Wow, can you believe this is week 21? The Topic this week is: “A Childhood Memory.”
Remember, I haven’t participated every week, but some authors have, so try to visit their blogs since this is a BLOG HOP. I’m excited to see their childhood memories.
A Childhood Memory:
I grew up in Detroit in my grandmother’s large brick home. I don’t remember the day we moved in with Grandma, but I do have an early memory of living somewhere else. But this isn’t the childhood memory I will mention today. My other grandmother, my dad’s mom, lived in what we call “Up North” about fifty miles south of the Mackinac Bridge. I’m combining a couple memories that took place at her cottage home on a Lake.
We didn’t go up there often, therefore, I barely remember my paternal grandfather. One memory I have of him is when we went apple picking down the road from Grandma’s house. He had an old pickup truck. I’m willing to bet the truck was a Ford. All my family “up north” drove, and, today, still drive a Ford truck or car. How weird, because now I do to. Back to the memory…
Bushels of apples were being loaded into the back of Grandpa’s truck, but my most important memory was having my Grandpa lift me up into the back of the truck, too. 
He and I were laughing, which tells me we were happy together. I don’t know how young I was, but it might’ve been before I started school. It’s the only memory I have of him.
I think my female cousin was there. She and I are the only girls out of twelve cousins and brothers. Later when I was in school—maybe kindergarten, my dad received a phone call from his middle brother who lived near Grandma and Grandpa. After the call, my dad called his youngest brother who lived near us. (My favorite uncle)
I remember a lot of running around and my dad being sad, then my uncle appeared. Dad had packed a suitcase. This got me in trouble a lot, but I was an inquisitive child, so I asked why everyone cried. My grandpa had passed away, and my dad and uncle rushed up north to be with my grandma. I don’t remember a trip up north or a funeral, but I do remember my dad being sad for some time.
Another memory I have of the lake house was ice fishing with my dad in freezing cold temperatures. Once, on the way out the back door to the lake, I paid attention to Grandpa’s overall’s hanging frozen on the day porch. Funny, I remember the frozen overalls, but I don’t remember Grandpa being there. Something about those frozen clothes hanging on a line stuck with me. LOL. Four of my cousins still live up north, and a fifth has vacation lake property. The sixth lives in Florida. Larry, the youngest cousin of the bunch, took this picture of what used to be Grandma’s house on the lake.
Back to ice fishing. I remember being so bundled up, I could barely move. I trudged out there on the frozen lake with my dad early one morning. Once we arrived to his “spot,” he drilled the hole. After a few minutes of sitting at this silly hole in the ice, it was the last place I wanted to be because my feet were already freezing. I stuck a pole in for a short time. It wasn’t like I never fished with my dad before, but ice fishing was boring.
Oh, sure, I had brothers, but I’m the one who fished with Dad. I stood the cold for as long as I could before making my way back to the house, which seemed like a mile though the cottage stayed in sight. I remember asking my grandma about the frozen clothes. She laughed because it seemed odd to me. “How could clothes dry if they were frozen?” I’d asked.
I wasn’t one of Grandma’s favorite grandkids. Six other grandkids lived close to her and she talked about them all the time. In fact, I didn’t much like her either. She wasn’t a caring and compassionate grandma. She’d make fun of me for crying when my parents went out on the town with my aunt and uncle. She called me a “baby” for crying. At home in Detroit, my parents didn’t go out on the town, so I wasn’t used to being left alone with a near stranger. Besides, she and my maternal grandmother were total opposites, and Grandma Alice loved me like crazy. It wasn’t until I had grown that Grandma Gertie and I became friends and I did grow to love her.
Oops, I combined more than a couple childhood memories. If you’re still reading, I hope the memories weren’t as boring as the ice fishing. Thanks for reading if you made it this far.
Remember, this is a blog hop! Hoppity hop right on over to the Marketing For Romance Writers Blog Hop page. Thanks for visiting. Enjoy your weekend.
Other than the lake house, images are from Pixabay.
Link to the Blog Hop participants.
This is a Blog Hop!
26 thoughts on “#AmWriting 52 Week Blog Challenge Pickin’ Apples #MFRWauthor”
RobinMichaela
I’m glad you have memories of your Grandpa (both of mine passed away long before I was born). Your apple picking memory made me think of the U-Pick farms near where I grew up. We’d pick strawberries by the basket full and Mom would make shortcakes, then slice and dice the strawberries and top them with fresh whipped cream. Yum! Great post!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Yes, yum for the fresh strawberry shortcake. 🍓 I used to take my kids strawberry and apple picking at U-Pick farms. I don’t think they were happy about the strawberry picking after about twenty minutes. 😉
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Pingback: Childhood Memories: Raising a Baby Bird – #MFRWauthor – Author Robin Michaela
aliciacoleman
You have wonderful memories. It’s amazing how much we remember the older we get.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Hi, Alicia. Thank you. I’m thankful I can still remember these things. 😊 This was a good topic.
