"A grownup is a child with layers on." - Woody Harrelson


Peeling back the layers.




Travel back with me to Carthage, TX and the days when I was no more than five years old.  I don't know for sure if all of these memories stem from that one summer day or if several melded into one in my mind.  It was the Fourth of July.  We were at a picnic table in Willie's shady back yard.  We had hamburgers and French fries.  Homemade French fries.  I have a very vivid memory of sitting on that picnic table, eating those  fries.  Just cool enough for me to eat.  I can taste the grains of salt sprinkled upon them..  Each fry was a very pale gold all over, with the edges slightly darker.  I remember eating off all the edges first, and then the rest of the fry.

Later there was ice cold watermelon.  I remember Daddy showing me how to spit the seeds.  Trying to get me to do it.  Making sort of a contest out of it.

I remember very late in the afternoon when shade was all over the left side of our yard.  Being out in the San Augustine grass and me convincing my Daddy to play Leap Frog with me.  I had never played.  I had seen it somewhere, perhaps on a cartoon.  It seemed like such a wonderful game.  My sweet, dear Daddy obliged me.  It must of been a sight!  All 6'  and 200 lbs of him playing on the grass with a tiny me.  I'm sure there was no way I cleared him when I tried to leap him.  The game itself was probably a fiasco.  But the memory is warm, rich and fills me with a father's love.
























What about you?  Any extra vivid memories of some single event?  Any first times seem extra special?  Ever convince a parent to do some ridiculous thing with you?

Thanks for sharing!

Barbara