Memories Mixed with Drama

Well, lots of things have happened since my last post!

• I had a new nephew who came into the world November 14, 2013 weighing a whopping nine pounds with a head FULL of black hair! He seriously looks like a little baby doll.

• I turned 24! Here are a few memories from that night:

When Eli and I blew out the candles on the cookie cake, Mason said, "Turn it back on!" He hasn't understood that candles are lit, but it was so cute.

Before we ate, Mason went from 0 to 60 when his best friend and cousin, Keller, came in our Memaw's house. He ran down the hallway and back, and I would try to catch him. If I did, I said, "I got you!" and he would excitedly run back to do it all over again. If I missed him, he said, "I got me!" and touched his back with those pudgy little toddler fingers.

Later, he found a quarter underneath the table. "I found mondey(money)! My mom asked him what he was going to buy with it, and without a moment's hesitation, he said, "An airplane!" I said, "Good, Aun-ie will need an airplane for you to take her lots of places!"

Mom always includes some little gift in with our present. This year it was sparkling apple cider. My brother was showing Mason his when he said, "I want to drank-ed it. Let me drank-ed it!" We got him a straw, and he sat on the couch like a big boy drinking his cider. My newest little nephew slept throughout the birthday dinner, but he is as sweet as ever!

To end the night, I wanted a hug from Mason. Using reverse psychology, Mom always says, "Don't you give Aun-ie a bear hug!"(Because everyone knows if you want a kid to do something, they won't because at two-and-a-half, it's all about asserting their independence  ) After a few seconds, he wraps those little arms around me and gives me the biggest hug EVER! For a moment, it seems as if time stands still as I hug him right back, savoring the moment that he has given me pure, unconditional love. I can honestly say my heart can't possibly be any fuller than it is right now or it might explode! Look around you, friends, and learn to appreciate the simple things. This birthday was priceless in SO many ways!

• I got my boot off and was cleared by my doctor to start putting weight on my foot! I was planning on posting a picture of my scar because it looks AWESOME! It doesn't even look like a scar. I am beyond pleased. But, much to my dismay, after coming home tonight from a short trip, I discovered blood on my foot. I said, "Mama, can you please come in here?" All I could see was a sore, and it hurt. When Mama came in her, she discovered my crocs, which are very roomy and just slip on, had made blister and the blister had burst! I was so mad I wanted to cry! 

My next post will be about a new brace that I got, this post is longer than I expected. Stay tuned for that drama!

Graduation is Near!

Hey, everyone! Now that finals and the big presentation of my senior project (FOCUS Magazine) is over, I finally have a chance to blog. I graduate tomorrow!!! Wow. It's kind of surreal. I remember the first two years being very hard physically and emotionally. With God's help and a supportive family who were willing to rearrange their schedules to take me to school, I made it!

I'm graduating fourth in my class with a 3.97 GPA! Lots of blood, sweat, and tears went into this degree. The feedback I have gotten from my magazine has been absolutely AMAZING! People are already wanting to order more copies! If anyone of my blog friends would like a copy, just email me. They will be about $7-8 each, depending on how many are ordered. It's 12 pages of inspirational stories of men and women who have refused to let a disability stop them! I couldn't be more proud of the final product.

After all of that work, I'm going to take a break. I have an upcoming surgery on my foot, but not sure exactly when yet. I'm going to check into pursuing my magazine and can't wait to see where this road leads. Yes, it's bittersweet leaving the place I have known for five years. I've learned a lot. I'm not quite sure how I'll feel in a few weeks, but this new chapter in my life is exciting!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I will!

Memories Rewind: Halloween Throwback

While looking for a specific photo one day, I found this one and couldn't resist sharing. It was at my old church's fall festival, and I was not in the mood to have my picture taken. Mama made me anyway, and now I look back on this photo with fond memories! Yes, I had an attitude!  As you can see, my brother was not fazed by my antics. :) I was some kind of princess, but that's all I remember.  My mom just said I was Cleopatra!

P.S. You can nominate me for one of WEGO Health's Health Activist Awards by going here. Just make sure you put the name of my blog, which is Making my Mark. My name is Madison Sanders. The blog URL is http://dropletsonajournal.blogspot.com They just ask you to tell them why I should be nominated. Winners will be featured on the WEGO Health network, which is a huge opportunity to raise awareness about cerebral palsy, strength, and overcoming adversity. Thanks in advance!

