I was born on an air force base in the middle of some corn fields in Indiana. We moved around quite a bit when I was little. By the time we settled in here in California, I had already lived in 3 other states and been to 3 different Elementary schools (I started my 4th & 5th in California during 5th grade). Because of these facts, I was not able to make real close long term bonds with my classmates. I remember my closest friends for the most part, but there are a lot of people I don't recognize at all. And I have no idea where any of them are.
We did not have a TON of money growing up, but I never really noticed that. Sure, when I wanted a real cabbage patch doll, I first got a homemade replica! But those are not the things that are important in my memories. We did a lot of fun stuff. We went camping and sightseeing wherever we were. We went to bluegrass festivals. We went to the beach, A Lot. When living in Virginia, we even went on an actual vacation to the beach. We went to amusement parks and did fun things like crabbing. I even went to England when I was 8 for my uncles wedding. And I had the best birthday parties! There are some great memories in these pictures.
My mom commented how the hardest thing going through the pictures was watching me change from the happy little girl that she remembered to the sad teenager that ended up loosing my way for a little while. She said the change happened when my sisters were born- but I don't see that in these pictures. Sure, I remember (After being an only child for 11 years) how hard the adjustment was. I had wanted a sister so badly, but once Chelsie was born- the attention I was used to was no longer there. Maybe that's why every time Paige tells me she wants a little sister, I think that she doesn't really know what she is getting into. But on the other side, my sisters have been a source of great joy for me. Now that we are all getting older (Chelsie graduated from college this year and Mikaila got her license. ) I can't imagine my life without them. The laughter we have shared will not be forgotten. In a way having sisters that are so much younger than me has kept me young. They allowed me to be a child at the moments that I needed to the most.
The hardest thing about going through the pictures was watching the progression of my relationship with my dad. He adopted me officially when I was 8 and he married my mom, but I have known him since I was 1. He has always been a part of my life as far as I am concerned. And we were really close when I was little. Watching our story unfold in pictures, I wonder when that bond started getting less strong. I used to think it was when Chelsie was born and he held his child in his arms for the first time, but I don't think so now.
Honestly, despite the fact that we do not share the same DNA- we are alike in so many ways. I remember as a teenager, we just fought- ALL THE TIME. We both had an opinion and we were both so stubborn that neither one of us was going to give in. So maybe the series of huge disputes we had during those years changed our relationship. Don't get me wrong, we get along a lot better now- but the days of me climbing up on his shoulders or climbing into the "Garbage can" are just moments held in our memories. But I guess that is the way things progress over time. I mean can you imaging a 33 year old climbing on her dads shoulders? Really?
My 16th Birthday Party
Me & My 1st boyfriend Willy- How I wish I knew where he was and what he was doing now!
I think I was around 3 years old hear.
Big Wheel
Me & Grandma at the wedding in England
Me & My cousin Alicyn picking fruit
Me & Alicyn
