The People Behind My Eyes

I remember making my first loaf of bread at age eight. I had all the ingredients but one. I was sure it would turn out just fine. It turned out flat. That’s when I discovered yeast is important.

I remember making my first pan of fried chicken. I put flour on the chicken, put it in the pan and expected it to fry. There was no golden crust like at Kentucky Fried Chicken. I later realized water isn’t the same as oil. Age eight was a year for learning.

I remember climbing to the top of the house and jumping off the roof. I wasn’t playing Superman I thought I was the guy from the show The Greatest American Hero. While climbing I sang the song: “Believe it or not I’m walking on air. I never thought I could be so free-e-e. Flying away on a wing and prayer, who could it be? Believe it or not it’s just me.” Leap, crash, repeat.

When I was a kid we were not allowed to have kids over but see, the mother wasn’t supposed to be home for some time. It was the middle of the summer and she was sure to be at work all day. Despite not being allowed to watch soap operas I figured since I was breaking the “no company” rule I’d break the “no soap operas” rule too. My sister and I had several kids over to sit in the middle of the floor and watch The Young and The Restless while eating popcorn. We sat there having a forbidden good time when my mother walked in. There she stood in the doorway like the Incredible Hulk or something. Everyone’s eyes got big then they all scattered like insects hit with light. My sister and I stood in a popcorn covered living room sure we were about to meet our Maker. She got a really disappointed look on her face then said, “I came home early to take you to lunch.” She turned around and walk out of the door. There were no consequences other than disappointing Mama. I felt so bad.

I painted a 17 x 9 mural in my very first apartment. The agreement with the office was that I had to paint over it when I moved. After three years I finally did move but the office requested that I not paint over it.

I remember all the bad college roommates I had. Thinking back I laugh because at the time I hated it, now I see it as just part of the college experience. I still see one college buddy.

I remember the time my mother gave my sister and myself five dollars each and sent us to the mall. She came back in a few hours and was surprised by my purchases. For five dollars I got a doll, a sweater and lunch at Wendy’s. The sweater was from a place called Rave. I got it for a quarter. Wendy’s even back then had a dollar menu. The doll cost the most of all. She told me she didn’t mean to doubt me or call me a thief but she’d need to see my receipt. I showed it to her. She congratulated me on my good shopping. The sweater was pink, gray and white and had a small tear on the seam at the shoulder. My sister sewed it up. It looked great.

I remember being in the theater club my sophomore year in high school. They called it Mask and Gavel. One day while not at school my sister fell from her bike and broke her wrist. This was right in the middle of the time she was to build a stair case for an up and coming play. I helped paint many of the backdrops she either built herself or helped build. Everyone was worried about her injury because when it came to building a stage and props she was the best. My sister impressed us all by building that case with one hand. The show must go on.

Austin

Random Memory Friday: I Remember When-Friday, January 11, 2008-2:46AM EST