March 14, 2008
Dear Katie and Luke:
Mommy is off at the women's retreat with the ladies of our church, so the three of us spent this afternoon and evening together. Somehow we spent three hours at the indoor pool in the local YMCA this afternoon, we went and got a $5 pizza (and breadsticks!!!), and then we came home and eventually had popcorn and watched a little bit of a very funny 'G'-rated movie. Now the two of you are sleeping like logs. All of this is not typical of our weekly routine, but I am quite thankful God has given us times together like these! I wonder if you will remember the events of today when you are my age?
This got me thinking about something: What are some of my "fun" memories from my childhood that I thought might interest you? Here's a list that is not exhaustive:
1. There is one particular time when I was a little boy, and Grandad and Grandma Burchett, your aunt Vicki, and I were staying in a hotel somewhere, and we swam in the outdoor pool for something like three hours. I don't know where this was, but I still have a picture in my mind of the pool and the hotel that surrounded us.
2. On one other family vacation, I remember playing golf with my dad and my uncle Carlos at Jenny Wiley State Park, and Grandad shanked one and just about drilled somebody on another hole--he did nail the person's golf cart!
3. I used to ride my bike to the basketball court at Morral School and there would be numerous other middle school and high school guys there and we would play basketball for hours. These were very competitive games.
4. They may not still make the rubber ball (pink) that was extremembly bouncy, but I spent hours upon hours throwing that ball against the steps of the house or against the side of the barn and pretending I was a shortstop playing in the World Series making dramatic plays at the end of games.
5. Labor Day Weekend and the McGuire Reunion in Kentucky! Swimming, eating, watching football, and eventually playing golf until our hands were sore. Did I mention swimming? On one of those weekends, it rained hard the whole time, so all of the cousins found this big conference room and made up some kind of indoor baseball game and just had a blast. I also have fond memories of Grandad and Grandma McGuire at these reunions, mainly just their presence. On one occasion, I wore a ball cap to breakfast and Grandad McGuire made a comment about it--He was not in favor! Oops.
6. Eating Grandma McGuire's cooking. Everything she made was incredible, but specifically her biscuits and oats and her chocolate cake were stellar. In one word, "Wow!"
7. Eating my mom's vegetable soup.
8. I always enjoyed going to the barber shop with my dad. This was back when a haircut was affordable! Our barber was Gene Frederick ("Clipper"), and as a boy on each visit I just couldn't wait to get in his container and pick out a sucker or piece of bubble gum.
9. Often when we would get a heavy snow, I would go out and build a fort basically big enough to sit inside. Once it was finished, I would just sit in that work of art--sometimes for what seemed like 30 minutes without doing anything! I remember enjoying the accomplishment and how the wind was blocked.
10. Most summers, we would go to Cedar Point, one of the world's best amusement parks, as a family. This was a great time as a family, and it is where I got hooked on roller coasters! By the way, Mommy and I have been to Cedar Point together and thoroughly enjoy riding these massive coasters even in the front seat.
That's just a selection of "fun" memories. I hope some of them bring a smile to your face.
And now, I'm about to come to bed and try to find a sliver of the mattress for myself and get some sleep. The last I checked, Luke, you were spread out over half of the bed. How does a three year-old take up that much room in a queen size? This should be fun.
Happily,
Daddy
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