Cardiogirl: 19% body fat 100% fun

earliest memory? i had to be around 4, i was not in school yet and was getting ready for daycare or camp.

my mom bought me a pink outfit, a freaking 2 piece that looked like a bathing suit. i didn’t want to wear it because i was afraid to show my belly button.

i’m very shy about showing my body, well i don’t think so much now, but i still feel that anxiety when i do and growing up, i buttoned everything up to the top, hid everything i didn’t have and always wore a suit…nothing that showed my body or arms, like dresses.

i won’t even analyze this and i don’t remember if i wore the outfit.

Or maybe your memory means that secretly you really want to be a chef :P

I think my earliest memory was my first time on a plane…I was going on holiday to Spain and I was about 2 years old…and I was looking out of the window and telling my elder sister that Super Bunny and some flying dogs lived in the clouds. I guess that just shows I’ve got an imagination, lol.
My next earliest memory was looking at the bannisters of a staircase somewhere in Spain. They were green. I can’t remember any more of the holiday though :(

I don’t remember much about my childhood; my memory really starts somewhere around the age of 6, after I went to go live with my dad.

But I do have one vivid memory that I know for certain is my very first memory. I was two years old, my parents had just gotten divorced, and we were looking at the house she ended up buying with the divorce settlement.

I remember that my sister and I sliding were around on the wood floors as the sun came in the windows of what became our bedroom, and that there was a man standing at the doorway with my real mom.

I know it was before we moved in because my mom put down that nasty green carpeting in our room that everyone in the early 80s had, and she replaced the metal crank windows with normal wooden windows that you lifted up to open.

I remember coloring on the wood, you see. Oops. So that memory of my sister and I sliding on the floors had to be my very first memory since we hadn’t even bought the house yet.

And that man in the doorway with my mom? He was my mom’s second husband and my first stepdad, and that is my only memory I have of him. They were only married for six months.

My earliest memory I remember is staying overnight at my nanny’s house while my brother was being born (I was four.) We ate a huge pile of rice, KFC, and watched the smurfs. The smurfs always scared me though, so I don’t know why I remember it.

I used to think that my earliest memory was when I went to Disneyland with my family (I was almost 3), but I remember something that didn’t happen, so I probably dreamt about it, it felt familiar and therefore I thought it actually was real.

Wow – talk about opening up Pandora’s box! Well, not that I remember Eeeeevil memories, but… there are a LOT. And I don’t know how old I was in any of them.

Sitting in a high chair eating chicken noodle soup. I wasn’t very good at it. The tray of the high chair was yellow, and seeing the noodles that had fallen on it was difficult enough, never mind trying to pick up the slippery little buggers with my fingers. I remember being very frustrated and upset with myself for having made a mess, and not being able to clean up after myself.

Wrapped in a blanket waiting to go next door to Nanny McDougall’s to be babysat. It was winter, hence the blanket. It was morning because the brothers and sisters were milling about before leaving for school, and so I had to be 4 or under, because when I started school, it was half-days, in the mornings.

Walking underneath the kitchen table from one end to the other without bumping my head. No idea how old I was, but I was short enough to not have to duck down.

And then there was that hamburgers and sand thing….

I’m pretty sure I was three. We lived on a cul de sac, but it was pretty long; maybe a dozen houses? Mom and I were supposed to be going to visit the neighbors. Bored and tired of waiting for her, I hopped on my big wheel and rode around the court to the neigbors’ house. I told my Dad where I was going, but he didn’t hear me b/c he was mowing the lawn. After looking for me frantically, even at the bottom of another neighbor’s pool (poor Mom!), she found me. She was really mad. She and my dad were going out that night and my Grammy was babysitting. Mom told her I wasn’t to have any dessert but Grammy gave me a red popsicle. Grammy was the best, may she rest in peace.

This one is easy for me and sort of backs up Dr. Whoever’s theory.

My earliest memories all include my dad, who died suddenly when I was seven years old. I literally have like 5 memories of my dad and I refer to them as my “handful of memories”. I know why I cling to these memories–they are all I have of him.

There is the one of me getting out of the tub, standing on the toilet, and my dad wrapping me in a giant towel to dry me off. Another of my dad running across the lawn of the lodge where we vacation now and some of me with him on the beach.

These moments aren’t so profound on what I’m doing, but who I was with and how I felt loved and secure in those moments. Is that missing now?? I don’t think so, but I think it was all I have of my dad.

Gees, bummer stories, eh. Get the Kleenex out now….

My earliest recollection is a memory of being in the hospital, in a hospital bed, and eating orange popsicles. I later found out that I was 18 months old and the time and very sick from dehydration. My mother – for some reason – wasn’t giving me enough water. It was with my brothers prompting ( he was 15 at the time) that finally broke my mom and made her take me in.

