Memories M-I5, by Amy

1. Do you remember having a favorite cartoon or television show as a child? Which was your first favorite that you recall?

I remember realling enjoying Romper Room and Captain Kangaroo. I think they might be my first television memories. I remember that on Romper Room the kids used to walk around on "stompers" that were like big coffee cans that you wanted on. And on Captain Kangaroo, I remember, "Brush your teeth. Round and round. Circles small. Gums and all. A small soft toothbrush, the round and round way. Will keep your gums healthy and stop tooth decay. So clean very carefully three times a day. Go round and round."

2. Who is the first teacher you remember? What do you remember about this teacher?

Well, I can remember my Mom and Richard & Harriet Post being my first Sunday School teachers. My first school teacher was Mrs. Falla. I remember I loved her. It's weird, though, because I actually think I have more memories of my kindergarten music teacher. His name was Mr. Cappas or something like that. He always brought his guitar with him, and on one song he would bang his hand on the guitar to make a rhythm. For some reason, that scared me.

3. Give us your earliest memory of a family vacation.

My immediate family didn't really start taking "family vacations" until I was much older, maybe even after I graduated from high school. We used to take lots of little day trips on Saturdays, like going to Uncle Roger and Aunt Dee Dee's place in Union, or to Beaver Lodge, or to Perry's Nut House in Belfast (we LOVED that place), or to Cook's Corner in Brunswick for shopping. I think the first time we went on an overnight vacation as a family was when we went to New Hampshire. The first overnight vacation I remember was actually with my Aunt Ginny and Uncle Adrian. They took me and my brother, Billy Rhythm, to Mamaroneck, NY and NYC. We went to the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Playland (I think it was called), and had Sicilian thick-crust pizza and Carvel soft serve vanilla ice cream. What I remember most about the trip, though, was the way they piled the blankets and pillows into the car to make a "nest" for Billy and I to travel in.

4. Can you share a favorite childhood memory regarding a specific toy you liked?

I remember having a small pet turtle with a little plastic dish with a plastic palm tree. I also remember some sort of gingerbread house game. I think it had some kind of "arm" on it that you pulled down. Those were my earliest memories. My favorite toys, though, were my Teddy Bear (which I still sleep with) and Barbies, of course. I loved to spread all my Barbie stuff all over my bedroom or living room floor. I had the airplane, the camper, the townhouse. Loved it!

5. What is your earliest recollection of music?

I don't know for sure. In our Saturday car trips, we used to sing a lot. Mom and Dad didn't really like the radio. We used to sing, "In the Good Ole Summertime," "Bicycle Built for Two," "Darktown Strutter's Ball", "K-K-K-K-Katie", "Billy Boy"--that kind of stuff. I also remember Ma singing "Bye, lo, Baby, Bye, Bye, Lo, Baby". Not sure if she sang it to me, specifically, but I know she used to sing it. I'm sure that Sunday School songs were part of my early years, too, but I'm just not sure which would actually be the "earliest".