more than anything, I just want to go back

for a moment, if you can, transform yourselves into my 6 year-old self, when everything was right in the world.....especially at Grandma and Mom-mom's houses.

"Grandma's House"

Marshmallows.Those big, plastic blocks.The Dragon Tales theme song.The feel of that scratchy carpet in the family room.The sounds of bullfrogs, crickets, and cicadas.The smells of woodsmoke, soap, and cookies.the library, where I spent countless hours reading and dreaming.Walker Texas Ranger on the tv screen.Playing hide-and-seek.The laughter of my cousins. The wallpaper in the front upstairs bedroom.The pink upstairs bathroom.The daybed on the backporch.Old coloring books.Running into the master bedroom during a thunderstorm.The warmth of a summer's evening.The sounding of the grandfather clock in the hallway.Rush Limbaugh's voice coming from the kitchen radio.The crunch of old leaves in the yard.Fireworks on Independence Day.Barbies and pony beads in the basement.Hitty and Narnia in the guest bedroom.Late night ghost stories and whispers.Pulling weeds from the flower beds. Penny, the sweetest dog in the world.Long walks around the neighborhood.My imaginary friend, Megan, and my imaginary pet parrot.Lemonade and strawberries covered in sugar.The very grand piano. Pokemon with Tyler.Mosquito bites and dirty feet.The crowded garage.Family parties.Earaches and my rag doll, Cornelia.Which Way USA? activity books.Magic Tree House and Boxcar Children.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Mom-mom's House"

Ham and cheese sandwiches.The front door that was never, ever used.The family room wall of mirrors.Easter baskets and bunnies.Sledding.The carport floor.Scooby-Doo on Cartoon Network."Bambi" in Pop's study.The whirliglass in the kitchen.Noodles and ham for dinner, with applesauce on the side.Listening to Rice Krispies in milk.Ben and Christopher, neighbors on either side.Chasing lightning bugs in the front yard.The splintery back porch.Christmas!Looking at skeeters while wading in the creek.The attic's musty smell.Daffodils and tulips.The 'Welcome' sign with ducks on it.The, '1-800-Mom-mom' sign in the kitchen.Saying grace while holding hands.Juicy Juice.Old Yeller and Alvin and the Chipmunks movies.Drinking apple juice from sippy cups.Darts in the basment.The year-round nativity scene in the family room.Peeled apple slices.Looney Tunes movies.Barbies and stuffed animals for Christmas.The crucifix in Mom-mom's bathroom.Paint-in-books.Lots of talking, laughing, and telling of stories on the carport.The banister-less basement stairs.That china doll with a built-in music box.'Santa' giving out gifts.Singing Christmas songs in the family room.Swinging around the basement support pillar.Pop's comfy recliner.Special vanilla-Oreo cookies.Family parties.The creepy laundry room.New books from Borders.Passing the soccer ball with Christine.Holding baby cousins on the couch.Birthdays full of love.

Obviously, there's no way I can get back to those days of innocence. But at least I can remember all these things....and at least I have memories.