Growing up I was pretty much of a Tom-boy. I loved to climb trees, ride bikes, play in the dirt with Tonka Trucks and run around our neighborhood like a little street urchin.
I remember the day my mother had enough of trying to keep my hair snarl free, and she took her sheers and chopped off my hair into a very short pixie cut! (See, I was ahead of my time!)
But Grandma and Dad both didn’t like it, and so my hair was left to grow out.
Just before my fourth birthday, I was supposed to be a flower girl in a wedding, instead I got appendicitis! I was rushed to Falmouth Hospital and operated on.
I remember waking up in the night with terrible stomach pain! I made my way into my parent’s bedroom and I remember being laid on their bed. My legs were tight to my chest. When Dad tried to pull them down, they snapped up so fast I think I might even have hit him!
Off we drove to the hospital and my Dad drove the wrong way and ended up going to the Community Theater! Eventually we made it, and Dr. Wessling removed my appendix.
All I remember about all of that was, he was nice and the ether smelled terrible!
I remember looking through the bars of my hospital cot to watch “Captain Kangaroo” and “Bozo the Clown”. I think I was in the hospital for a week.
My sister was not allowed to come up. She was beside herself with worry! So, my parents thought it was wrong to keep us apart and they snuck her up to pediatrics so Melodie could see me.
I was given all sorts of presents while I was in the hospital. I think Digger the Dog was my favorite.
The only problem was, that by the time my birthday rolled around, I’d gotten all the gifts.
I remember coming home and going up the stairs to my room when I slipped on the steps and fell. I cried out to my mother, “Oh no! I’m bleeding!”
My poor mother came running, thinking my stitches had ruptured, only to find I had cut my finger!
Somehow Mom managed to make a party for my birthday a few weeks later in November. And magically, there were presents for me too.
All this from the earliest memories in my mind. I do admit to fact checking one part, but everything else was accurate.
Amazing what a three and a half year old can remember!
