Saturday, February 1, 2014

My Earliest Memory

myearliestmemory
I have been tagged by Sheethal Susan Jacob at "Scribblings" to share my earliest memory.  After much thought, the following memory surfaced.



       I went to stay with my babysitter, Dorothy, daily until my mom quit her job when I was in first grade.  When I was about 3 my mom had a hysterectomy and had to be in the hospital for a long time.  Unfortunately at that age, I simply didn’t understand where my mommy was.  My dad was an over the road truck driver all of his life so it wasn’t unusual for him to not be around.  What was unusual was the sudden disappearance of my mommy.  







      Even at such a young age I knew what time my mommy normally came and picked me up.   Right after I watched Bugs Bunny on television, she always came for me.   I would wait watching out the front window until I seen my mommy’s car pull into the driveway, and then race to the door to greet her.   One afternoon, my mommy didn’t come.  I waited and waited, growing more upset the later it got.  Tears streamed down my cheeks.  I wanted her to come get me.  I had always gone home.  I had never spent the night at Dorothy’s house before and I was scared.   All I knew was I didn’t want to stay there anymore.  I wanted my mommy and I wanted to go home.  When supper was ready, Dorothy would coax me away from the window and sadly I would go eat.    Every afternoon from that day on I would wait in front of the window crying for my mommy, and Dorothy would try to comfort me the best she could with plenty of hugs and by keeping me occupied with toys and games.






        Finally my dad came and took me to the hospital to see my mom.  I remember being so happy.  The hospital seemed like such a big place!  Now that I had her back, I didn’t want to leave her there at the hospital.  I wanted to stay with her!  While there, my mom gave me a collection of little plastic cups to play with that she had received every single time the nurse had brought her pain pills.  She had saved them just for me.


        I sat on my mommy’s hospital bed, playing with those little cups, perfectly content to be at her side once again.  When it was time to go I was careful not to hurt her when I hugged and kissed her goodbye.   She promised me she would be home soon and told me to be a good little girl.  I took those little cups back to Dorothy’s house and took care of my dolls and stuffed animals, giving each a single M+M as their medicine.  Somehow I was convinced that if they were all well, mommy would come sooner rather than later and take me home.  One day she did.

Now it is Hema Anavatti’s turn!  Be sure to visit her at "Pixie's Take on Everything" and read all about her earliest memory!


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52 comments:

  1. How clever of your mom to keep those little cups for you and how cute to give your toys their "medicine" . I can imagine how scary it must've been for you to not have your mom pick you up - that would've scared the daylights out of me too. hugs.

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    1. Suzy, I am so pleased you enjoyed it!! I loved to play with my dolls and stuffed friends, feeding them and in this case doctoring them. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  2. That was sad you had to be away from your mom. But glad that you got to meet her very soon. And could visualize the happiness and smile on your when you saw your mom... Loved the picture of you both together <3

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    1. Sheethal, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Perhaps that is why this particular memory was so vivid, because it was particularly traumatic for me. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  3. Aww Kathy that was the sweetest post ever. And that's my dread too. How will the kids cope if ever I have to be in hospital!! Mercifully it hasn't happened. I can empathise with your mum.. How she collected hose cups for you.. No one in the world other than a mum would know exactly what would make her child happy. Hugs to you and your mum.. You look so good together in that picture.

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    1. tulika, I worry about that too if I ever had to be in hospital. What would become of my kids?? One thing is for sure, their daddy would have to come home off the road and be with them! Hopefully both of us will stay healthy!! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! I am so pleased you enjoyed it! ♥

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  4. Aah! I can imagine the anguish you must have experienced while waiting at Dorothy's place. Glad that you were united with your Mom soon. As kids we could play for hours with simple things like the cups in your case. I dont think, kids now-a-days do that!! Loved both your pics! ♥

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    1. Shilpa, LOL seems like my kids are the exception especially when they were really little. I could go out and buy them the most fascinating toys and they would busy themselves with the box the toy came in!! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  5. That is such a warm warm story, Kathy. LYour love for your mother is so evident from each word here. Beautiful story. :)
    But I disagree with Shilpa, here...kids today also play with the darnest of things...my daughter still likes playing with discarded stuff like toothpaste boxes...soap boxes

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    1. myriadrainbowhues, I never have been able to understand why kids will abandon their expensive toys to play with the discarded stuff! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  6. Oh Kathy...I can so empathise! I was going to write about my earliest memory to do with my mum leaving for a few months as well but refrained from that. It's so hard when you're little and have no idea why! I'm glad though it had a happy ending...
    Thanks for sharing your memory and the lovely pictures...

