Movie: A Christmas Story (Bully Memory)

Christmas Day 2009
Arriving at work this Christmas morning, the Christmas Special on TBS was A Christmas Story- the one with the little boy named Ralphie; a chubby one with big black rimmed glasses. His Christmas wish was to receive a blue BB air rifle that he had scene in the store window Christmas display. There was a scene where a bully had thrown a snowball right smack in his face; he cried but got sneered at from the bully in front of the usual crowd of kids. I think this wasn't the first time for this, but this particular moment, he lost it and let out all his frustrations on the bully. I mean he lost it; Reminded me of myself years ago.

We were living on Delaware St; I had to have been a 4th to 5th grader. There was a set of redhead freckled faced twin boys who lived somewhere in the neighborhood; they picked on me quite a bit to the point that I was ready to blow, too. I remember telling my buddy my brother, George who we now call Nik. One day while werwere walking across alot on Grace ST., actually it was the Miller's side lot, and I saw one of the boys. I remember pointing him out to George who grabbed him and held his arms while I punched him to smitherings or so it felt to me. I'll never forget that sense of letting out it gave me. I was so grateful to Nik for giving me the opportunity. Never had any more problems with that kid although I bet I looked like a crazy girl to him. Did I ever say "thank you", Nik?

Homemade Pancakes

For many years, I've been craving my homemade pancakes (of which my chocolate chip pancakes are well known & liked by any kid who stayed all nite at our house). I lost my Betty Crocker cookbook several years ago in a move. I decided to look it on online. Voila!!! There it was. I made it and was worried it may flop on my first time around with Larry. It, severely, reminded me of the one big flop I made for a birthday stayover for Heidi one year(of which was a popular girl that she wanted to impress & had bragged on my pancakes). The party was great. I remember the kids played games in the yard for which I organized. I had them make homemade pizza and root beer floats. I made a lemon birthday cake (a first timer). It was all a blast except for they didn't like the cake but all else. They had dance contests in the living room of which Heidi pretty much won them all. She was a good dancer. Then morning came with the pancakes and boy did they flop. They weren't big and fluffy and I think they tasted flat. I did it by memory(which failed me - my ego I think). I think I used baking soda instead of powder. Nasty. Poor little Heidi was embarrassed. Spoiled her moment. Ruined the prior days events. Sorry, Heidi. My pancakes turned out this time. Satisfied our taste buds.

Blizzards & Snow Days

The worst snow cancellation that I can remember with the Danville Schools was when Amy was attending Washington School (torn down a year later). It was so bad that the buses weren't allowed to return kids to their homes. The only way a child would be able to go home was for the parent to come and pick them up. I remember worrying how she would take it but consoled myself with the knowledge that her Aunt Jody was a teacher there and would be there, too. As it turned out, dad was in town, picked her up, and brought her home. I was relieved.

Cadbury Bunny & Billy

I saw the Cadbury Creme Egg commercial for this year now out. This year's commercial shows a lion, cat , and another animal with bunny ears on. Back in the day when the kids were little, it was only the bunny rabbit next to the Cadbury Eggs saying, "Cluck!!!Cluck!!! Cluck!!" . One time while visiting over a relatives house close to Easter - Billy made some comment about the rabbit saying, "Cluck!!!etc..." - as if he really thought rabbits say "Cluck". I corrected him on which animal made that noise but he said, "Uh Uh, on TV the rabbit does. I remember laughing and explaining it to him. But as an afterthought, for a city kid pre-school who never saw a chicken - this was understandable why he thought that.

Heidi had two best buds on Sherman St. One was a little girl named Mandy. They were born around the same time. I think Mandy was born first. Her mom, Debbie, and I were pregnant at the same time. She had a brother named Eric who was Amy's best bud during that time, too. We had a yellow plastic pool which they played in at least one summer. They had fun. We have one picture of that pool. I remember once dad got in the pool, too, cause he was hot. It was funny seeing an adult in that kiddy pool.

Heidi, also, had Trisha. Trisha and Heidi were like twins. They were the same age, heighth, hair color, and weight. Katilyn and Mickayla remind me of them. I babysat Trish while mom and dad were at work. They, actually, only lived about a block away. I enjoyed their little friendship- it was so cute. One time, though, I can remember giving them both a big spanking. It was more of a scared reaction. They were chasing each other and had running out in the street from behind our car and around. Oh, did that scare me. Praise God there wasn't any traffic. I just couldn't believe they did that. We weren't so lucky as to have a fenced yard.

Heidi Memories

I remember one hot hot summer day we had an appt for Olan Mills for Heidi. She was 2-3 yrs old. She sure was having fun playing outside. OH, she did NOT want to go in to take a bath or get her hair combed!!!! She threw a BIIIIG FIT threw the whole getting ready. I had to spank her while trying to get her dressed. She was being such a stubborn child -- to put it nicely. I remember thinking how was that picture going to turn out? I envisioned a red face with swollen eyes from crying but it ended up really cute. You couldn't tell she had been such a fisty kid getting ready. She had a pair of navy blue shorts, white elastic blue print tube top with shoulder ties, and wore piggy tails. She looks so adorable in that picture. Do you have that picture or remember it?

St Pattty's Day Assignment

I remember while going to college I had an art class once on St Patrick's Day. The teacher gave us an assignment one year (majority of the class was mom's): cook something for dinner tonite that was green and write a paragraph about the family reactions. I went home and decided to include green mashed potatoes as part of the supper. Boy did Billy like that!!! He was so excited to have green mashed potatoes that he wouldn't eat any mashed potatoes without being green or at least until mom ran out of green food coloring. I didn't decided not to indulge any longer in is fetish and refused to buy any more green coloring so Billy had to get back into regular ole mashed potatoes.