March 16, 2000    
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What is your fondest childhood memory?

I posted this over usenet some while back, and I like the way I said  it so... I'm plagiarizing myself ;)

I remember this vaguely, as I was only 2 when we went to New York. My godmother and uncle lived upstate New York, in part of a beautiful old house they rented from a wonderful elderly couple. My mother, father, aunt, grandmother, and I went to visit them for Christmas. There was snow everywhere. Almost all I remember is white, white everywhere, covering anything that would stand still. There's something so incredibly healing about all that whiteness when you're young and with people you trust. I still dream about it sometimes, that blanket of whiteness covering everything.Eat the snow, my father said, handing me a bit. We were at the Statue of Liberty. It was so tall, I was so young, it seemed to almost reach the sky. We went to the top but I refused to believe we were all the way at the top of the statue... surely there were so many more miles to climb! Eat the snow, my aunt persuaded. I expected it to be sweet. I'm not sure why, maybe it was its pristine white purity, the innocence of it all. But it was cold, so cold, it melted as soon as it touched my lips.

We went sledding. My uncle, an amateur filmmaker, decided to make a movie. My father was some German spy, and I was his assistant. We were running from a terrifying snow monster.Eat the snow, my mom laughed. In my dreams I taste snow, reminded of purity, childhood, youthful innocence... and a bit of terror over some scary snow monster.

Amy, 23
Baton Rouge
, LA

It is hard to know exactly which is memory and what is Kodachrome. Being pushed on a swing in the bright summer sun. Riding bikes all around the neighborhood and playing hiding-and-see or kick-the-can at dusk. Visting my grandma who fried fantastic doughnuts and ironed everthing (including the kitchen towels). Watching baseball and cop shows with my dad. Getting my library card. Building a snow fort in the the Ohlman's backyard.   Treasure hunts at my parent's camp in the summer with my cousins and sibligns. There are so many little snippets. I can't pick just one.

Felicia, 34
Somerville,
MA

My favorite childhood memory is the one where I was a child. I didn't have to worry about anything. My biggest problem was deciding what I was going to have for a snack.

Elizabeth, 18
Rochester
, MN

I can remember following a woodland brook to an abandoned reservoir which has silted up, providing a habit for all manner of marsh plants and animals. I particularly enjoyed finding the tadpoles--and being able to identify them from my book learning.

Jill, 59
Saylorsburg,
PA

I can remember as a child spending time with my grandparents in the summertime. My mother used to leave my sister and I there during the day while she was at work so they could watch us, and I always had so much fun. My favorite thing was summer evenings, when they would pull out the lawn chairs and sit them on the driveway to enjoy the cool weather. My great-grandmother and great-aunt live across the street, and they would do the same. My cousins would sometimes be over at the same time, and we'd play and chase each other and drink strange soda mixtures until the mosquitos were too much to bear. It was true happiness, being so innocent and carefree. My grandparents still do that on summer evenings, and it still makes me happy to sit out there with them.

Nicole
Elk Grove, CA

When ever there was a major snowstorm my dad would keep all eight kids home from school, call in sick and we'd just enjoy the storm while making hot cocoa and fudge.

Alias Irrelevante

My fondest childhood memories are like my fondest adulthood memories--they're of spending time with people I loved. My grandpa, who seemed to tower above me, used to give us rolls of half dollars, and he loved us all so much. My brothers and I played in the mud or the snow or whatever was available. My mom used to walk around in thin T-shirts with no makeup and her face was so soft, and she'd cook something that smelled good or work in the garden. And when I was tiny, my father used to give me his pinky to hold instead of his whole hand.

Karen, 20
Marshelltown/Ames,
IA

There are so many....... maybe watching TV on my father's lap or curled up next to him.

But then again, there's lots of fond memories of horsing around with my sisters, especially the sister who closest in age to me.

And there's always the countless evenings sitting around the kitchen table drinking tea and talking.

And then most Saturday nights was a party at my house. My aunt,  uncle and cousin would come to visit every weekend. The adults played penny-ante poker and drank high balls all night. Us kids would hang around, play a hand when someone had to use the bathroom or if someone felt like they needed their luck to change.

Laura, 35
Lowell,
MA

Feeling like I was "cool" and "in" with the cool kids in my neighborhood. . when we formed a secret club and nailed down some carpet in the garage loft of one of my friends' parents' houses.

mothmc, 35
Pensacola,
FL

One I was thinking about today, I remember when we lived in New Brunswick, there was this hugh magnolia tree in the back yard. I remember laying on the ground under the tree, looking up at all the blossoms that where floating towards me and the ground. It was neat!

Janet, 42
E. Brunswick
, NJ

Spending time with my brother. He is quite a little bit older than me and he was always saddled with me but he never complained. He took me everywhere and taught me how to do lots of things like throw balls and play basketball and he protected me from bugs and bullies.

Kathy, 26
Garden City,
MI

My stepdad bringing me a puppy home when I was 5 years old, as a gift after I called an ambulance when my mother fell while he was working.

Nikki, 27
Kirkham ENGLAND

My fondest childhood memory was going to my grandparent's old cabin in the woods, away from people, with my three dogs,and just relaxing, and having crickets seranade me to sleep. That place was my idea of heaven.

Gavin, 15
Sydney
  AUSTRAILA

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