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Life moves on as it does...experiencing memories, lessons, heartfilled and heartache in each step along the way. Every interaction molding us into who we are.
I think back on my childhood as I read a thesis my Uncle Dale wrote about me entitled An Observation of a Pre-School Child and how his description of me at such a young age mirrors the person that I am today.
I remember that in grade school my greatest need was to please my teachers. I got the "best table manners" award in first grade. I remember how careful I was to eat with one hand in my lap, take tiny bites and chew with my mouth closed. As I grew it became just as important to be accepted by my peers as it did to earn the approval of my teachers. As a result of my birth order and striving to be accepted by my older siblings I withdrew within myself. I yearned for affection inwardly and would wait until invited to join an activity or group. I often found myself alone.
I am told that at the age of 2 my parents took me on a trip to visit family in Iowa. It was  during this trip that I "found myself". I was the center of activity, every toy was mine and my family was in competition for my attention. As a result I had a "personality change". When I returned home to my siblings I was assertive, actively sought out affection and had little reservations about who I interacted with. When I got old enough to "pay attention" my mother enrolled me in piano lessons, which I took with my sisters at a convent. Our instructor was a nun. I remember how important I felt sitting in front of the beautiful keyboard of black and ivory and wondering how I could make my fingers stretch enough to make harmony like my sister.
On entering 7th grade we moved from the small town of Jasper, Indiana to Paducah Kentucky where I found myself in the midst of a large city and integration. I remember how excited I was to get to go to school with a black person as I had only seen them in pictures. Subsequently, Rhoda who was black, became one of my best friends. I became involved in everything I could in school and worked hard to be unique. I didn't fit the mold of the majority. I would wear crazy outfits to school, became the class clown and social butterfly. I didn't fit in with any particular group but fit in with all. I could change like a cameleon. I could be a hippy or a prom queen. Now it seemed that acedemics were not as important as my social interactions and finding myself. I took up guitar and started writing songs and poetry.
Finally high school arrived. I continued to be involved in everything I could. I was a cheerleader and also involved in theatre, swing choir, concert choir, madrigals, debate club, student council and got "most witty" of my senior class. On week-ends it was frisbie in the park, Boones Farm Strawberry Hill, repelling and, swimming in the clay pits.(In my sister Janis' white bathing suit I'm reminded) Life was good! Our senior class went on a Europeon tour. I remember how awesome it was to be able to perform one of my original songs with the swing choir in supporting harmony. What a wonderful experience to travel abroad and taste the cultures of Holland, Lucern, Amsterdam, East Germany and Switzerland. My childhood and growing years were blessed.
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