Memories Rewind: Baby Keepsakes

This is the weekly Memories Rewind post on Thursday instead of Wednesday. Since I haven't been feeling my best and had lots of school work, this is the first chance I've gotten to post anything.

The other day, my mom and I were going through a chest filled with our baby things. She pulled out a shirt that she kept from when we were preemies. She said the shirt had to be handmade by someone because the stores didn't have any clothes small enough to fit us. It was so hard to imagine myself that little, but my mom was taken back to that time instantly with each thing she pulled out of the chest.

"Eli would pull his oxygen tubes out of his nose" she said with a laugh.

Tucked in a box with our baby scrapbook was a tiny white diaper that Mama kept as a reminder of just how little we were. Average size diapers seem so huge in comparison to the teeny tiny preemie ones!


It seems like such a long time ago, but in fact it's just the opposite. Life passes by so quickly, if we blink, we will miss something.

Memories Rewind: A Hairy Situation

It was time for family pictures. Normally, I would pick out my dress and have everything laid out and ready to go. This day was different. We were super busy, so everything happened at the last minute. I brushed my hair, put on a dab of lipstick, and rushed out the door.

It was your classic set-up: Boring background and an overexcited photographer. Something happened that day that I still can't think about without laughing.

"Pose beside each other," the photographer said to my brother and I. "Kind of turn your shoulders sideways so you are leaning into each other just a little," he clarified.

Snap. Snap. Everything was going smoothly. We just had to look like we were excited to be there a little bit longer. Then, the inevitable happened. There was a screen so that you could preview the pictures. For the average person, this was a good thing, but for brothers and sisters this was a bad thing.

"How can you be taller than me!" my brother shrieked in digust. "Well, I guess I've grown a few inches," I said calmly.

My brother wasn't satisfied with that answer at all. In his mind, he just had to be taller than me. "Well, if you're hair didn't have that poof in it, you wouldn't be taller!" he said with a laugh.

He then proceeded to smoosh my hair down in the middle of taking pictures! I can only imagine how that looked. :) If the photographer thought it was funny, he didn't dare laugh. Needless to say, Eli's plan didn't work. My hair has natural body and wave, so it can't be smooshed unfortunately. But I can say I have proof that I was once taller than my brother.

Do you have any funny picture stories?

Memories Rewind: From Scribbles to Smooth Strokes

As a child, I struggled learning how to write in cursive because of cerebral palsy. I would stay after school with my precious third grade teacher for at least an hour working on making a cursive "h".

No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't make my pencil form the hump in the letter. I was beyond frustrated with myself! My teacher would always pat me on the back at the end of each study session. "You'll get it one of these afternoons," she would say with a smile.

Mama bought me some writing books so I could practice my letters. I was somewhat excited at the possibility of getting better yet also nervous because my previous attempts had ended with me in tears at times.

Despite my frustrations, I would get into a comfortable spot on the couch every night after I finished my homework and practice writing. I could see some letters start to form in the midst of the mess. "Look, Mama!" I said barely able to contain my excitement. She was smiling and encouraged me to keep practicing.

After several weeks of working hard, my letters were looking pretty good. I couldn't wait to show my teacher! Now, I get many compliments on my handwriting. It took a lot of patience and encouragement from those around me, though.

Don't give up because you never know when a rainbow [of pretty flowing letters] is right around the corner!

Memories Rewind: Love at first Lick

Today we have The Blonde Duck from A Duck In Her Pond with us.

I remember barreling down the highway, squeezing Ben's arm. The night was crisp and cool, but I couldn't feel it. My heart was racing, a scream of joy waiting to burst from my throat.

I knew you would be there, even if I didn't know you yet.

And when we stepped inside, I dropped to my knees. Bounding across the floor, puppies streamed toward me. Cooing in delight, I opened my arms. How could I choose? You were all so cute, so cuddly, so full of fur and warmth...

But you chose me.

