My first memory is from the first time we lived in Roanoke. We didn't live there for very long. I was 3 years old and went for a walk to 7-11 with my mom and friends Susanna, Shannon, and their mom. At 7-11, Susanna and I both got bouncy balls.
I loved my bouncy ball. This was in a time where toys were simpler. And harder to come by. I think they were more appreciated because kids didn't have houses completely loaded up with toys. And so I was admiring my bouncy ball and walking back home when the unthinkable happened.
I dropped the bouncy ball.
Bouncy balls are fast!
Faster than a spider.
Faster than a race car.
Maybe faster than a speeding bullet.
My bouncy ball bounced and rolled and tumbled itself right under the world's densest bush.
And I cried.
Dig and shove and scramble as well as we could, the bouncy ball was nowhere to be found.
I was filled with despair.
And I cried as hard as only a 3 year old can.
A 3 year old feels loss exponentially.
Particularly when it involves a missing toy.
Trust me. I deal with this on a daily basis with Pierce.
And each time, when frustration mounts in me, I try to remember how I felt when I lost the bouncy ball.
And try to find patience.
In the end, the despair was too great.
And my mom took me back to get a replacement bouncy ball.
Now that's love.
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That's a hard thing for a 3-year-old to lose! I'm glad you remember your mom getting you a replacement! Even if she hadn't, I'm sure you would've recovered. But you know how 3-year-olds are - it's the end of the world when something like that happens!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE it! We have a few of those bouncy balls here, too. Great post. I felt like I was in the little child version of you -- inside your mind/head!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry Lisa but I am having a hard time with this one. I am trying to write out a post and it just isn't working. I keep thinking I am remembering something but I'm not. I may have to pass on this week. I enjoyed your memory though! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed with the clarity of this memory! I don't remember anything that early at all.
ReplyDeleteMy first memory is from that magical age, too...
ReplyDeleteI got mauled by a dog. Yeah. (In reality, our neighbor's overly friendly lab jumped up on me, knocked me down, and proceeded to lick the crap out of me. But to a 3-year-old, it was a mauling.)