Memories Are Forever

I have so many memories, they are the cockles of my heart. Remembering has become one of my deepest feelings as I am an 84 year old women who will soon be 85 and have joy looking back on my life.

My first remembrance was of my Sunday trips to the zoo with my dad. I was a 5 years old cute blonde girl with curly hair and always smiling. As my dad and I entered the gates to the zoo there was a darkskinned man dressed in what I thought was a conductor’s uniform who started to talk to me, I remembered what he looked like from a picture I saw in one of my story books. He asked me what I thought about the animals in the zoo. I told him I loved watching the monkeys play together. He agreed he liked them as well. We then said good bye to that man and I asked my dad who he was. My dad said he was a guard at the zoo. “How could he be a guard here and not a G-d in church”. That was when my dad explained the difference between those two words. When I think of that memory I still see a conductor like person in uniform certainly not looking like a G-d.

My second memory was a very sad one. My mom had taken me to a pool area at Manhattan Beach. It was a beautiful and hot day and everyone seemed to be in the pool to cool off. People were jumping in the water and swimming and laughing and playing. Suddenly out of nowhere the sky became black and the thunder started to rumble. Everyone was pushing and trying to leave the pool. Unfortunately a young child who was running toward the steps of the pool was hit by a thunder bolt. There was such a ruckus. People running and crying and police and ambulances riding through the beach. That scene has played over in my life several times but I have to admit I learned a lot from that terrible accident.

I remember my first day at school. School started in early September but it was exceptionally warm that month. We lived at the shore during the summer and since I was first starting kindergarten my mom decided to keep me at the shore for another week when she expected it to get cooler. We came back to Brooklyn and my mom walked with me to the school and took me to the yard where the students were lined up. My teacher, Mrs. Leeds, welcomed me and told my mom she would place me on line. My mom left the school yard and my teacher took my hand and placed me in front of the line as I am a very short person. My partner was a boy named Ronald who was also short and had a decided limp. I watched him struggle a little as he walked and I immediately wanted to “fix” him. Of course I said nothing about it to him but I did learn that I felt good seeing him playing in all of our kindergarten games without any complaining.

Life was very busy with school and social activities. There were so many memories that I have of that time. There were costume parties, football games and baseball games. Cheer leader routines were so much fun. Then came college. I was busy with class work and making new friends. I was at frat parties and sororities. It seemed that every week I had a new boyfriend. The time finally came for me to stop playing and study. I received a BS and then a MS degree in life long learning . That degree offered me so many opportunities to meet different people and learn about their lives and needs. My job allowed me to travel throughout the United States. It was so special to see diverse populations and offer them any help that I could provide. 

I suddenly remembered Ronald, the boy with the limp, when I was in kindergarten and I was now in a position to provide information and grant money for adults and children with various disabilities.

It was summertime once again and I was sitting on my porch in Rockaway Beach when a cute young man walked by and said “Hello.”

He stopped to talk and told me he completed his time in the coast guards and was soon to look for a job. He asked if he could come on my porch and talk for a while. Before I knew it we were talking for more than three hours and I found him not only good looking but smart and funny as well. He asked if I would go with him the next day to get some pizza. We got in the car and he put the radio on where they were playing show tunes which I loved listening to and even sung them although I could not carry a tune. I remember how much we laughed together and I knew then I was in love.

We married and we had two children and we were able to go to many interesting places with them. I remember the days when the waves drove us back to shore. I remember how many times I fell skiing and getting up laughing when my kids applauded me. 

I remember the speeches that were told to my children when they graduated from college. I remember the mortar board they threw in the air that said Thank You Mom and Dad. 

I remember the big smile on my husbands face when our first grandchild was born. I remember the books I read to them when they were ready for bed. The Cat in the Hat and Red the Pony were two books they loved to hear again and again.

I remember dancing together at our 50^th anniversary party. On my 80th birthday my kids surprised me with a large family party. Family and friends came from all over the map to celebrate with me. When I turned 82 my dear husband who had been ill for quite a while opened his eyes said to me, "you were the love of my Life.” He then closed his eyes forever and that was a memory I will remember for as long as I live.