With one decisive paw, you climbed into my lap, curling up on my jeans. You pulled on my socks, pawing at my shirt, nuzzling your face to my breast. You nibbled my fingers, licking my arm. Two different methods, for two different puppies.

But you stole my heart.

Cuddling you against me, I looked up at Ben with shining eyes. He turned to the man and pulled out his wallet, a grin on his face.

The entire way home, I held you against me, your warm breath against my skin, wuffling into the folds of my stomach. Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks, dropping onto the two fuzzy heads below. You simply licked them away, licking away any last reserves I might have had in the darkest corner of my soul.

You were mine, and I was yours. And to this day, I'm still wrapped around your little paws.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks for sharing the story about your sweet puppies, Duckie!

Memories Rewind: The Child Within

Every child waits in anticipation for Christmas. Pretty lights, presents, and festive music are a change from the everyday routine.

We would all pile in the car to go look at Christmas lights. Mama would take us down through where Granny and Papa's old house was because there were a few houses that really loved to decorate for Christmas. As we pulled up to the old man's house, Mama slowed the car to a crawl so that we could take it all in. In the front yard, there were reindeer and trees with colored lights. There was a Santa's workshop that was trimmed in red. Each year he would add something new, so me and Eli would try to see who could spot the newest addition to the old man's growing collection first.

"Look at the blow up igloo, I exclaimed. It even has falling snow inside of it. I don't think that was there last year!"

We would be in awe of the decorations. As children, we would get excited if a Christmas song came on the radio. Everything was different, yet familiar at the same time. At Christmas, even an ugly tree could be beautiful with some lights and festive garland.

Now we are adults, but we still enjoy Christmas. On the way to our church's yearly Christmas program, my brother was in a great mood. He was humming his favorite songs and everything. He had been chipper all day come to to think of it. It was great to see him in such a good mood. It was almost as if he was a little kid again.

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

P.S. Thanks to all who have participated in my poll! Go here to answer my questions!

Memories Rewind: Flutters of Light

Eli and I were on a mission. The night was a bit muggy, but it didn't bother us. Armed with mason jars and coats, we were ready. We weren't catching measly bugs. This twin duo was going to catch some fireflies.

They fluttered all around my Memaw's yard in the summertime. I darted off in one direction so me and Eli wouldn't be fighting over fireflies. I wanted to catch my own, you know. So, I ran around until I set my sights on one within reach.

The firefly's body would light up like a neon light one second and be gone the next. I cupped the jar and slammed on the lid. "I got one!" I thought to myself. Much to my dismay, the little critter got away before I could catch him. I don't know if there are male and female fireflies, but it didn't seem right to refer to these beautiful creatures as its.

"Look! I got one, Madison!" Eli exclaimed. I rushed over to see firefly up close and personal, but Eli would only let me get to a certain distance. It was a magical sight. In my opinion, fireflies were a lot prettier than most insects.

I couldn't be outdone by my brother, so I had to catch one now. I was trying to be patient, but catching a firefly was hard work! Finally, one was within my reach. I gingerly screwed on the lid as he fluttered around inside. I suspect he didn't like being in such close quarters. Who could blame him? He was used to flying in wide open spaces, and I stuck him in a little mason jar. "Don't worry, little fella, I won't hurt you," I reassured him.

We hurried inside to show Grandaddy our new friends. After telling him how we caught them, we released them so they could fly freely in Memaw's beautiful yard. I secretly hoped the fireflies would come back to visit more often.

Did you ever see or catch fireflies as a child?

Memories Rewind: Caught in the Middle

It had snowed the night before. The ground was covered in a beautiful blanket of snow. As I stepped out onto the porch, I had to stop and stare for a minute because we don't get snow very often where I live.

Being the kids that we were, we couldn't wait to build a snowman, but first we had an impromptu snowball fight with my older cousin Brad. Eli threw one at Brad and then it was on. Brad got a big pile of snow to make sure his snowball packed a punch. He wasn't playing when it came to snowball fights. I was walking around in the yard when it happened. I turned around slowly and I was met with Brad throwing a snowball that hit me right in the shoulder All I remember was the blur of his jacket as he was running towards Eli. Man, did that hurt! As I regained my balance, snow was coming out of my mouth as I stuttered while trying to speak.

