childhood memories?

For along time now I thought that I had few childhood memories. Lying in bed this morning I tried to remember and some things popped into my head. It is often hard to discern the difference between what I KNOW and what I truly REMEMBER. I know we lived in a small green house across the street from the school (and playground). I remember that there was a pretty wooden door and then a tiny enclosed porch with a screened door. I remember standing in front of the door, surrounded by a lot of tall people. I think it was when my cousins either returned from or were leaving for Australia. I would often sit on the couch looking out the window and watching kids play at recess when I was still too young for Kindergarten.  I was a little lonely because I was so shy, until Elece and Traci moved in next door. I knew they were there but hadn't met them. My sister Carol was out in our back yard sitting at the picnic table talking to them. I went to the back and opened the screen door to stick my pretty doll out so they could see her. I was too shy to go out myself. I was 5, they were 4 and 3. We became best friends.

We loved playing in the dirt in the alleys around our houses - we would use the hose to make mud, then the subsequent mud pies with little weeds for decorations. We played with Barbies - sometimes making elaborate homes for them in the front hall of their house. They were my first real friends and are still my friends today, although we rarely see each other.
My mom was an excellent seamstress and sewed me many beautiful dresses. I remember her sewing me a dress out of pink checked cloth that had an embroidered edge - I had to try it on in the front room to make sure it fit. A lot of the dresses she made me had pretty silk sashes and I felt so special when I wore them.
I loved Sunday evenings, eating chocolate chip ice cream while watching Walt Disney. I wish I remembered more about the green house. There are only flashes of things that happened and the feelings that come with all happy childhood memories - and even some of the bad ones!  Once I stepped on a needle from my sister's play sewing machine early one morning after Christmas. Mom and dad were still in bed and I scooted in their room on my bottom and they got me up on the bed. Dad had to use pliers to remove the needle. I also remember getting an eraser stuck in my nose and the panic that I felt when I couldn't get it out. I hid in the bedroom closet until someone tattled and my mom helped me.
I remember my brother Brad in his Halloween Devil costume chasing me through the house as I screamed. I only remember a few of the Halloween costumes I wore. My earliest memory is of being in a furry lion costume and crawling around on my Grandma Marion and Grandpa Jimmy's floor. Sometimes I wonder if that was just a dream though. I also remember a simple pink dress with silver glitter and a plastic princess mask - the kind that came in a box with a window on top so you could see the mask. When I was about 10 mom made me, my brother Joel and my best friend Gayleen each a cat costume. I still have mine and both of my kids wore it when they were small.

My favorite Saturday morning cartoons were Casper, Mighty Mouse, Bullwinkle and Underdog. I remember my sisters watching Dark Shadows and me hiding in the room I shared with them because I was afraid. Now I wish I could purchase Dark Shadows and watch the entire thing, though I still don't like horror films - they make me sick to my stomach.
I was actually surprised that I could remember so many things that happened in the little green house - but I still don't remember the kitchen very well, or the bathroom. I do remember climbing onto an oil drum in the back yard - or something like that, and pretending it was a circus elephant. I know that in spite of being shy, I was extremely happy there.  We were able to make tents in the back yard by hooking blankets to the clothes line. I am not sure I ever actually lasted outside for the entire night, but I tried. I guess trying to write everything I remember down is going to become more of a list. I'm not sure why it is important to me now - but I intend to write down all that I can so I don't forget again.
Bessel vitamins - they were bright colored and in a clear glass jar. Red Rooster shoes that came with a Rooster piggy bank, saddle shoes, fuzzy hair ties and wearing little white gloves for church on Easter.
For now this will have to do.