Memoir: I remember When

So grateful for the writing prompts by Ann Dee Ellis 

I remember when I would pretend I was asleep in the car on the ride home at night so that my step-father would pick me up and carry me to my bed.

I remember when a can of soda was too much to drink

I remember when I could get three full-sized candy bars with my dollar allowance

I remember when the sound of a helicopter would send me outside to look into the sky to spot it

I remember when  the tornado siren would sound "noon" for our small midwestern town

I remember when I could not understand those who spoke with a southern accent

I remember when I tried sushi for the first time and liked it: the key was to dip it into a slurry of wasabi and soy sauce first.  I want sushi now.

I remember when I did not think that attending college was realistic... but i did it, and even went on to graduate school.

I remember when I did not want to have children because I thought child abuse was inherited.

I remember when my daughter was born, and I felt like I could finally relax after 42 long weeks.

I remember how happy she was when I got home from work.  I remember picking her up and swinging her around.  I remember thinking- "I want her to know at at times that her mom loves her."

I remember dressing her head-to-toe in the cutest outfits I had ever seen, and feeling such love and pride doing that day after day, year after year.

I remember cooking and hearing only thank you and words of satisfaction.

I remember the stomach ache I got the first (and last) time I tried beer.

I remember the first time Tyler told me he loved me.  I literally went outside, in the new sunrise and did a cartwheel... at age 37.

I remember my son's eyes opening up for the first time after he was in the NICU and thinking that he was going to go home.

I also remember watching him the first week of his life.  It was terrifying.

I remember walking to his isolette in such pain from the c-section.

I remember the first three years of his life, when I got nearly no sleep at all.

I remember when valerie tried to hurt herself, sitting beside her as she slept it off, checking on her heart, breathing, and touching her hair.  I kept vigil all night long.  It was a sacred time for me.

I remember picking Tyler up from Dulles and starting my new life.