"Madison, I didn't mean to hit you," Brad assured me. "I was trying to get Eli back and I you came into my path as I was aiming for him. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just wasn't expecting it!"

Soon after, I dusted my coat off and the boys resumed their game. I made sure to get as far away as possible this time because I didn't want to be caught off guard again. "You're going to get it now!" I heard one of the boys say and they ran to hit each other. I let them have their fun. As for me, I went back inside where it was warm. That cold weather was not my friend at the moment.

Have you ever been the unexpected target in a game with your family?

P.S. I'm in the midst of finals and my birthday is tomorrow(!), so I may not post until the weekend.

Memories Rewind: Kite Day

I've asked my friend Katie Griffin to do a guest post for Memories Rewind today. Go on over to Katie's blog The Greatest is Love and welcome her. She is finishing up college, so she hasn't had much time to blog. But I know she would love to read your comments. Enjoy!

As a seven year old little girl, the event of the year was Kite Day. My dad and I would go to the hardware store and buy the plastic, wood, paint and string needed to build a kite. Then my brother, Isaac, and my older sister, Lauren, would race us down to the basement to see who could finish making their kite first. It was never a real contest because there were three of us and only one dad, and we couldn’t do it without dad’s help.

As dad glued the sticks together to make the frame we would unroll the plastic and try to drape it across the wooden sticks just right so we could get to our favorite part of kite making- painting. We got to choose three of our favorite colors and mine were pink, purple and green. Last year we just had swirls of color on our kites but this year was extra special because dad helped us make stencils so that our names could be on our kites along with a few hearts and flowers. As my dad held down the stencils, I poured my heart out on that kite in colorful rows of pink and green. I saved the purple for the hearts and flowers that floated around my name. When the last dab of color had been added to the plastic we stepped back and both mine and my dad’s brows wrinkled as our eyes were wide with joy. “Good job, Kate” he said as we carefully picked the kite up and carried it outside to dry underneath the sun’s rays.

A few hours later we had changed from our paint-covered clothes and put the dry kites in the back of the truck and were on our way to my favorite event of the year. We arrived at our church and unloaded the food and the kites and made our way through the crowd. Adults and children alike eyed my prized kite. The wind picked up, blowing my blonde curls all in my face, and I knew it was time to set this kite free from my grasp. Dad helped me hold it as I readied my hands on the spool of string. I watched as he took off running and then released it into the hands of the strong wind. For just a moment, I panicked, but then saw that it was flying just fine in the wind. Its colorful tail danced back and forth above me and in that moment I was completely content. I began running across the yard not taking my eyes off of that kite for a second.

A gust of wind came from the opposite direction and suddenly my eyes were staring at the ground where my broken kite lay. Tears filled my eyes as I carried it’s corpse up to where dad was and he assured me that it could be saved. I thought it was beyond repair, but he took it to the truck and pulled out some tape and glue and before I knew it he turned around with my beautiful kite completely fixed! I stared at him in awe because I realized that my dad could truly fix anything. After thanking him a hundred times, we released it back into the sky and I was once again completely content as I watched my colorful diamond flutter across the big blue sky. Kite Day had once again been a success.

I’m 22 years old now, married, and living two states away from my dad. But looking back on that day, I realize that I no longer can run to my dad when my heart gets broken or I get disappointed. Now I run to my heavenly father, usually with tears pouring out of my eyes, and He does exactly what my dad did years ago- He fixes it.

Memories Rewind: Nine Dollars

I went down to my Papa's house and ran up to the door. "Papa, guess where I'm going?"

"Where?" he asked. "I'm going to Wal-M@rt to get my ears pierced!" I said excitedly.

He was a little skeptical at first since I was only nine years old at the time. He fished around in his pockets and handed me some money. "Well, here's $9, but you better come back with your ears pierced."

"I will, Papa! Don't worry!" I assured him. When I got to the jewelry section, Mama told me I needed to pick out some earrings first. I scanned the options and settled on a pair of little studs.

I climbed up on the seat in anticipation of getting those sparkly earrings. After cleaning my ear, the earring was in my ear. "That wasn't so bad" I thought to myself.

Well, I didn't know whether to be nervous or excited because we were almost done. I knew what to expect, so I tried not to get too nervous.

