Missing Minnesota

1234 Gibbs Avenue.
Commonwealth Terrace Center
St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
Phone No: 555-0905

Yups. That's my childhood home address and phone number.
And I still remember it until this very day.

If you plan to visit my historical home, you can get the map here.
You can also read more about it here.

I lived in that small place for 5 years.
That's not too long, say some of you.
Well, whatever.. but it sure had a big influence to me.
Maybe because it was a big part of my childhood memories.

I could remember the cold winter of Minnesota
draining all my energy and breath,
and putting me in the hospital for 2 weeks every year.
I was so used to being hospitalized and also happy at the same time,
- I get to have all the ice cream I want there - I once refused to go home!

I remember teaching some friends how to rollerskate
and then falling backwards... ending up with a broken arm.

I remember in winter,
how someone let the water run out all night
into the small valley near the playground
and creating a small ice-skating ring.

I remember having picnics at Como lake in the summer.
And visiting the Ice Castle there in the winter.

I remember how I would always loved
to climb up the pine trees until the very top.
And let my small body sway with the wind.

I remember finding birds with broken wings
or bird nests with colorful eggs inside.

I remember going to the Corner Store
and passing The Silver Tree - we call it that, because all the leaves and the bark
had silver dust on it - standing tall on the small hill.

I remember being chased by a bumble bee.
Imagine Eun Hae (our Korean neighbour), my brother and me
running around and around a tree.

I remember getting my first paycheck.. around $3 or so.
I got it by acting a main role in a small play for a Summer Fair.
I think the play was called "The Lost Unicorn" or something like that.
I also remember being a babysitter and getting $5 an hour!
Wow, was I really rich then... :)

I remember reading books under the trees
while playing with the squirrels.

I remember beaming with pride.
when Eun Hae's father told me I look like a 16 year old girl.
(Of course he was lying and did it just to please me! :P)

I remember my neighbour caughting me red handed doing somersaults on my couch
and recommended me to go to ballet classes at the CTC office.
And I did go to the class, after my neighbour threw my bag way across the room,
because I was to shy to enter the class.
Crying, I reluctantly entered the class to get my bag back.

I remember almost drowning in the Missisippi (did I spell that right?) River
in an all Indonesian outing.
I never could swim, but miraculously that experience made me
a great swimmer until today.
If you ever go to that river, never ever play with the water while you're on board.
I played with my right hand and ended up cutting it.
My dad played the water with his foot and also it ended up bleeding.

I remember riding my bicycles and envying a certain Miss Piggy
who happened to be the first girl my age who had a bikini.
(The next day, I went out bicycling only in my undies :P)

I remember daring a certain girl to bicycle around a block, topless.
Of course, we didn't have any boobs back then...
but it was quite exhilirating!

I remember going to Laura Ingalls Wilder's house at Walnut's Grove.
The show was a huge favourite of mine.. and I often thought myself as being Laura.

I remember going to the State Fair with my neighbour.
My mom and Eun Hae's mom already had this pact to lie
about Eun Hae's, my lil bro's and my age,
because children under 5 can enter for free.
Unfortunately, they didn't tell ME - who screamed out loud
that she wasn't 4 years old, but actually 7 years old!
My mom pinched my back but I was determined to prove I was 7 years old...
and so the ticket lady insisted that my mom & Eun Hae's mom pay the kids fare too.
I was angry at my mom for pinching me and saying to the lady that I was still 4.
My mom was annoyed, because I wouldn't shut up. He he he

I also remembered my school.
All the CTC kids went there and most of them come from all around the world.
So, Brimhall was sort of a public school for international kids.

I remember having my first love and my first kiss.
All combined into my first love song, "The Glory of Love" by Peter Cetera.

I miss my old friends.
We really lost contact ever since I got back here.
*sigh*

Looking back into my childhood memories,
everything seemed to be so simple yet beautiful back then.
Hopefully, I can go back to the States and visit my old sweet home.

Well, what about your childhood memories?
Please share.... :)