Memory Monday....Second Grade

SECOND GRADE

FALL 1979 (6)

Picture discussion: The collar of the shirt??  White? Really? The hair?  You missed the transition from my first grade pic of longer hair, to the super short Dorothy Hamil cut I had.  This look I'm sporting here is apparently a transition growth from that.  And what is my semi, I'm not gonna show my teeth to you, smile?  Discuss amongst yourselves.  OR, in the comments, whatev.

Before I can go into any memories of this school year.  I must preface with this very important piece of my history.  In the summer before second grade, at the tender age of SIX I was "crowned" Mesa City Champion of the 6 and under category in swimming.  And this was not a rinky dink town YO.  We're talking 100's of kids and I was BETTER than them.  HOLLA!  Yep folks, I was a competitive swimmer from the time I was 4 until I was 16. I lettered in it in highschool, but quit after my Junior year, 'cause I hated messing my hair up all the time.  PLUS, I was a BIG girl, and really, traipsing around in a speedo, it just was NOT good times for me.  But, I digress.

Just standin by our backyard pool, little photo shoot with the "hardware" Be jealous, be so so jealous!  Of the SWIMSUIT that is.

In case you can't read what I wrote.  The arrow to that cute little boy says "My first boyfriend"  He'll fit into my 6th grade remembories.

The summer of '79 was magical.  I had shown promise as a swimmer very early on.  The coach took special interest in me and had me working out with the older kids.  I remember him taking me out on the deck and specifically showing my how to have the best stroke for my freestyle.  I loved swimming.  I lived in the pool, and I WAS good at it.  I was primed to become champ. I won many, many races, but not all.  As the championships approached I got more and more excited.  The very idea that I could win a TROPHY was more than I could take.  I remember my Mom always telling me to reach for a giant bowl of whipped cream in the center of the pool as I dove in.  That way I'd have better starts.  There was a lot of anticipation when it came to the freestyle race.  The city record had been standing for something ridiculous like 15 or 18 years.  Could I beat it?  Could I set a new record?  Well, good news.  I TOTALLy did.  It was the MOST exciting moment of my little life thus far.  My parents and coaches were sooo excited.  I was too, but mostly, I was pumped that I got a gold medal.  Then, I took silver in backstroke.  Can't remember what I got in butterfly, suffice to say, NOT my best stroke.  But apparently, my combined totals were enough to name me champion.  It was AWESOME!  I got a trophy.  A real live trophy.  I had a city record.  I slept with that trophy that first night.  Just 3 or 4 years later, some punky little upstart went and broke my record.  I'll never forget, standing on the far end of the swim complex, watching and listening to that race.  Hoping against hope that she wouldn't break my precious record. But, she did.  And, I cried.  But again, I'm off subject.  Alls I'm trying to say is, things were lookin good for the 2nd grade. (as a sidenote, my younger bro. and sis. both totally won multiple city chapmionships.  My bro. STILL has a couple of records standing, and we're going on over 20 years here)

Late in that summer however, I was diagnosed with nephritis, a condition where my kidneys had ceased to function normally.  I was apparently in a lot of pain, and crying and not sleeping.  For the record, I have a sort of redonkulous pain tolerance, so the fact that I was crying about something had my Mom pretty worried.

So, memory numero UNO:  I spent my entire 2nd grade year taking penicillin, getting blood drawn once a month, and not being able to eat any sugar, salt or flour.  I swear to you, I only ate shredded wheat and honey.  No, I'm sure I ate more than that, but that's all I remember eating.  It really was not so much fun.  The good news is, I was "healed" by the end of the year and the doctor cleared me to eat sugar.  As I've mentioned before...bad call Doctor.  I made up for lost time with a vengence. The bad news...taking penicillin for a YEAR wreaks some serious havok on the ol' bod.  My teeth came in all wierdly "stained" and I had SEVERE yeast issues for years after that.