Before I knew it, my ears were red, but they had earrings in them! I couldn't wait to match my earrings with my bracelets and rings.

As soon as I got home, I couldn't wait to show my Papa. Always the teaser, he said, "Whatcha got there?" I'm sure I rolled my eyes at this point while explaining to him that I got my ears pierced just like I said I would. "Woo! Let me see those things!" he said. "Those sure are pretty."

As I left, I wrapped my arms around his waist and thanked him for the money. It wasn't much, but it sure brought me a lot of happiness.

Have you ever had something simple that made you happy?

Memories Rewind: Halloween Our Way

Mama and I were on our way to pick out a Halloween costume for her character at church. I skipped through the aisles looking at the costumes. There were scary goblins and witches for those who wanted a little fright in their Halloween plans. Then, you had Dorothy from Wizard of Oz or Cleopatra. The possibilities were endless at this store!

When I turned around, Mama had put on a colorful wig. It was hilarious! But, I have to admit I was a little embarrassed at first. :)

Then, she put on a mask and burst into a song that she just made up on the spot. We had our own fun right there in the store. I loved that my mom didn't care what anyone thought about her dancing around and having fun with me in the store.

Before we knew it, we had been in there for over an hour trying on funny glasses, hats, and the like. I spotted a feather boa and just had to try it on. I guess the creative juices of Halloween had finally found their way to me. I looked pretty awesome with my pink boa and capris if I do say so myself.

We left with a neon green wig because we didn't find exactly what she was looking for at that store (She did find a costume eventually), but we had lots of fun acting silly!

What fun memories of Halloween do you have?

Memories Rewind: Join In!

I'm not feeling good today, so the weekly Memories Rewind post will have to wait. I just need to rest, so I'm not going to fight it.

In the meantime, why don't you all link up your Memories Rewind posts? It could be a childhood memory or something your children have done. The sky is the limit as far as topics go. I've always wanted to branch out with Memories Rewind, so hopefully many of you will join in! I asked about interest in this before, but I choose to believe some of you were too shy to comment. :) Please link back to this post somewhere in your Memories Rewind post, so others can be a part of the fun, too!
If I have a good response, I may may this a weekly link party in addition to my own Memories Rewind post.

No story or memory is dumb. Just link the URL of your Memories Rewind post here, not the URL of your blog. Example: http://dropletsonajournal.blogspot.com/2010/09/memories-rewind-laughing-in-night.html It will be open until Friday, October 22. I can't wait to read your stories!

Memories Rewind: The Flower Garden

This is a journal entry that was published in my middle school literary magazine. Please ignore any errors. I was a sixth grader when I wrote this. :)

Dear Journal, 1/29/02

I enjoy looking at my grandmother's flower garden when I go to visit her. When people look at her flower garden they just see beautiful flowers surrounding them. I see that, too, just much more than that. When I gaze out into her flower garden, I see all all the different colors and textures of each flower. She may have a whole bunch of the same kind of flowers in a group; each one is unique in its own way, just like people. Some of them have red on them with tints of white on the edges to draw the attention of the person or thing looking at it.

In my mind, I see each flower trying to outdo the other. They are very beautiful, my favorite one is the one I just described called, Double Delight. Others are bright pink with long sturdy stems for support.

Everywhere you look you see flowers! My grandmother has flower baskets in shady places. My grandmother loves vibrant colored flowers! They bring life into her yard. I couldn't imagine her yard without flowers somewhere in it because I have been around them so long!

Another thing I see in her yard is all the time and work that my grandmother and grandfather have put into their yard. Don't think that my grandfather gets left out of the work, Grandmother has to have his help, too!

I also see green shrubs around my grandmother's yard, and when they bloom in the Spring, you would have thought that they started out as little green plants! People are the same way. We start out as little babies and as time passes, we begin to grow and mature (I hope!)

Everything is a process. Flowers don't grow into big and beautiful flowers over night. It takes time, water, and sun to make them grow. It's the same way for people. When we are little, we need to be taken care of, loved, and nurtured in order to grow. At the end of this process, both come out strong and healthy.

