day 238: red hair and an eclipse

I had a memory today of walking to school with my friend Leigh.  She was three years older than me, but always treated me very kindly.  I would wear shorts under my plaid skirt, like most girls did then,  and we would walk up the tree-lined street to school.  My metal, purple, Osmonds lunch box swinging by my side.  


After school once we watched a solar eclipse while we stood in my front yard.  She had red hair and we would run back and forth across the street to each other's houses.  We splashed in the pool beside my house.  We danced in the carport to 45s we played on an old beige record player.  

These are some of my first memories of some independence around the age of 8 or so.  A good life.

14 comments

LisAway | April 14, 2010 at 12:19 AM

Oh, the carefree days of youth! Sounds like a good life!

Little GrumpyAngel | April 14, 2010 at 12:39 AM

This post reminds me of a show on TV awhile back about growing up in the suburbs in the 70's. I can't remember the title for some reason but I enjoyed that show. And I enjoyed this post.

Dona | April 14, 2010 at 2:43 AM

I always wore shorts under my skirts too. However, I was never cool enough to own an Osmonds lunch box. Fun post.

gigi | April 14, 2010 at 5:10 AM

We had a carport on the house I grew up in. People don't have them much any more. We spent all summer playing and skating and riding our bikes up and down the driveway and up under the carport. You are right about fun memories.

Connie | April 14, 2010 at 7:15 AM

I hope you didn't actually look at the sun during the eclipse!

Such fun memories.

Miss Tinselly | April 14, 2010 at 9:31 AM

Osmonds lunch box. Awesome. You were destined to end up in Utah :)

Little GrumpyAngel - was the show The wonder years?

Kazzy | April 14, 2010 at 9:46 AM

Donny was one of the reasons I joined the church. Only half-kidding.

Barbaloot | April 14, 2010 at 10:29 AM

I wish girls still wore shorts under their skirts. Not a bad idea:)

wendy | April 14, 2010 at 1:25 PM

45's....that ages us eh.
and I love the lunchbox----
it is so fun to think back on memories of when we were really young....I wish we could remember ALOT more

Mrs4444 | April 14, 2010 at 8:01 PM

Cute. I had a friend who walked home with me sometimes, usually on Wednesdays, when my mom baked homemade bread. We could smell it from the corner! :)

Dedee | April 14, 2010 at 8:02 PM

I like these posts you have up. Just moments to remember. Lovely.

Kazzy | April 14, 2010 at 8:15 PM

I am thinking some Carpenters, Barb. :)

Lola Sharp | April 15, 2010 at 7:58 AM

What perfect snapshots of youth!!

I adore your brief style, you say so much, so vividly, with so few words. Concise. Wonderful.

Luann | April 16, 2010 at 11:22 AM

I wore shorts under my skirts.

I didn't have a cool lunch box though. We waited to long to go back-to-school shopping and the only thing not sold out was Dynomutt. I was mortified. And I was stuck with it until it wore out, which took several years.

Now I wish I had it. :)