I remember the smell
of rain
on asphalt
of sprinklers
on blacktop
they are different
in their sameness
I remember
swimming in a trash can
in a Coleman cooler
making games of the mundane
playing make believe
playing drums on pots and pans
trapeze and circus on a
plywood ramp
slip and sliding on black construction tarp
splashing in the rain
in a makeshift slicker
climbing trees
picking homegrown fruit
hide & seek
I remember
vaguely
memories of early morning school
routine
waking before the sun
walking to the bus stop
waiting near the rocks
I remember
the smell of cigarette smoke on
pleather interior
half sticks of doublemint gum
bubble gum in dad’s pocket
the smell of exhaust in the back of the
big green
truck
the sound of sports radio
before click it
or
ticket
was law
I remember being followed by the moon
in the big blue station wagon
on the way home from the drive-in
after watching an animated
film
about rodents who rescue
and a gem
sewn into the belly of a teddy
bear
I remember my dad
barrel chested with dark hair
Mimi’s violets
My mother with a handkerchief in her hair
girl scout camp
making fires
soap on a rope in a nylon tied to a milk jug
breakfast cereal
early morning hikes
I remember old friends
alex and kenny
jennifer jeannie marcy and amy
charlene and jeremy
jessica ryan josh and jeff
matt and kurtis
I remember my teachers
Mr. Rogers
Mrs. Travis
learning my abcs and finger painting
I remember montessori and sewing a button
a black and white checked floor
I remember sister Gladys in her habit
I remember the tree swing and a boy named Devin Green
I remember my first kiss
and running across wet grass in the middle of the night
sharing a room with 3 sisters
then with 2
then with one
then having a room of my own
I remember dad mowing the lawn
My mom in a red cap and gown standing at the top
of our driveway
with a baby in her belly
I remember holding my baby sister’s hand
through the slats of the crib
and drifting off to sleep with her
tight grasp on my finger
I remember growing corn and spinach
building forts
when a t-shirt, dress slip and belt
was transformed through
imagination
into the most elegant evening gown
I remember carving pumpkins
dying Easter eggs
making chocolate covered pretzels
and Christmas candy treats
hanging snowflakes from the ceiling
and stockings from the mantle
I remember believing in Santa Claus
and my heart beat in my ear drums on a feverish night
popsicles for a sore throat
and the aroma of vick’s vapor rub
I remember
my yellow bike
beanbags
headphones
my pink boombox
the first day of school
and the next first day of school
and the next
and the next
and on
and on
I remember what I was wearing each of those first days
the babysitter Bridget
with the long ponytail and glasses
a man named Pineapple and his lovely wife with the red hair
she made glistening ornaments for the tree
and one I still have
I remember
Christmas mornings and especially
the one when I got the slippers
I remember my childhood
without a linear timeline
in snapshots
in glimmers
in dreamy moments
and in that moment in my dreams
I remember
with sadness and with joy
in no particular order
and in a flood of images and emotions
I remember in new ways
the things I have forgotten
when I witness you experiencing your life moments for the first time
what a glorious gift
you
have
given me
my life memories
remembered in a
new way
