Grandma's Childhood Memories

When Grandma was a little girl. . .
When Michelle and Julie and I were at Women’s Conference this past May 1st and 2nd, Julie and I attended a class on ‘Family Reunions.’ They had 2 speakers. The first lady spoke on
‘Blogging.’ I felt so pleased as I had just created a blog, with the help of Michelle, two weeks or so earlier. She also spoke about writing stories about her childhood for her grandchildren to read. A sudden realization came to me that I am Michelle’s children’s only surviving grandmother. That was sobering! They lost their other grandmother Jenna almost a year ago. Jenna was a wonderful grandmother and loved her grandchildren! They loved her too! I realized that none of my grandchildren know anything about my childhood and I should ‘blog’ some stories that they may enjoy.

Here goes…Story #1
Dearest Granchildren-Tyler, Lauren, McKenna, Brooklynn and Quintin, Brynnly, Zachary, Braxton and LaRue and Matilda-this is for you!

What is the ‘earliest childhood memory’ I can remember?

Well, since I’m only 57 years old, I can remember back when I was not quite 2 years old. To you grandchildren 57 years old may seem like I am ancient! You know that your Uncle Gayle Bates and I are twins! My father had built a fenced chicken yard with a chicken coop so that they could raise a few chickens and have the eggs. My mom (your great grandmother Jane Bates) said when we got to be a handful she would put my twin brother and I out in the chicken yard. We couldn’t get into any trouble out there and she could have a little bit of peace and quiet and get a few things done with us ‘out of her hair.’ I can remember her telling us that we were ‘little stinkers’!

I can actually ‘remember’ being in that fenced chicken yard. I remember putting my chubby little fingers in the chicken wire looking outside wondering …’Why am I locked up in here?’ I did not like it! My twin brother didn’t seem to mind. He played in the dirt. A few years later, I was probably 4, I remember making a sandwich and I was going to make a good sandwich and make it creative. I put molasses and peanut butter and salt and pepper and mustard on a piece of bread. After looking at the bread, it did not look so good anymore. I did not add the second piece of bread to it to make the sandwich. Well, if my mother found the bread in the trash, I knew I would get in trouble. We did not have a lot of money and that would be wasteful. So, I took the bread outside to the chickens. I remember putting it under the chicken fence and the chickens came running over to the bread. They actually pecked at it and ate it! My only thought was…'Yuck! That must taste awful!' I’m glad they liked it. My mom never found out I did that! At least I don’t think she ever knew because I never I told her! I did not particularly enjoy getting spankings as they hurt! She didn't know and I didn't get spanked! Although, I probably deserved it!

I love you!
Grandma Guptill
(in Washington)