Monday Memories - #7

My Monday Morning Memories entry is focused on the prompt "times shared with family".  This memory isn't so much a single memory but rather a series of memories that were created. In 1999, I remarried and moved 80 miles northeast of where I had lived my entire life.  It was imperative to both myself and my ex that our son and daughter maintain the stability of the school system we believed in.  Therefore, that required me to make a "long" commute every day that they were with me to take them to school.  At first this wasn't an issue, as I worked in the "city" and commuted in every day for work regardless.  However, eventually my work life took me to a job in my current location.  For about 8 years, I continued this commute which was now "twice" as long (i.e. down and back in the morning, down and back in the evening).  Many people told me I was "nuts" and while that is true it isn't because of this.  I cherished those commutes with my children.  How precious are those hours when the farthest away your child can get from you is the car door?  We never had those conversations that started with "How was your day?" only to be answered by "Fine!".   Some days found us discussing frivolous topics, yet others found us discussion deep topics that in any other setting would have been awkward.  I firmly believe that these close knit relationship moments were the basis for the "grounded" and "responsible" son and daughter that developed.  I couldn't be more proud of the Man and Woman that they each have become. 

posted at http://memories-on-mondays.blogspot.com/2011/03/monday-memories-7.html

Monday Memory - Strawberry Pie

My first endeavor into Monday Memories.  One of the memories that sticks out for me from my childhood centers around one of my favorite things - "food".  I was a girl of about 5 or 6 years old.  My family had moved from Montana many years before I was born.  This meant that immediate family was far away and only visited on vacation.  The fact that we lived in "Colorful Colorado" so very close to the beautiful Rocky Mountains, suffice it to say that we were never short of summertime visitors.  Every summer some extended family would arrive and we would visit the same tourist attractions.  This memory, however, was of a visit by my Uncle Dave.  He arrived with his wife Mary and whenever he came to town he would spoil me rotten.  Being the baby in our family whose father was the baby in his family - well you guessed it I was definitely the center of attention.  We had all gathered to go out to breakfast at Village Inn.  When we walked in on this fine Sunday morning there was of course a wait.  While I waited impatiently, I kept eyeing the display case that housed all of the WONDERFUL pies.  Finally our turn came to be seated and when the waitress came around to take our order I said that I wanted that BIG STRAWBERRY PIE in the display case.  Of course, being a good parent my mother immediately informed me that I WAS NOT have strawberry pie for breakfast.  I of course proceeded to sulk and my Uncle who was wrapped around my finger immediately jumped in and informed my parents that he was a guest and if his neice wanted that strawberry pie that she was going to get it.  The bantering went back and forth and alas I was presented with not a mere slice of the pie, but the pie in it's entirety.  Determined to prove that I could eat it, I set out to eat the entire pie.  I succeeded in finishing most of it but what a price I paid.  I don't think I have ever been so incredibly full and sick to my stomach.  It took years before I could bring myself to eat strawberry pie.  However, I genuinely don't believe I learned any lessons in the process.  I was pretty impressed with my powers of persuasion.