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Cathy Brockman
I loved the Apple Picking Memory. My Grandpa use to go sell Apples and fruit whatever was in season. I remember getting the culls to can LOL
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Cathy. I’m glad you have a Grandpa memory, too. 😊 I remember canning tomatoes with my mom and dad.
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Ed Hoornaert
Memories are funny things, and your ice fishing tale dredged up a memory I’d almost forgotten. In fact, I’m not sure if I remember it or just remember my uncle telling the story and chuckling. It was the first time I went fishing, with my uncle and a cousin. I was pretty young, though I don’t remember how young. I hated putting a worm on the hook–it seemed cruel. Anyway, I caught a fish, replaced the worm, and dipped it in the water. When a fish headed toward the worm, I jerked my line out of the water and told the fish, “You aren’t going to get THIS worm.”
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Memories are a funny thing, Ed. I love your fishing memory! Now your story reminds me of a memory with my youngest son and fishing. He was so excited to fish the first time, but as soon as he caught one and saw a drop of blood on it, he felt awful about hurting it. That ended his fishing for many years. Thanks for stopping by.
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Linda McLaughlin
Interesting memories. Glad you had Grandma Alice to love you.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Hi, Linda. Thanks. Grandma Alice was a doll. She passed away when I was fifteen, and it was devastating. I appreciate you reading. Have a nice weekend.
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alinakfield
Sounds like you had a fun childhood. Great stories, Mary!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Some of the times were fun, Alina. This was one of them. Thanks for reading! 🙂
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catherinewolffe53
I sure enjoyed the snippets of your grandfather. Mine died when I was young, and snippets are what I have of him. He had an old Ford truck as well. What is it about that generation and Fords? Lol, I can still remember sitting between him and my dad as he drove us to town. There was a large cream colored insignia on the dash. I always thought that was an odd place for such a big Ford logo. You did it, Mary. You got me thinking. Love the memories! Have a wonderful weekend.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I’m glad you enjoyed the snippets of him, Catherine. Figuring out the year he died puts me in Kindergarten or fist grade. I guess Henry Ford had a lot of influence on that generation. It’s cute you still remember the insignia on the dashboard. It’s good that my snippet brought up a memory. It sounds like a nice one.
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D. Wallace Peach
I love reading about your memories of growing up, Mary. After following you for a few years, it’s fun to get to know more about you. Funny how we have snippets of scenes that for some reason stand out, but there they are. I agree about ice fishing – a little boring and a lot cold. 🙂
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Diana. I tend to leave the bad memories out, but I almost wrote one this time. I make childhood sound better than it was most of the time. It is funny how some teeny things will stand out. As I was writing the post, I had a vision of my grandpa wearing a fishing hat. That’s all I remember about whatever scene led to it. Now days, I don’t even like to go out on the ice.
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D. Wallace Peach
I think many of us tend to edit out the less pleasant memories and that’s okay. The most important thing, perhaps, is not to forget the good ones 😀
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Ellie Mack
IT’s odd how certain things will stick in our minds. I’m glad that you have at least one memory of your paternal grandfather. Loved reading this. Thanks for sharing!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Hi, Ellie, Thanks for visiting. I’m glad, too, I have that memory to cherish. I’ll have to ask my younger brother if he has any memories of him. My cousins who live up there were lucky. Sometimes I hear their stories of being with him.
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Meka James
It’s amazing the details that stick with you over the years. Even if it’s not a complete memory, certain parts stay.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
So true, Meka. I think it’s amazing, too, that out of the blue one of these memories can sneak out. I just got home. Can’t wait to read your post.
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Sherry Lewis
It’s interesting how memories work, isn’t it? I can remember some things about the morning my maternal grandmother died back in 1963 vividly. Enjoyed your post!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Hi, Sherry. I can remember, what I think is, the first funeral I ever went to. It stands out clearly. No one prepared me for what to expect. You’re so right about remembering some things like they happened yesterday. Thanks for visiting. I’ve been gone and haven’t made my rounds to the hop yet. Looking forward to reading yours.
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Teagan Geneviene
Mary, I got a chuckle about the frozen overalls. 🙂 That sounds like the kind of thing kid-me would focus on too. Funny the type of things, bits from a scene, that stay with us long after the rest of the event has faded away.
Wishing you a beautiful Memorial Day weekend. Mega hugs.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Glad you got a chuckle, Teagan. I aim to please. Haha. I almost posted a memory that will never leave me, but I wanted to be cheery today. 🙂 I hope you have a peaceful Memorial Day weekend. Thanks for reading.
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