Saturday, November 8, 2008

Remember Television?

When I was four, my grandparents bought us a television. We were the first in our neighborhood to have one. It was a big brown (mahogany?) cabinet with both a TV and radio. That box was so fascinating to me. Most of the time, it seemed it had only a screen with an Indian head in the middle. I'm not sure what my first program was ~ it may have been Howdy Doody. The set was a little girl's delight. My mom and my 3 sisters would sit down to watch together. Because my sisters were all in school, I got to watch in the daytime. The people and others in there were my friends. I thought they lived in there. At nap time, my mother would turn off the television and close the doors. I would rest, waiting to rush back to my friends. I thought that when the set was turned off they were all in there waiting for it to be turned back on. I was quickly disappointed when they weren't there to greet me. I held on to the delusion for a while.

The place where we lived was huge to me. In our front yard were two huge palm trees. They were equidistant to the center of the house. Our entrance was a set of french doors. As we went inside, the dining room was to the right, living room to the left. Behind the dining room was the kitchen. Our bedrooms were behind the living room. A central hall led us to the bedrooms and the other kitchen door. I slept in the room with my mother, my sisters Sylvia and Sharon shared a room and Charlotte slept in a sort of sun porch way at the rear of the house. I loved Charlotte as if she were a second mother to me. I even placed my pet snails on her pillow one early morning to show my love for her. When she stopped screaming, mama had a little talk talk with me about snails in the house.

Our back yard was a veritable treasure for a little tomboy. We had fruit trees to climb, a really fun set of clotheslines for me to ruin from time to time and lots of dirt and grass to keep me wretchedly dirty. My mom kept me in overalls instead of dresses. We had a brown dog whose name I can't remember. He was my protector. He protected so much that one day he pulled me from an apricot tree in the neighbor's yard and I was hurt. I cried because mom gave the dog to the dog catcher.

Just after that, my mom found that a skunk was living under the house. I had never seen one and didn't know why she and my sisters were making such a fuss. I thought it was the cutest kitty I had ever seen . . . it was in what I now know was a trap. I thought the kitty was thirsty, so I poured some water in his cage. He sprayed me all over! Mom burned the clothes and I spent some time in a bath of tomato juice. I actually loved all the attention. I just didn't quite know what all the noise was about.

There is a lot of water that has passed under the bridge since then. I no longer believe people live inside the television. I still love the classical music that my mom played all the time. I love dogs . . . we have 4 little ones now. My sisters grew up and married by the time I was eight years old. I lived the life as a spoiled "only" child. I'm still spoiled. I haven't played with any skunks lately, although I still think they are beautiful. It's been a long time since I played in the mud or climbed a tree. I wish I could climb a tree now . . . there's always a spectacular view from the top.

As always, I think about you all and pray for you. Please say a special prayer tonight for Donna of D's Designs as she recovers from a heart attack and bypass surgery. Many blessings,



14 comments:

Barbara In Caneyhead said...

I really enjoyed reading your childhood memories. I'd have not thought you to be to be such a little stinker....pardon the pun.

Chris/cacklinrosie101 said...

Hi Penny, I'm so glad to see an entry from you again. I have to chuckle at your story about the tv. At our last family get together, my mother was telling the story of how I believed the people were living in the tv also and that when she turned it off, she had to put a blanket on it at night so I'd think the people were sleeping. I used to wear my brothers old "dungarees". My daughters were looking at old pictures and couldn't believe I wore boys clothes. Funny how things like that just didn't matter.

Thanks for sharing your memories. I'm betting we grew up very close to the same time. Huge hugs....

friedmsw said...

Welcome back!! What a lovely post! I loved reading about your childhood memories. Also, I have learned a new word from you-equidistant. I must admit that I have never heard that word before. Thanks so much for your kind reply to my post and especially for your prayers.

Betty said...

Isn´t it fun going down memory lane sometimes. Remembering how it was and realizing that without the past, the present would not be as good.

Pamela said...

I loved this post! You made me laugh a few times. You sound like you were an adorable little girl! Yes I will say a prayer for Donna. What a shock that was, huh?
Hugs...Pam

Jeannette said...

I'm so glad I found you again Penny! Long time no see! Funny what we thought when we were young. I always thought when my sister put on her Frank Sinatra records that he had to get up and sing so we could hear it through the record player. One day I pleaded with her not to play it as it was dinner time and he'd be eating his dinner! ROFL! Skunks are pretty but they smell bad! I smelt my first skunk through the air conditioning on a coach in Arizona. Fancy your sister not being grateful for the snails, some people are so hard to please aren't they?! I never thought of you as a tomboy! Jeannette xx http://jeannettesnewtravels.blogspot.com/

Carolyn said...

Penny, I loved this post! I had so many questions as I was reading! Like, does tomato juice really take the stink out?!! God Bless you so much! I loved hearing and comparing some of the similar memories. Thank you too for your sweet comment too! It made me cry and I agreed with everything you wrote. God Bless you~ Love Carolyn

Unknown said...

Loved this entry. Memory walks are such fun; one of my favorite things to do.

Barbara said...

What a sweet post. I love reading about peoples memories. My dad knew a woman who wouldn't let anyone turn on the tv until the house was clean, she didn't want strangers seeing her messy house. LOL. Sounds like you had a wonderful childhood and kept your mom on her toes.
Barbara

Ben said...

You brought back some good memories here, Penny. Thanks for sharing this!

Ben
http://ben-better_left_unsaid.blogspot.com/

Lori said...

Penny, I really loved reading this entry. I could just see you, playing with those "kitties", climbing trees, and swinging from clotheslines.

Linda :) said...

Such happy memories..... had to chuckle at the snails, lol, I hate snails too, so slimy....
Have a blessed weekend!!!

Joyce said...

What a great walk down memory lane. Your childhood sounded a little like mine. I'm finally starting to catch up with everyone. Sorry for being so absent the last couple of weeks.
Hugs, Joyce

Lisa said...

I really enjoyed this entry!! So many nice memories!! I think you turned out great!!!!
Hugs,
Lisa