Just for fun, let’s go way, way back to early childhood– say, age five and under. For reference, I was born in 1974. Here’s what I remember:
1. My favorite outfit
I had a dress that was white on the top and knit plaid on the bottom. It had a breast pocket that was clear plastic so you could see a picture of a lion inside. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. Actually, I’m sure it was hideous and unbearably tacky, but I remember wearing it to Mass, which means my mother must have understood how much I loved it.
I also had not one, but two pairs of corduroy pants that were lined with plaid flannel. My mother got that at Marsen’s Army Navy Department Store. I made sure my cuffs were turned up so everyone knew what wonderful pants they were.
2. Favorite disgusting kid food
On Saturdays, we had grinders at our house; which meant that there were leftover grinder rolls on Sundays. And that meant that we could come home after Mass and sit at the table reading Archie comics and dipping hunks of rolls in orange juice or Coke. Exquisite!
PIC Pop Tate does not approve.
3. Earliest memory
I was walking down the front steps, and my big sister, Abby, said, “Way to go, Simmy!” So I must have been walking with one foot on each step, instead of carefully setting both feet on a step before proceeding down. I remember thinking something like, “Can’t stop to listen, gotta concentrate” and the zooming away, feeling powerful and brave.
I also remember getting my head stuck under the couch. Normally, my head would fit under the couch, but I was wearing two pony tails with those plastic ball elastics.
PIC Goody beaded ponytail holders
Why don’t they sell those anymore? Those were great. Unless you are trying to get your head out from under the couch.
4. Biggest fear
Nothing original here. The idea of my parents dying was the worst thing I could imagine. I remember sitting with my three older sisters, trying to come up with a loving sentiment to put in the newspaper for one of those special Mother’s Day pages. My contribution was, “Happy Mother’s Day. I hope you don’t die too soon.”
5. Favorite book
Richard Scarry’s Best Storybook Ever
I liked the cartoony stories full of dumb crooks, Lowly Worm, and crazy detailed diagrams of every possible item of clothing a rabbit could own, and such, but I was completely captivated by the more realistic illustrations — the ones of the baby bear who rode on his father’s shoulders, the bunny who shopped in a candy store, the hedgehog who found a perfect apple in the snow and brought it home for his wife. Gorgeous, and a paradise of warmth and security.
Plus, this book is long. I felt like I could keep reading it forever and never run out of nice things.
6. Secret desire
The living room, I thought, would be an earthly paradise if only the floor slanted down from the walls toward the center, and the bottom were covered with pillows and toys, so you could just slide and play, slide and play all day. (Now that I am an adult, our living room is strangely like this, except it only slants one way, there are apple cores, rolls of toilet paper that the dogs chewed up, broken Christmas ornaments, and missing cell phone chargers mixed in with the pillows and toys. It does not feel like paradise, per se.)
7. Earliest dream I can remember
I was eating a banana, when he suddenly got mad, became enormous, and ate me.
PIC banana biting man
First one to say “Calling Doctor Freud” is out. (More banana art here.)
Now your turn!
Favorite Outfit
Favorite Disgusting Kid Food
Earliest Memory
Biggest Fear
Favorite Book
Secret Desire
Earliest Dream you can remember
And don’t forget to check out Conversion Diary for the other Seven Quick Takes. Happy Friday, everyone!
2. If you want to be fancy, you can paste the strips to colored paper — purple for the first, second, and fourth weeks, and pink for the third. If you don’t want to get fancy, just use them as is, or let the kids color the pictures in. Make a paper chain and hang it in a prominent place.
