3 stories #20

20 on THE LIST: Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.


I have a lot of memories from growing up. I had a great childhood, and I could tell stories all day long, I'm sure. I don't know how significant these memories are, but they did each teach me a lesson that I've tried to apply to my life, so here we go...

5 year old me - notice I have the EXACT same smile now as I did then, I guess some things never change

One time when I was five, I learned that if you love your job every day is the best day of your life. My Parents started their own construction company the year I was born. They bought a truck and a dozer and took a huge gamble on our future. They are both really hard workers, my dad has incredible talent at what he does, and my mom is a miracle worker when it comes to budgeting, and they have created a hugely successful business now. But in the early years there was a lot of penny pinching, sacrificing, and going where the work was. One summer my dad got a "contract" which meant that he traveled all over western Colorado doing heavy equipment work for some people in multiple locations. And being his built in assistants his three best girls tagged along with him. We had the most extraordinary adventures sleeping in motels and eating out. We met all kinds of different people, and saw amazing sights , at least they were amazing to a 5 year old. We followed my dad around as he moved his dozer from location to location. Sometimes it was hot and dusty, but we would roll down the windows and let the breeze blow through the cab while my sister would read us stories or my mom would teach us songs. We had picnics almost every day, and my dad would tell us stories as we relaxed in the shade of the dozer and ate. We also got to swim in the motel pools and hike in the mountains and go to the park in a bunch of different towns. We did that for most of the summer, and I thought we were on an ultimate vacation. I couldn't imagine anything more wonderful, and I thought we were the luckiest family alive. It wasn't until the summer was nearly over that I was raving about our fantastic adventures and my sister said to me in one of those - you're-the-dumbest-person-I-have-ever-met, voices, "You know we're working, right? This is Dads JOB, and we're just here helping him." What? No, I hadn't realized we were working. I mean, I knew that we did some work, and Dad did a lot of work, but I hadn't made the connection that it was more than just a three month long trip for my enjoyment. I had been having the time of my life and all of a sudden it was brought to my attention that I had been tricked! I continued to have a good time regardless of the fact that we were working for the rest of the contract, but I still had some confusion about what my sister had meant. It wasn't until several years later that I finally realized that both of us had been right. We had been working, but we were also having the time of our lives, and it's okay for those things to go together. To this day some of my favorite memories involve us all helping my dad on a job. We joke and laugh, and while we work HARD, we have fun too. And as I have grown up I've realized that we were living the dream. :)

Snuggle time.

One time, I learned  that everyone needs a snuggle day every now and then. I was probably in 1st or 2nd grade, and I LOVED school. I never missed a day unless I was super sick. I couldn't wait to get up and go to school every morning. I counted the hours until the weekends were over so I could go back to school again. -what can I say I was a nerd - and also I had the very best teacher in the world (Mrs. Atkinson, from my 10 significant people post ) But one day I woke up and I didn't want to go to school. I just wanted to stay home and snuggle with my mom. I don't know why, nothing had happened at school to make me not want to go, I was feeling fine, health wise, I just felt tender that day. I was a little weepy and emotional, and I nearly cried as I was walking down to the bus stop. When the bus came, I made a decision, I hid until the bus left and then I went back to my house and told my mom I missed it and I didn't feel like going to school. I broke into tears and couldn't explain what was the matter. I thought for sure my mom would tell me to "buck up buttercup" and take me to school anyway. But she didn't. She let me put on my jammas and curl up on the couch with a blanket and watch cartoons. She cooked me whatever snacks I asked for and just loved on me all day long. And the next day I was fine again, and couldn't wait to get back to school. I think all of us have an off day now and then. We don't feel well, or we are overly emotional, or we just get in a funk of some kind. We all just need a cuddle day every once in a while, and so when my kids have one of those days I follow my mom's example and let them have it. It's not like it happens that often, so I feel like it's alright to give in when it does. It helps us build a strong relationship, they can trust me to be understanding, and we can talk about things that are bothering them. And I have to tell you, I kind of love when they need a snuggle day too. Who can resist that?

 My daddy teaching Ethan to creek fish

One time I learned how that spending time with your family makes an impact that nothing else will make up for. The summer I was 8 my dad and I started going fishing a lot. My sister was 13 - you know, that age that everyone reaches where you're far too cool to hang out with your dad and little sister and FISH- gag me with a spoon! (now you can place the time period, and you really feel like you're there, right?:) And my mom never wanted to tag along either, so that just left the two of us. My dad's busy season for work is the summer, and at that time of our lives that meant he usually left before the sun came up and got home after dark. But on Saturdays he usually quit a little early, and that was our chance. I dug worms and had the poles ready to load and some snacks packed to eat on the way, and as soon as he got home we were off. We found this "secret spot" up on the creek where no one else went. We drove in on a road that was terrible. It was rocky and washed out all the time, I don't think it was ever maintained. And there was a hill that was so steep I always thought we were going to flip right over when we went down it. I remember leaning back in the seat and putting my feet up against the dash to keep from falling through the windshield- or at least that's how I remember it. And getting out was even harder. We had to get a run at the hill and we would bounce and climb up, and if we were lucky we would make it to the top. Sometimes we didn't though, and we would have to BACK down the hill and try it again. It was terrifying, but I had so much trust in my dad that I knew we would be safe. I just clamped my eyes shut and held on for all my might. The trip was worth it though, because we had found a magical spot where the fish were always biting. We would part the truck and walk through a big grove of scrub oak to the creek. Then we would put our poles in the water and follow them down a ways to a spot where there was a bend in the creek. The water was deeper there, and it seemed to be where all the fish stayed waiting for a free lunch. Creek fishing in this part of the world is an art, really, the water is shallow and the creek is narrow. In some places you can nearly jump across it without getting wet. And the creek bottom is rocky and rough. You have to stay completely out of sight of where you fish or the fish will see you and NOTHING will bite after that. And you have to watch your line closely and learn the difference between a bite and the roughness of the water as it tumbles across the rocks. You also had to learn to guide the fish as you reeled it in, judging where the rocks were the smoothest and leading them through the path of least resistance. Otherwise they would swim into the rocks and get your line snagged and get away. But over the course of the summer my dad  taught me all the tricks, and we always ended up catching our limit every night. But the fish weren't really the reason we fished. None of us are big fish eaters anyway. No, the draw for us was the time we spent together. We would sit along the bank about 50 yards from the magic spot and wait for the fish to bite. My dad would lounge out in the tall grass and I would lean up against him. When the sun would sink down lower in the sky and a chill would start to set in he would put his arm around me to keep me warm. We saw all kinds of wildlife as we sat on the bank. One time a deer even came and took a drink from the creek right next to where we stood. We literally could have reached out and touched it! We talked about all sorts of things, and I knew that at that moment with my dad nothing was off limits. He taught me a lot of really great life lessons that summer - things that I will never forget, and things that I have used a lot as I've grown up. And it set up a relationship that only deepened as I grew older. It wasn't until much later that I thought about that summer and realized that he took off work early for me. He certainly could have worked a few more hours, and probably would have rather done that some days, but he knew that I was waiting, so he took the time out to spend with me anyway. It was a sacrifice, but one that he was more than willing to make in order to make a difference in my life. And he did. Not only do I have an extremely strong relationship with my dad, but because of his example I am trying to take little opportunities with my own kids to help foster our relationship as well.