I haven’t a clue how to relate that to what the doctor says.

I find it’s odd that our first memories vary in age a good bit.

My first and second memories are my 3 and 4th birthdays. A party at Hardee’s. My mother’s b/f was there. His name was John, and a girl I was in ballet was there. A lot of my memories are in order for who my mom was dating at the time.

There may have been a Halloween somewhere in there. I know the picture, so I’m not sure if I remember the picture of the actual event. My sister and I were matching vampires for our ballet classes.

Right before my 4th bday, my babysitter took me to the mall for new clothes and to get my hair fixed and get our pictures made. It was one of my first really happy memories, I felt so special even though they washed my hair in the sink and I think I had my first panic attack.

Hola Cardio

When I was 3 or so I remember seeing my babysitter’s son get hit by a delivery van. Initially I thought this memory was a childhood nightmare until I actually sat my mom down and told her what I was seeing. True this is a totally gruesome memory but what I find so odd about it is the fact that I can see it perfectly in my head but it happens without sound. I can’t hear the commotion on the block or my babysitter scream, it’s sort of like a minstrel show or something. From this horrific memory it reminds me that life is short so it’s important to have fun, not take yourself too seriously and give as much of yourself to family and friends.

I always thought a Shag haircut was like Mackenzie Phillips haircut in “One Day At A Time”. I could be wrong.

My earliest memory is really early and I can’t imagine what it has to do with Dr. Whosit’s theory.

I was between 3 years old, standing at the top of the staircase at my parents first house, which also happened to be my Mother’s childhood home. I specifically recall the staircase and a black wall telephone. (This would have been 1964, so it was the heavy, old rotary style wall phone.) I recall the house being empty, except for that phone. When my Mom was still Iiving I had asked her about that memory several times. She said I described the staircase and the phone accurately. There was a black wall phone at the top of the stairs. She also said that the memory could have been from the day that we moved. We moved from that house when I was 3 and never went back there.

That’s interesting, Natural. I’d bet a lot that you did not wear the outfit.

I’ve always felt that way about my body — then and now. Never had a bikini, probably never will have a bikini. Plus my belly button is really sensitive. I never poke around in there because it hurts. That thing is never gonna see the light of day.

Wow, what world travelers your parents were. I like the idea of seeing Super Bunny in the clouds next time I’m in a plane. I hate flying and the thought of a caped rabbit seems oddly comforting.

Wow blue, that’s pretty darn detailed for two years old! Also, I thought you were going to say the man in the doorway was either:

1. the Realtor, or

2. a ghost apparition that was not there according to your mom.

Still, that’s wild that you remember him and he was only there for six months. Wow.

Isn’t it hard to figure out what’s an actual memory versus a dream. I have a similar situation regarding some sort of clown out the back of our station wagon, but everyone I have asked has no clue.

Maybe that was a crazy ghost apparition.

I love the idea of walking under the table without worrying about smacking your head. I can actually imagine it, just hangin’ out under there walking from one end to the other.

Isn’t it wild how, as a small child, you feel like you’ve got it under control. Even though your older, wiser parents know better. I remember feeling that way and when I think back to how old I was it’s quite crazy.

And that’s what Grammys are for — love and popsicles. Your Grammy sounds like a cool chick.

Boy I just know how to dig right down into the core of your soul, don’t I Lin? They do sound like nice memories, even though they are bittersweet.

Wow, that’s pretty wild LJ. Damnation. Um, I’m not touching that one (analysis-wise) with a ten-foot pole.

It is strange what we remember based on how old we are. I’ve heard one can remember traumatic events even if the chronological age was extremely young (12-18 months).

Oh, Hardees! I remember those. Funny how that panic attack is still in there, but is incorporated in a fun remembrance.

Faith that is extremely wild. That’s like something out of a movie. Wow. Talk about traumatic. Although it sounds like you were able to find a positive lesson from all of it.

Also, that is weird that there’s no sound to it.

Hmm, perhaps there are variations of the shag? I’m just glad that style is no longer popular. Although who cares since I’m never giving my ponytail up.

I suppose the empty house would jive with moving out, eh?. It seems weird that there would be a phone at the top of the stairs. Doesn’t it seem odd to sit on the top step while chatting on the phone?

Regardless, that’s still interesting, kind of standing on the top of the mountain surveying the land.

Looking back on it, I always assumed it was the realtor, until I discussed it with my real mom and she told me it was my stepdad. I have no clue what this guy looks like, since he was a part of our family for such a short time. Let’s just say he’s a Bad Man, and we were much better off without him.