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    1. Psych Babbler, me too! I am so pleased you enjoyed it! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  7. Such a touching first memory, Kathy. You describe beautifully how children react when their routines suddenly change and a loved one goes missing. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Martha, I am so pleased you enjoyed it! I realized after I started reading the other entries for this challenge that even more memories began coming to me. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  8. Little kids need their mommies so much and not being able to see her must have been so scary, hugs to the little Kathy :)

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    1. sulekkha, they sure do!! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  9. What a sweet story Kathy! How scary for a little girl!!

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    1. Joseph, I am so pleased you enjoyed my little story. It must have been pretty traumatic for me to remember it so vividly. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  10. This made my heart ache, Kathy. I'm told that when my Mom had to leave me for a few days - I was only one - and though my Dad and Grandmom were around, I stopped drinking milk. I only drank when my Mom got back. Children and mothers - a bond of love that goes beyond any other! Thank you for sharing. ♥

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    1. Corinne, I am so pleased you enjoyed my post. Thank you for stopping by, for your sweet comments, and for sharing one of your memories! ♥

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  11. I still love those little plastic cups (in the pic). I had to stay with my maternal grandparents for 2 months as my dad was not well . My grandma later, told me that I had lost 4 kg weight being separated from my mom. Children and mom have a special bond/relationship.

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    1. Kalpana, They are pretty cool! It is a special bond between mommy and child. So glad I had kids so I could experience first hand. Thank you for stopping by. I am so pleased you enjoyed my post!! ♥

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  12. Such a sweet and sad story, Kathy. Your mom sounds like she was a very lovely lady. :)

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    1. Laurel, I am so pleased you enjoyed my story. She really was. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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    1. JoJo, I am so pleased you liked it! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  14. Sad and sweet memory, Kathy! My mom had to go to the hospital, too, when I was about 5 for glaucoma surgery, but my dad, luckily, was around to take care of my brother and me. Love your photos.

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    1. ElaineLK, I am so happy you enjoyed my post! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  15. Such a vivid memory. And how great that you have so many photos to accompany your post. I really enjoyed reading it.

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    1. Cindy, I am so pleased you enjoyed it!! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  16. You were so lucky to have a Dorothy. What a lovely story.

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    1. Jo, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  17. Such a cute memory this is Kathy. You and mom look adorable in the pics. Even I used to use M&Ms as tablets for my dolls. :)

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    1. jyothisdayout.com, I am so pleased you enjoyed it!! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  18. Such a sweet story Kathy! I live away from home and suddenly, this post was tugging at my heartstrings! Somedays when I'm sad or tired all I want to do is lie down beside her and know it'll all be fine! <3

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    1. Maggie, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for stopping in and for your lovely comments. I would give anything to be with my mom again. I guess I will someday. ♥

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  19. Kathy I remember something similar. My mother was in hospital, pregnant with my sister and she was asked to remain there for a while I would cry all day waiting for her to come back. And days later my father told me even she used to cry missing me in the hospital..

    Richa

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    1. Richa, oh that is so sad!! She missed you too! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments. I am so thrilled you enjoyed my memory. ♥

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  20. Poor you Kathy ...I have had a smiliar feeling when I was left at my aunts place for 2 days ...and I felt I had been abandoned by my parents and they would never come back to take me...

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    1. Shiva, Awww that is awful! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! I am so pleased you enjoyed it.

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  21. Awww...that was sad n then so sweet! It was a cite idea of giving your dolls meds! I loved this Kathy. *Hugs*

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    1. Aditi, I am so pleased you enjoyed it!! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  22. Aw.. So warm a post. The photos are lovely too.

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    1. geeta, I am so pleased you enjoyed it! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  23. At that age, it would be hard to understand her absence. I'm glad seeing at her put you at ease... and you had the cups to take with you and play with :)

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    1. jannatwrites, I am so pleased you enjoyed my post!! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  24. This is such a warm post.... I remember waiting for my dad when he was posted out of town..I would stand on a chair and look out the door every day and my mom had to pull me back...

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    1. Nabanita, I am so pleased you liked it! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments and for sharing your memories! ♥

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  25. awww!! hugs Kathy!!
    You were such a brave little girl!!

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    1. pixie, your comment made me realize that as small children...we really don't have much of a choice since the adults decide. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  26. Aaaaaw Kathy! My heart really went out to you...

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    1. Mina, I am delighted you enjoyed reading it! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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