The summer before I turned eight years old I wanted a Slip and Slide. You know, those long sheets of plastic that you spray water on and then run and slide onto. I dreamt about that Slip and Slide, I could imagine the fun we would have all summer long, playing with my friends on my new cool toy. I asked my parents for one, I begged, I pleaded, and always the answer was no.I distinctly remember the day it happened. My mom came home from somewhere and called us inside from playing. She said she had a big thing to tell us that was going to affect our whole family. I was sure it was a grand Slip and Slide announcement! We were going to get one, finally!!! And of course this was something that affected the whole family, we would all have so much fun together on it! (It still makes me smile to think about how my eight year old mind worked.)
I remember running into the house, begging to know if my dream was about to come true. "Are we getting a Slip and Slide? Are we? Are we?"
My mom sat Kenny and I down, and the big announcement was made. "We are moving."
WHAT????
MOVING????
WE CAN'T MOVE! ALL MY FRIENDS ARE HERE!!!! I DON'T WANT TO MOVE!!!!
I JUST WANT A SLIP AND SLIDE!!!!!!!!
But we did. And to the best place in the entire world, Missoula, MT. I am the person I am today because of where I grew up. I made friends those first few days of third grade that are still some of my best friends in the entire world. One of them introduced me to the LDS Church, something I will be forever grateful for.
But I never did get that Slip and Slide. Every time I see one in a store, or on a commercial with kids happily sliding their summer away, I remember that feeling of not only having my childish hopes dashed, but of having my world fall apart. All I knew was Aurora, CO.
And that is why my kids are getting an air hockey table.
(It's in Spanish Fork, UT, only 10 minutes from where we live now.)
But we did. And to the best place in the entire world, Missoula, MT. I am the person I am today because of where I grew up. I made friends those first few days of third grade that are still some of my best friends in the entire world. One of them introduced me to the LDS Church, something I will be forever grateful for.
But I never did get that Slip and Slide. Every time I see one in a store, or on a commercial with kids happily sliding their summer away, I remember that feeling of not only having my childish hopes dashed, but of having my world fall apart. All I knew was Aurora, CO.
And that is why my kids are getting an air hockey table.
(It's in Spanish Fork, UT, only 10 minutes from where we live now.)
Congratulations on the new house! I am so glad I got to see it when I was there, so I know how wonderful it will be for all of you. Now about that Slip & Slide . . . I must have put it completely out of my mind, then & now because I just don't remember the tragedy of no Slip & Slide. I remember telling you about moving & I certainly remember your reaction, the yelling & tiers & leaving your friends etc. Are you sure you never got one??? Just kidding! What goes around comes around & now you have great empathy for what Josh is experiencing. I can see it now on my headstone, "Here lies my mom, who wouldn't get me a Slip & Slide"! I guess it's never too late . . . you do have a birthday coming up in September. But that would be too late weather wise . . here we go again!!
ReplyDeleteLove you squirt!
Mom
Yes, congrats on the house. I spent the first half of this post reading it as if it were Josh for some reason. :-) I thought, well sure you remember, it wasn't that long ago. And wow, "distinctly" - quite the vocabulary. Haha.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be cheaper just to buy an air hockey table and stay here?
ReplyDeleteOn the more serious side we truly are excited for you. You deserve a home that meets your needs (and wants) better and hopefully we can have a tour sometime. Good luck with the move!