Memories Rewind: A New Beginning

I just came through another major surgery at 14. I slowly walked the hallway of the hospital as I was trying to prepare myself to meet my new physical therapist. Up until this point, all of my physical therapists had been women, so I was nervous.

My feet were dragging as my mind was racing. "Would he be understanding? Is he patient? Would he be like a drill sergeant?" I wondered as I stopped in front of the room. There was no turning back now.

I eased my body into a chair in the waiting room. I decided to watch the minutes tick by on the clock on the wall. I was trying to think of something...anything to keep from going into panic mode. Tick, tick, tick. Before I knew it, it was my turn.

I was met by a young man named Dustin. "Are you ready to get started?" As I got up to leave, the receptionist said, "He won't kill you." I felt a little more at ease as a smile crept across my face. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all," I thought.

We discussed my medical history and did the evaluation that is required before you can start PT. He was a great listener, so that was a major plus in my book. I wasn't quite at the "let's be friends" stage, but I didn't hate him either. That was a step in the right direction.

Now, I have no reservations about him. We are both on the same page as far as my health is concerned. Yes, he challenges me, but he wouldn't be a good physical therapist if he didn't.

Have you ever dreaded something only to be pleasantly surprised at the outcome?

Memories Rewind: A Moment in Time

At my school, everyone looked forward to Field Day. It was a chance to take a break from our schoolwork and just have fun.

I found my group over by the swings and waited for the games to start. You could feel the excitement in the air. One of the first races was the wheel barrow race. One person had to push someone in a wheel barrow all the way around the orange cone and back, and whichever team did this the fastest won.

"C'mon!" we all shouted to our teammates as we waited our turn. I was next. I hopped in the wheelbarrow as fast as I could and off we went. A massive black guy was pushing me (if I remember correctly). "Are you ready to fly down this hill?" he asked.

"Yep, just as long as you don't throw me overboard!" I replied. The next few minutes were a blur. We whizzed past the trees so quickly they resembled huge green blobs to me.

"Lord, help me not to get sick," I mumbled under my breath as I heard my classmate's feet pounding the grass. We made it around the cone with no accidents, so we were in the homestretch. "Just do what ya gotta do," I told my classmate. "I trust you."

Everyone was cheering us on as we were coming back. It was a surreal feeling because in that moment we weren't divided into different teams, we were a unified group. Everyone forgot about their desire to win, and reached out to help me out of the wheel barrow. The teachers were stunned and stood there marveling at how bickering kids could work together when they wanted to.

I don't remember much of anything else that happened that day, but I will never forget how that simple little game showed the true meaning of teamwork. For a few minutes, I wasn't limited by my AFO's. I could be free to just enjoy the moment without worrying about getting tired.

Do you have any childhood memories that are etched in your mind?

Memories Rewind: Laughing in the Night

We had just moved into our new house. The crickets were chirping as people were getting ready to relax for the night.

"Wanna throw the baseball around with me, Madison?" my brother asked. He didn't have to ask me twice. I jumped up off the couch and headed outside.

Eli was good about throwing it easy. He stood close to me, letting me catch the ball with ease. The muggy air was making me sweaty as I concentrated on catching the ball in his worn glove. We were talking about school when I forgot a ball was headed in my direction.

"Madison, you were supposed to catch it!" Eli said as the ball rolled to a stop on the grass. I laughed as I tossed it back to him. He just had to understand that girls get distracted when they talk.
Eli was a little frustrated. He wanted to play catch. I had ruined the game. Oh well, that's what little sisters are for, right? I felt bad, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw his trademark grin. That was our unspoken signal that everything was A-OK.

Before we knew it, it was time to come inside. I still remember the stickness of the air as I stood talking to my brother. We didn't have a care in the world. Sometimes I think back to that night and a smile creeps across my face. Laughter really is the best medicine.

Memories Rewind: Towering Stacks of Treasure

Hello, readers! Madison invited me to do a guest post for this week's Memories Rewind, and I was very excited for the opportunity to share with all of you. My name is Tanya Hudson, and I was Madison's junior English teacher a few years ago. (She was an excellent student and, of course, an excellent writer, as I'm sure you could've guessed. :p) Now, I'm a school librarian in Athens, GA, and I thought I would share one of my favorite childhood memories: summer trips to the library with my Mammaw.

