You’re walking down the street and you see a child blowing on a pinwheel. It reminds you of a time long ago…back when you were just a child. What are you thinking about? Who were you with? How did you feel? How does it make you feel now?
Give us 100+ words in the comments section, or write it up on your blog and let us know where to find it.
Paul D Says:
The memory came unbidden to my mind: It was summertime, I was about two, and was walking with my great-grandmother through the park in the small Pacific northwest town where my family lived. We were surrounded by tall and stately cedar and fir trees, between which were the various parts that composed a traveling carnival in the 1950s. My great-grandmother had stopped and bought a pinwheel for me, and showed me how to blow on it to make it spin. When I blew mostly spit and little air, she laughed in joy, and I joined her. It was one of only a few memories I had of her; the others involved nursing homes, bad smells, and quiet, reverent conversation.
The joy and poignancy of that moment descended over me as I watched the child with his treasure, and I gave quiet thanks for my late great-grandmother.
Posted on December 19th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
admin Says:
This is fantastic – is this a true story? As someone who grew up around nursing homes, I can really appreciate the stark contrast of carefree childhood memories against cold, institutional, and odd-smelling nursing homes.
Posted on December 23rd, 2010 at 11:49 pm