Manic Monday

Somewhere in My Youth or Childhood

1) Did you do what you were told when you were young, or did you rebel?
I was, primarily, a good girl. My mother confirms that I was "really easy" to raise. I certainly caused some family drama, but nothing external to the house or family.

2) What did your childhood bedroom look like?
When I was really little I had pink walls. Once my brother moved to the basement and I inherited his former bedroom, I had blue walls which eventually were painted gold. The curtains were sort of a heavy almost-canvas fabric (very light-blocking!) with a faintly southwestern design on them in dark pinks, browns, blacks and cream. I actually really liked the curtains. I never did the "girly girly" thing (although I did crave a canopy for a few years because my best friend had one), and I'd given up dolls for the most part by age 11. There were Holly Hobby plaques (not plaGues--although that's kind of a funny slip more than just a typo) on the walls, and it was VERY late-70s. Knick-knacks and doo-dads galore; I was trying to be my mother. LOTS of books, lots of paper.

Some things just never change. Except all my knick-knacks are confined to a small area now.

3) Are there foods, smells, songs or sounds that bring back memories of childhood for you?
Little Debbie Swiss Rolls always remind me of Mrs. Becker, my babysitter for 1st-4th grade. She was a Seventh-Day Adventist and didn't eat meat, so she'd make wonderful meals with "fake meat" (remember, this was the early 70s--I'm not sure what the "fake meat" was made of) which I loved. I made my mom buy some occasionally, which she hated.
Blood, Sweat and Tears and "Up, Up and Away" remind me of when my brother was in the next room playing his records over and over.
The sound of trains and racetracks at night takes me back to summers. We didn't have a/c, so the windows were open all night and those were the sounds I heard while going to sleep.
I can't think of any smells. I'd bet if I could find my mom's hand cream for sale anywhere, I'd be launched right back, though.

4) What is something you often did on Sundays when you were growing up?
Always: go to church and come home to a house redolent of cooking chicken or beef. There really is nothing better than walking into a foody-smelling house! We'd go change and then get the rest of the meal prepped and eat the Big Meal of the day at 1 or so.
Often: watch Wide World of Sports or the Broncos on TV, and 60 Minutes.


[Incidentally, points to anyone who knows where the title of this meme came from...]