We got an invitation to a cookout at Addie and Ike's over the Memorial Day weekend. It turned out to be a nice cool sunny day (Sheboygan is always cool). Coincidentally, Addie's birthday was the same day. She turned "Umpty ump" years of age. Ryan's birthday was the day before Addie's. The whole occasion turned out to be very festive.
Ryan introduced himself to the "Spice Warehouse" in Milwaukee and purchased spices to conjure up a magical recipe for grilled chicken along with a vegetable salad and a "down home" potato salad. It was the kind of thing that young people attempt. Scumptuous!
Okay, okay, where am I headed? Well, sister Addie always comments on my blogs and how my memory of things is so much better than hers. I don't think my memory is any better. We just have different perspectives. I was older and of course I will recall different events.
Addie remembers being surrounded by 3 brothers and always being left behind as our Dad would take the boys off to baseball practice or basketball games.
I remember Addie being the darling of the family. My Dad came from a family of boys and his Dad (Grandpa Chalk) came from a family of two boys. So here comes Addie. The first girl in several generations. She got all the attention (that is my perception). The proof is that she is named after her great grandmother (Chalk's mother was also named Addie May). For some reason Addie has struggled with the name but I think it is special and unique. So now get the picture. The first girl in two generations named after a family member. Where does that leave 3 unappreciated boys?
Addie mentioned that she recalled getting a pink doll bed that remained in her possession for many years. I vaguely recall the bed. It probably was in her bedroom. Addie got her own bedroom because she was a girl and 3 brothers had to room together in one bedroom. Get the picture? Her own pink doll bed. Her own bedroom.
Then when she reached 10-12 years of age, she got a new bicycle. Her 3 brothers never, ever got a new bicycle. They were always "used" bikes purchased at distressed prices and handed down from one sibling to another. Let me see, Addie got new things, brothers got cast-off stuff.
Ike ran a video tape (it was a compilation of old 8 MM film put on tape) of the 4 Andrews children in the late 1940's. There was Addie running around with braided "pigtails". As always, she was the star of the show. If you look at old famly pictues, Addie will be "wearing pigtails".
Of course I'm teasing about Addie about our childhood memories. The lesson Grasshoppers is that you all have different memories of your childhood and they are edited by your mind. Addie remembers things differently than I do and that is okay.
Maybe Addie will share more memories, maybe she won't. Growing up as a girl in a "male predominent environment" generates interesting insights.
I was supposed to play golf in my league this morning. It is 48 degrees and 20 mile an hour winds! I don't think so.
Love,
Dad