It was here ...

Marcus Whitman Elementary - Richland, WA

Wright Street ... I walked down this street everyday (as a kid) to get to school :)

The big oak tree on the property ...

I was driving down a very familiar street and glanced over to see the rubble of my old elementary school. I instantly pulled over to see the wreckage for myself.

Could it be? My old childhood school crashed to the ground? Yup. There it was - piles of memories.

It was here that my 3rd grade teacher tried to teach me to ride a bike. It was here that I made friends and played kick-ball and had the first 'crush' of my life. It was here that I made my very first piece of clay art for my mom. It was here that I learned how to play tetherball and Chinese jump rope. It was here that I learned to do the moon walk and break dance. It was here I took calligraphy after school and learned to write beautifully. It was here that I ate my mom's homemade lunches on homemade bread. It was here I had school pictures and wrote pieces for the Young Author's contest. It was here that I passed a few 'love notes' in class and blushed because the cute boy wrote back. It was here, I learned to sing Skip to My Lou and Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree. It was here, I played the ladybug from "James and the Giant Peach" in the class play because I had a polka dot shirt. It was here I wore an eye patch and learned how to be happy even though I looked different. It was here that I met my brother, Travis, after school so we could walk home together. It was here that I was chased by boys. It was here that I made some of my dearest friends. It was here that I spent a great deal of my childhood.

As I stood on the school grounds, I remembered a lot. It was a great trip down memory lane. I was happy to see they left the big oak trees and I gathered a few acorns to take home.

It was here that the big trees reminded me that we all have roots.

I am thankful for the years I had at Marcus Whitman Elementary and for the roots it gave me.

A new school will be built here. A new Marcus Whitman Elementary. It will provide roots for children in the future.

I am grateful for the 'old school' that was mine.

{Race Chariots}

My Grandpa Lichfield (who is no longer alive) used to own a race chariot business. He made these amazing chariots and when we would go visit him, they were in his backyard. The older cousins would pretend to be horses and pull the chariots full of the younger cousins around ...

We recently sold our house and I'm trying to de-junk and go through everything as we will be
moving (in the not too distant future) and I came across the above bumper sticker.
My Grandpa used to give those out to everyone he met!
I always loved his sense of humor and his ability to tell stories!

I can just hear him saying -
"The Surgeon General said nothing about smoking the competition!"

Funny :)

{I hope you dance ...}

Have you ever bumped into a moment in life that brings up another moment from life? I had one of those 'bumping episodes' yesterday. Here’s what happened –

My daughter, Lauren, and my oldest son, Kade and I were dropping off some “Wiggle Like a Fish” CDs to the owner at Aunt Franny’s Toy shop. (In case you don’t know, my husband performs for kids and families). This musical adventure keeps us busy!

As I was leaving the store I noticed several guys coming out of the Tuxedo shop (located next to Aunt Franny’s toys) and realized it was prom weekend. I turned to my son and asked him if planned on attending the prom when he got older. "Yes!" He told me.

At that very moment I had a flash back to my younger years. I was a freshman in high school and my younger sister, Amy, and I wanted our older brother, Travis to go to the prom. We wanted to see him all decked out and mostly, we wanted to see his date and her gorgeous gown!
(I couldn't go to the prom until I was dating age: 16).

We devised a plan. We wrote him a letter and told him who he should ask and informed him we would pay for the date. How you ask? We had paper routes! We would pool the money together and send him to the prom. We were thrilled with our plan and slid the letter under his bedroom door.

Much to our disappointment, he didn’t go to the prom – even with our very appealing offer. In fact, he never made it to any formal dance during his lifetime. That summer, he died in a car accident.

As we drove away from the tux shop, I turned to Kade and said – “I can’t wait for you to go to the prom!” I told him about Travis and how his aunt and I offered to pay for his date and about the letter that we slid under the bedroom door.

Kade wanted to know more and as we pulled into our driveway – we were both crying.

It’s amazing how one life can leave such a lasting impression.

{Memories from the corners of my mind}
Of the way we were!

Amy, Wendy, Katie and Jennie
Easter Sunday - 1983 (ish)

Wendy and Amy - Easter Sunday 1976

While growing up, every year at Easter, my Mom would sew my sisters and me a new dress. Oftentimes, we had matching gowns.

PS: It’s the laughter we remember, the love and yes – all the beautiful clothes
handmade by mom.

Cheers to the way we were and who we are today!

Happy Easter :)

Leap Year Powers -

I first learned about Leap Year as a young girl. I had a neighbor who was born on Leap Year (February 29) and she informed my sister, Amy and I of all of her magical powers – from being a Leap Year Child. We thought she was all-knowing and pretty much ruled the world because of her special ‘Leap Year’ Status.

Myth #1: Those born on Leap Year can breathe through their eyes (under water) –

I remember standing in our front yard and Debra coming over to demonstrate one of her amazing Leap Year abilities. She told us she could breathe through her eyes under water. We believed it! And stood staring at the bucket as she plunged her head into it and blew bubbles with her mouth (with her eyes wide open). We stood there in awe thinking – We’re not worthy to be in her presence….Wow – Ahhhh …

I’m laughing out loud right now remembering how much she used the ‘Leap Year Card’ in her favor to convince us of her endless supply of power and special talents.

Funny the stuff you believe as a kid!!!

Cheers to the magical influence of those born on this day :)

PS: Debra – wherever you are … Thanks for the childhood memories! Every Leap Year I think of you and all the funny things we learned as neighbors on our little spot in the world.

******

Art Credit:

Leap Frog by Jennie Stanfield (2007)