We didn't have much money when I was growing up; my parents had me and my little brother, Dave, when they were teenagers--just kids themselves. Despite their limited means, though, Mom and Dad always made sure we had books at home, and they always encouraged us to read--but I was ravenous for more. I even read in the bathtub, squinting to decipher the microscopic print on the lime green shampoo bottle.

Enter my Mammaw, who kept Dave and me in the afternoons during the school year and in the summertime while Mom and Dad were at work. Often--sometimes twice a week, sometimes every single day--Mammaw would pack us kids into her clunky blue station, along with her bulky black handbag and a canvas sack full of books to be returned, and we would ride across town to the library. (I don't mean for the ride to sound long; "across town" in Hartwell, GA is never more than a few minutes away.) When we arrived, she would head over to the large print adult fiction (she didn't see so well) and inevitably choose a handful of trashy romance novels to peruse while Dave and I made our choices.

Now, honestly, I don't remember the first time I visited the library, probably because I was too young to remember most things yet, but I do remember the sense of awe I felt every time I saw those shelves upon shelves of books. They were all treasures, all full of magic and wonder, packed with people and places I didn't yet know but yearned to visit.

I started, of course, with the picture books, like most kids do. Sometimes I would take a towering stack of those over to the lounge chairs by the window and read them right there in the library before choosing even more to check out and take home. I had my own library card, but kids were only allowed to check out three books at a time, and I just couldn't abide by that silly rule; instead, Mammaw would check out my books on her card so I could take eight or ten at a time (stuffed, of course, in one of her faded canvas bags).

When I got a little older, I moved two shelves over, from the E-for-Easy area to the J-for-Juvenile-Fiction section, where the books got thicker and, in my opinion, much more exciting. I learned that Encyclopedia Brown was smart enough solve any mystery, followed the Boxcar Children on many adventures, envied the girls in the Babysitter's Club books (who seemed so mature to me at the time), laughed at Ramona Quimby's antics, cried with Wilbur the pig when his spider friend, Charlotte, took her last breath. I read my favorites over and over, and the librarians (who, of course, knew me by name) would always let me know if they'd gotten in a new book that they thought I might like.

Now that I'm a librarian myself, I get to experience the magic from a whole new angle. When I read a picture book to my kindergarteners and see them smile or laugh or stare in disbelief, it reminds me of when I was their age, just starting to realize the wonder of reading. When I recommend Mary Downing Hahn's Wait Till Helen Comes (one of my childhood faves) to a fifth grader who wants a good scare, and when that kid comes back a week later saying, "That was so good! Are there more books like this one?"....well, pardon the cliche, but it warms my heart. When we order new books, I bubble with anticipation, just waiting to show them to the kids next time they come in. And sometimes, I even plop down in our story corner with a big stack of picture books and just sit there, reading, letting the stories whisk me back to those summer days in the library.

Memories Rewind: Granny’s Clothesline

I watched as Granny hung each garment on the clothesline. The sun was shining so bright I had to squint my eyes. Papa's old flannel shirts flapped in the breeze beside Granny's flowered house coats.

There was something magical about that clothesline to me. I was intrigued by the simpleness of it. No whirring of the dryer. The clothes became drier as the day wore on. The next day, Granny would take her brown clothes basket to gather the clothes. One by one, she slipped the clothes pins off. It was almost as if she had her own rhythm.

I stopped at the sliding glass door, lost in my own thoughts. That old clothesline had been in the backyard for years. The rough hewn posts were sturdy and solid. They told their own story, marked by the pelting rain and other elements.

I hurried inside as Granny came in. I grabbed a shirt and pressed it to my face. The smell of freshly cleaned clothes was intoxicating.

Now, most of us use washing machines. I still remember that clothesline and am overcome by feelings of nostaglia. It is a reminder of how quickly times change.

P.S. Here's a friendly reminder to vote for my friend Tanya. She's doing well, but the competiton has gotten tougher. If you like her essay, click the vote button at the bottom of the screen. Click here to read her essay about food.

Image Credit: Microsoft Office Clip Art I haven't had a chance to get a real picture of my Granny's clothesline. Depending on the weather today, I may be able to get one of the real thing.