My Childhood Web

                                       Personal Childhood Web

This is my mom and dad, me, my sister, and my baby brother.  We did a lot together as a family.
We loved getting together with extended family.  To this day, I am very close with my cousins.

This is my Gram.  She moved in with us after my parents
divorced.  She was my confidante.  We told each other things
that we would never tell any one else.  Gram taught me how
to do laundry and how to sew.  She had a million sayings - - we
call them "Gramisms"  If we told her we were bored, she would say, "stand on your head and spit wooden nickels."  If we said we
wanted something, she would say, "People in hell want water."

My mom valued education.  She always said, "Get a degree.  Once you have it, no one can take it away from you.  My mom,
my sister and I were all in college at the same time.  My mom
was a tremendous help to me with my schoolwork. I learned to
be independent by watching her.  She was a single mom, working, going to school, raising three kids, and taking care
of a house. 

My dad was an adventurer.  He traveled to many places including the Arctic Circle and Germany.  He liked to hunt, fish, shoot, and camp.  He watched cartoons with me on Saturday mornings.  He took us to drive-ins, swimming, camping, and anything else we
wanted to do.  He spent every weekend with us as children and called every week when we became adults.  He loved kids! 

 My sister, Lisa, was, is and always will be my best friend.  Although growing up
we had many differences of opinion, there were just as many times that she was
there for me.  She lectured me, she taught me, she watched me, but most of all she loved me.  She is a kind, generous, strong, independent, spiritual person.  She
loves everyone unconditionally.  She works 2 jobs - - one as an EMT - -the other as
a driver for special needs adults.  She loves the special needs adults so much, she
said she would get up at 5am to take them to their classes even if she didn't get paid
for it!  She said she needs them probably more than they need her.

My brother, Brian, is an outdoorsman like my dad.  He hunts, fishes, camps, boats, raises chickens, and loves being outside.  He used to
share his toys with me.  He taught me how to
ride his dirt bike, how to shoot a bow and arrow, and how to build a bonfire.  We have similar
personalities - - both calm, mellow, easy going people.  When I wanted to remodel my bathroom, he was here for 3 days and did the job start to finish. 

 

 

Me and my sister

 

 

My dad's 70th birthday







































 

Although my Gram and my dad are no longer with us, they will always be a part of my life.  I find myself repeating "Gramisms" to my own children.  My dad's love of the outdoors has brought many joyful memories to my own children.  My mom, my sister, and my brother still have an impact on everything I do.  They are always there for moral support, and are never judgemental.  I love my family!