Christmas and School in Utah

The first Christmas I can fully remember was on Base in Utah. Christmas eve after being in bed for some time when I head a loud mewing that woke me up. I went to the living room where I found my Mother laying on the couch. I told her I heard a cat that was really loud and that I couldn't sleep. She said it was outside and that I should go back to bed. It was dark so I couldn't see the Christmas tree or anything around it, so I didn't think anything else of the sound. I went to bed and finally fell asleep. When my sisters and I woke up, ( early in the morning.....of course), we found a tall round cat house with three holes cut in the side, carpeted in a tan color, that was a little confusing until we heard a kitten meow. We had our first pet!! I do not remember the color of the cat or anything else received that year. My Dad and our neighbor (Eric) had built the cat house from scratch,(it lasted for many years)

Of school I remember one day waking up to a very foggy morning. We usually walked to school (15 minute walk I think), and that day was no different. It was very strange to "walk among the clouds that day. I went to a fairly large school with stairs and lots of classrooms and a lot of kids. A couple of friends and I participated in the unofficial "sport" of kissing tag, ( chase girls, catch girls, kiss said girls!!). We played on a big slopping lawn that was great for running games.

Earliest Memory

My memories seem to start at Hill Air Force Base in Clearfield, Utah. We lived in a three bedroom house on base. I can still picture the layout. (Remember that these memories are random and not in chronological order).We had a good size back yard that I made a big snowball, when it started to melt all kinds of "ice caves" began forming. In these "ice caves" I would place my GI JOES, (a hidden ice base), and would play for hours.

There was a field not to far away that I would go to and collect Praying Mantis and bring them home for my Praying Mantis farm. I had set up a twisted piece of wood near the house and would feed them worms and grass hoppers. I loved holding the insects in my hands and feeling there pincher's squeeze at my flesh,( it kind of tickled).

Also close by was a hill that all the neighborhood kids called Grasshopper Hill. This hill was used for climbing, Sledding during winter, and games of chase and hide and seek.

Introduction to ME

I am a 31 year old father of five, (three boys and two girls). I am married to a wonderful woman of nine years. I work as a delivery driver for a local wholesaler.

This Blog is planned to be a random record of various memories as I think of them with life lessons as they appear.

Now for some good stuff!

I was born in Oxfordshire Oxford England. My father was stationed at an Air Force base there. I have no memories of my long three years in England . I have lived in Louisiana, Utah (Hill Air Force Base), California, Nevada, (more to come on NV later), and currently reside in Ohio.