2. My teacher was Mrs. Schweikart, and I LURVED her and she lurved me right back.  It was the beginning of my "teachers favorite" status in life.  Well, except 3rd grade, which you'll learn about next week.  Anyway, she was young, she must have been only like 23, 'cause she taught there for a 100 years afterward.  In fact, she sent me a wedding gift, and I talked to her several times over the years.  Sadly, she died 2 years ago (way to young) of cancer.  BUT, as my teacher, she was wonderful.  She gave me a book "jellybeans for breakfast" which was like my favorite book forever, and this bottle of perfume in the shape of a cat.  I HATE cats, but I loved htis, 'cause it had blue saphire eyes and I thought they were soooo beautiful.  I don't know WHY she gave me those gifts.  But you know how it is...when you're little.  Teachers are somewhat mythical.  You don't think of them as having lives outside of school, and you idolize them.  So, I felt sooooo special.

3.  John Doan used to chase me everyday at recess.  You know, the whole, I likey you, I will chase you kind of chase.  And so did Chris Kilpatrick.  Chris was cute, and my neighbor.  John, not so much.  He wore creepy transition lens glasses.  Sorry, but I have  ALWAYS thought those glasses make people look like "chesters".  But, I did enjoy the chase aspect of things.  Until one day, Chris caught me, and he knocked me down, and I had a teeny little hole in my crotchal area (WHY do I remember THAT detail?)of my shorts.  A teacher came out right then and YELLED at him to get off me.  The chasing ceased after that.

4. I FINALLY started losing my teeth.  I was SEVEN before I lost my first tooth.  It was all a bit ridiculous really.  All my friends were soooo ahead of me, and mature with their teeth losing business.  So, it felt good to have finally arrived "on the scene."

5. Learning how to make "paper".  The art lady came in and we crushed up all kinds of planty goodness and created our OWN paper.  It was super dee duper cool.  We also saved those styrofoam meat trays and then used them like "looms" and created little yarn hot pad creation thingys.  I don't know what they were, just that we did them.  And don't even think that I don't still have them, 'cause I DO!

6.  There appear to be no scarring memories of "cheating" or inability to do my work as a 2nd grader.  Phew!  'Cause 3rd grade there were some problems. 

I mostly just remember loving 2nd grade and my happy little innocent life at the time.  I had my friends, a great family and my whole life ahead of me.  So thanks 2nd grade and Mrs. Schweikart for making it a good one.

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In other news, just to wrap up some loose ends:

The sugar fast is going GREAT!  No issues at all. I've even been to cheesecake factory TWICE, with people eating stuff all around me.  I've been around candy the whole month....no prob. So, I'm happy about that.  I'm happy to have this teeny tiny little piece of my life under control.  What I'm NOT so happy about is....my peeps, my ladies, my posse!!!  Several have fallen hard off the wagon, and others..well, they're just not talking.

So, the time has come ladies, stand up and tell the truth.  WHERE do you stand on the quest?

I won't call you out THIS time, but get on here and leave a comment. 

Workshop one is done.  The performances went really well. I'm soo happy to have the lighting all done and not to have to worry about it for next time.  PHEW!  My nephew was the one programming the light board, and he did a FANTASTIC job.  He literally learned how that day, and he was geniusy PRO at it right away.  We had WAY too much fun up in the booth during the shows.  And all I have to say is...."Youtube!" (sorry, I rudely just threw in an inside joke)

Jere is done with his show at the biltmore.  It was wonderful, and he had such a great experience!  He's hoping to be involved in the companies shows this fall, which I'm all for, 'cause they pay well.  And, it gives him an opportunity to do what he loves.  We'll see how things play out, with his work, school and all.

Maggie has come out with 5, count 'em FIVE new songs, and I will save their lyrics for another post.  Suffice it to say.....hilarious!  And, they included dialogue with the audience AND actions.

Jere says he is GOING TO DO the tri on Thanksgiving day.  So, he promises that he and Julie are starting their training tomorrow.  And by training i mean....actually stepping foot into the gym and doing ANYTHING for the first time.  I'm really excited for them to actually do it.  Check back, I'll let you know how THAT is going.

And with that said...I must be off to bed.  LONG day tomorrow and still have wordsheets to prepare and work to do.

Blue ribbons and whip cream dives,

Allyson