I’ve heard that, too. I also remember my Ab Psych prof saying it was hogwash. I tend to believe him. And personally, I would want to keep those memories in the subconscious. I have enough crap I DO remember to deal with.

We still have Hardee’s. They have an awesome breakfast menu. Good biscuits and coffee, which is required for a real breakfast outside the home. You can even get it on Texas Toast. It’s delicious. I may enjoy fast food more than the average person though.

I had never heard of Carl’s Jr. until going out west and they have breakfast bowls instead of biscuits. It was a sad morning for me in San Fran. Those residents are truly Starbucks mad.

My earliest memory must have been about age 4 when my mother was late picking me up from pre-school and I ended up stuffing play doh up my nose. It burned. My BF Carlos was there too. :-)

I’m pretty sure we both did the play doh stuffing thing, but it didn’t burn him.

It was either sledding with my dad on 1/2 an inch of snow down this tiny mound in our yard or it was being bitten by a dog when we were visiting the construction of our new house – both memories came from when I was probably 3 or 4 living in North Carolina, but I don’t remember which came first.

I don’t know what either says about me.

If it was the sledding one it probably was foreshadowing the fact that I would be stupid enough to leave the South and settle in the North where it snows a lot and I hate it.

If it was the dog biting, it probably shows that from a very early age I was very trusting. I still like doggies.

That’s really wild and scary. I’m glad he’s out of the picture and was only in there for a short amount of time.

I’m still think some of that stuff sticks around, consciously. However, I’m sure there’s some less than stellar stuff tucked away in my head and I’d like to keep it tied up sitting on a shelf.

Like you, I hadn’t heard of Carl’s Jr. until Ms. Paris Hilton did a stupid commercial for them washing a car. Remember that? That was really lame but apparently it worked, because I remember the company.

Although, not really. I remember that she did a stupid commercial. And when you wrote Carl’s Jr. then it all came together. But I guess that’s advertising, even if it’s subliminal, isn’t it?

Ouch. Play doh!! Gah, I almost feel like I know what that burn is like even though I’ve never huffed play doh (knowingly). Hey, maybe that’s a repressed memory for me!

Although now that I think about it, I swear I never had play doh as a child. Isn’t that funny? It’s all over my house now that I have kids.

I’m sure I’d heard of it as a kid, but never worked with the medium :) until I had kids. The closest thing I actually remember was Silly Putty. I remember making a ball and bouncing the crap out of it in the kitchen.

And then I would press it against the comics in the newspaper to get the picture to print on the Silly Putty. And then, of course, it had its cool egg-shaped carrying case.

How self actualized of you, Bumbles. I’m with you on the snow — hate it! And winter seems to last a good six months here in Michigan. Yuck.

And I am very impressed that you still enjoy dogs. I had a bad experience with a large dog and they *still* freak me out today — a good 30 years later.

I’m not totally sure what my earliest memory is. There are a lot of stories I’ve heard about some of my finer childhood moments and as a result, I have some kind of memory of them, although I think they are based on the stories and not actual memories.

My earliest “true” memory probably happened when I was around 4 or 5. There must have been some sort of party at my parent’s house as there were balloons tied to the glass chandelier in our living room. Well I was using the balloons as a punching bag and some how knocked one of the glass lamp shades off and it shattered on the rug.

One of my aunts really yelled at me about it. To this day, I still feel a little weird around that particular aunt. My mom has commented about how that aunt has always tried really hard to get us kids to like her but for some reason we never really did. In my case, I have a feeling that this incident plays into my not liking her.

In addition, in general she is just not very good with other people.

I loved the image of you standing on the table punching the balloon in rapid fire fashion and then BAM! Down comes the light. I’m surprised she felt it was her place to jump all over your back. I’m positive I would have tried to comfort my niece and would have cleaned up.

It is funny that she had no idea why you guys didn’t take to her.

Interesting stuff!
I remember being in the garden barefoot at 2.5 yrs old. I saw something crawling on the ground and I put my foot on top of it to feel it. Turns out it was a bumble bee, and it stung me on the bottom of the foot. I ran inside and I couldn’t explain what happened to my mom since I didn’t really know myself!
I remember tons of stuff from that point on, and about age 3.5 I have pretty good recall of everything till now.
I have never understood how some people say they can’t remember anything before age 6. That just seems so weird to me.

OWW! Did that experience foster a life-long aversion to bees?

I am amazed that you can remember so far back as I am one of those people who has fuzzy stuff until about second grade.

Mine is of being physically restrained by a relative. Most of it has been blanked out.

Geez Solomon, that’s terrible. I’m actually sorry to hear that.