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Question: Can you clearly see your earliest memory!? Can you see mine in this prose!?
The Beginning (Part One)

People ask, "What is your earliest childhood memory!?" I take that to mean the one I remember as being there, not one told to me, years later, about me, that I don't actually remember, but can still see, because it's been said to me!. So, I flip back through the files of ancient memories and this is how I answer!.

Coronado, California, windy morning standing at the pier!. Women holding children surrounding me!. All have looks of joyful anticipation on their faces as they gaze out into the sea!. Navy carrier sails into view and the cries of excitement grow louder!. 1955, women still wore hats and white gloves, had lacy hankies to pull out and wave in the air!.

My five year old eyes, filled with wonder, watch as the ship pulls in!. Sailors in starched whites line the bridge, still at attention, remaining in true form!. I glance at my mother, older brother and sister, they seem to be looking, searching for something!. At last, the gang plank has been secured, and uniformed men begin their run and mingle into the crowd!.

Smiles all around, as the ladies and children are lifted off their feet in warm embraces!. The emotion overwhelms me and I hide in my mother's skirts!. A man approaches in khaki's and brown leather flight jacket, I've seen those eyes before!. He puts a full bear hug around my mother, I remain hidden from view!. He stoops to look eye to eye to my siblings, they warm to his cheerful greeting!.

Then, he finds me!. He pulls me from my mother's legs!. She swats at my arms still holding tight!. "This is your father, Susie, he's no stranger to you!" But his touch is foreign!. It doesn't feel right!. And those eyes, I've seen before!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Another beautiful piece!.!.!.!.I think you did a good job of painting a picture with your words here!.!.!.!.and I very much doubt that I could do the same for *my* earliest clear memory!.!.!.!.although I have a good idea of what that particular memory would be in my case!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Sorry Ma,
I cannot find mine right now!.
When I do I promise I will write it down!.
Yours is very well expressed and I do recall that I too, used to hide in my mamas skirts, and although my name not Susie, I wore a little jacket with her name as my cousin had outgrown it!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

That's amazing!. You have a true gift!.!.!.I'm a writer myself, but nothing I write could compare to this!.

Beautiful!. I could imagine it despite the fact that I know little about the time period!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm glad I came back to read this before reading part 2!.!.!. The last paragraph looks like it's going to be an excellent lead in!. I'm off to find out!
This is excellent writing in my opinion!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

didn't know you could post poetry to get feedback here at yahoo answers!.!.!.!.interesting!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

What a fab memory!Www@QuestionHome@Com

This is just great!. You have much talent!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I see a ship somewhere near Mission Bay!.!.!.!. and Pusan!.

Very nice!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, I can be there with you!. Are you going to carve this pumpkin down to a frightening little poem!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

That's awful neat to the max!. I envisioned your standing there whilst your Father returned from duty!.

In 2001 I stood on the tarmac of Pope AFB in Fayetteville, NC!. We were doing some engineering work on newly built runways, adjacent taxiways, etc!.

There were about 20 commercial airliners and literally thousands of soldiers awaiting boarding!. Duffle bags by the 10's of thousands!.

I was so lost deep in thought about war, my personal war experiences, and couldn't help but get a tear in my eyes as I viewed these "kids", because that's precisely what they looked like, board the planes!.

One plane in particular was so overloaded that it had to use the "overrun" portion of the runway to get off the ground!. Planes wheels came so close to the fence and treeline at that end of this runway!.

If I'm not mistaken Pope is about 7500ft long!. [I was right as I checked!. I've worked there many times on projects for them!.]

It was as if I were witnessing a crash in the making and I talked to GOD please let that plane clear those trees!. It took forever for this airliner to get altitude!.

I've watched many a plane take off and their up and gone but this one was obviously straining to take flight!.

I remember when I was so small that I couldn't get up on the couch!. My Dad would reach down and pull me up by one arm!. Then I'd scurry off and he'd not help me back up!.

Then I'd "hide" under the table thinking he couldn't see me!.

Another memory was around this same age where he'd take me in his truck!. No seat belts back then!. He drive, I'd place my left arm over his shoulder!. He'd hit the brakes, I'd crash to the floor, sometimes crying and other times not!. He'd say whoops!.!.

Yep, the good ole days!. 20Marcy1951!. I know you remember the 70's for sure Ma!.

My Dad 19Aug1919 to 18Aug2003!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes ma, I can see my earliest memory and will try and get it down after reading yours!.

As for the story:
The first line is fine, but maybe it should be the 2nd line in the story!.
You can come up with a new first line, one that grabs us and sits us down!.

Mention his eyes in paragraph two, but don't mention you've seen them until your last line!.
The rest is grand!.

