was so awesome.
As I get older, memories from my childhood come back to me. Sometimes they stop me in my tracks and I just smile or giggle when I think back to spending time with my brothers and sisters. If only I could go back in time and really learn to live in the moment and not take it for granted!
Vivid memories of my youth are roller skating which was my favorite and camp.
Oh I do. I was in kindergarten and decided I wanted to go home. Somehow, I managed to get off of school property and make the two mile walk home. I was so scared. Crosswalks seemed like giant bridges. I was terrified, crying and just new I was going to be killed by a car. Somehow, I made it home. Much to my Mom’s surprise.
I don’t really have any memories I can recall
Swimming in a chlorinated pool when I was little. It was blast swimming every day when I would visit Florida.
I have so many vivid memories. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.
I have a vivid memory of sitting at the table and refusing to eat the last couple of peas on my plate. My mom tells me I was only 2-3 years old.
I vividly remember having my tonsils out when I was 4 years old. I got to eat lots of ice cream after and watched Strawberry Shortcake while laying on the couch. Oh to be a kid again!
oh gosh, I would have freaked out…That must have been scary. I went once on a fishing boat and I remember being sick all the time: not funny
I remember a lot of things in my life starting from age 4. I wouldn’t even know where to start.