School Daze, School Daze

I find it interesting how a smell, a sight, a song or a word can trigger a memory.  We have all heard a song, and suddenly we remember hearing that song long before in a particular situation or place.   We might smell cologne on a stranger, and we remember that our father used to wear that cologne.

I had such an experience a few days ago.  One of my business partners in Xpress Healthcare and I were chatting on the phone when she mentioned that her son’s name was Drew.  I haven’t known many Drew’s, so a fifty+ year-old memory immediately came to mind.

I must have been in third or fourth grade at the time.  Drew Daniels lived directly across the street from my elementary school outside lunch area.  It was a much safer time in Los Angeles then, and kids were permitted to go home for lunch if they lived within a certain distance from the school.  Drew went home for lunch and discovered he didn’t have his house key.  He decided to enter the house through the chimney.  Of course, he got stuck partway down and began shouting for help. We all watched as the Fire Department came to the rescue. 

Funny how vividly I remember that day, which led me to thinking about my grammar school days and a few other situations that, looking through life’s rear-view mirror, are funny.  One such incident took place because I was a Tom-boy. I took pride in the fact that I could win all kinds of races against the boys.  One day, we were playing a game of “Red Rover.”  Two lines of children would hold hands tightly facing one another several feet apart from one another.  When it was the opposing teams turn to sing out “Red Rover, Red Rover, let Julie come over,” I was supposed to run as fast as I could and break through the other team’s line.  Well, I made it through, but there was a garbage can right behind their line.  I tripped on someone’s foot and went flying through the air, landing head first in the garbage can.  I can still remember how embarrassed I was.

Because of my “athleticism,” I played handball well (at least for a 9-year-old girl).  When I hit the ball, apparently my body bent into odd positions, because I remember everyone calling me “flexy.”  Even being a Tom-boy, I had my feminine side.  Along with a few other girls, we created The Lemon Sisters.  There was a very popular group of singers at that time called The Lennon Sisters.  While my friends and I serenaded anyone who would listen, we each held a lemon in our hands.  About five years ago, I “met” a woman online that I had gone to school with.  I didn’t remember her, but she remembered me.  As soon as she saw my name, she wrote to me, “You Were One of the Lemmon Sisters!”  Until that moment, I didn’t even remember the Lemmon Sisters, but it was such fun to know that someone was actually entertained by our little group.  (I have no idea who the other “sisters” were.)

That’s the end of my short journey down memory lane.  It is always fun to remember, and even more fun to create new and different memories.

To learn more about Julie Klein and Xpress Healthcare, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com