Part 2!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

What's that sound!?
Makes me want to kick!.
Legs jump, arms twitch!.
Sloshing in something wet!.
Yeah, I like that!.
I heard someone say jazz!.
Now I hear a sweet voice singing,
"Rock-a-by baby"
What's this!?
It's attached to my hand!.
I'll call it a thumb,
And it fits perfectly in the
Hole in my face!.
I'll call it mouth!.
Sure is dark in here!.
Why do I feel like I'm under water!?
Where did the jazz go!?
No singing!.
HEY!!! Is there anyone there!?
It's crowded in here!.
What's going on!? what is that
wailing noise!?
All these voices, and it getting dry
around me!.
What is "Water Broke"!?
What's that up there!?
It's bright! It hurts my eyes!.
Oh, wow, my head doesn't fit here people!.
What a headache!
Wow, i feel strange!.
There is air in my body!.
Hey! why are you hanging me by my feet!?
Ow, dang it that hurts,
Are you trying to make me cry!?
That's better!. Hey, who are you!?
What is that thing you are
stuffing in my mouth!?
Mmmm, never mind, I'm hungry!.
Belly getting full, time for nap!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com

Here comes the rain…Steam rising up with the smell of the afternoon heat!. 2:00 on the money!. You can almost set your watch to it!. As the gutter fills, the creative mind of a five-year-old boy sees – A pool!. Time to forget about time!. The afternoon consists of a swim, a nap and maybe a little bike ride!.

I recall so many days just this way!. Although some were quite different… As I push the sleep from my afternoon nap away from my eyes, I can hear trouble, but I don’t see it!.Too late… I find myself underneath the fish mans’ truck!. I should have known!. Every Friday in New Orleans the fish man, in his monstrous truck, would lumber through my neighborhood hawking his goods to a city of devoted Catholics!. And I just didn’t see it coming…Later in life; I would realize the exacting results of the previous statement!.

I’m ok!. I had to be!. There were dozens of other destined events to come that I just couldn’t or wouldn’t miss!. As the youngest of six, I really saw myself as a target of sorts!. I had my protectors at this time, but later the “enemy” would have so much ammunition to hurl that I certainly would be challenged to avoid the onslaught!. The year is 1963!. Man, did I have a long way to go!.

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Your opening sentence sounds complete double-dutch!.!.!.if it wasn't for the fact that I understood it perfectly!. It is so difficult to know if what you have as an earliest memory is simply the remembrence of a oft-told tale!. I think I remember an incident where a bull being taken to a cattle market, broke free!.!.!.I was so scared that when my mother picked me up to hide behind some hospital gates, I was stiff like a board and she couldn't bend me in the middle to hold properly!.
If that's not the one!.!.!.!.it was going to Sunday School with my younger brother and suddenly it began to rain fiercely, then there was thunder and lightning!.!.!.!.I ran at my brother and pushed him over because I was so scared I didn't know what to do!.!.!.I definitely remember that!.

Knowing what we know about you and your father this has an ominous ring!. An interesting read, I await Part Two!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm sitting on a bed with an old antique quilt!.The quilt has ladies with bonnets on it in different colours!.My Dad has asked me to put some of my clothes in the white painted antique dresser!.My little sister didn't come with us, where is she!?The breeze is blowing throw the open window making the lace curtains flow into the quiet room!.I lay on the bed and know I am never going to see my Mother again!.Don't know why, just know that I am here to stay!.I wonder, where did they take my baby sister!?I am 6, my baby sister 3 months old!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I can recall my first memory at the same age as yours!. I can't see as clear as you do but I'll try!.

There were a lot of trees close to an old building like a school!. We were there for my vaccination!. The one you get at 5!. I was afraid since I saw children crying after they got the needle!. The 6s were luckier!. Instead of the painful needle they were getting an oral dosage!.

I believe I was resigned to my fate!. I was almost crying when my dad was asked about my age and he just muttered six!. Then everything changed!. The building was colorful!. The trees were green and beautiful!.

Afterward my dad said nothing!. Neither do I!. I had never said thanks!. He would deserve it!.

I can see your memory since it made me remind of mineWww@QuestionHome@Com

i see it very well!. you bring out that scary little girl that sees her father for the first time!. with the father, i feel the warmth that he gives to her!. not wanting her to be scared but to love him as he loves her!.
my earliest memory is the time i sit in my grand mothers kitchen in germany watching her cook on that old wood stove!. i can even remember the smell of the food she is cooking!. i was three at the time!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

45 years old and i still see it as plain as day , every day !. my grandmothers dog biting me on the face , 137 stitches , the dr's told my mother it was a miracle i was alive !. lost so much blood trying to get me to the er , the scars have faded for the most part , but the memory never will !!!Www@QuestionHome@Com