Down memory lane...

Was reading Choxbox's earliest memories written in response to Usha's post on her earliest memories... and that set me off wondering which mine were...

I think my earliest memory is of me walking crying down a street in Madurai. Mom says I was about 3 yrs old and I was sad/upset because I couldn't wear my favourite shirt with puffed sleeves to school. And so after my Dad had dropped me within the school gates, I managed to slip out and walked crying all the way home...I sure must have been very sad, for me to remember it so well, and that must have been some special puff sleeved shirt... My poor Mom! I can't imagine what I'd have done if Sonny boy took after his mother in every way!

My next oldest/youngest memory is of my Achamma- my Dad's mom. She was bedridden from the time I can remember her, but she always used to have a toothless grin for me, and I think we got along together fabulously. I don't think she would have been very appreciative of my Dad's smoking, but she used to make wonderful toys for me with the aluminium/silver foil they used to cover the cigarettes in in those days (Scissors). We were not staying at my Dad's hometown, but we used to visit every now and then. And I used to collect the foils and take them to her and watch with wondering eyes at how the toys took shape beneath her nimble fingers...
(Hers is the earliest death I remember too, she passed away at the age of 85, which is pretty early for her times, when I was still a kid, but I don't think I was sad, just curious as to what was happening and why everybody was crying.)


The next memory I have is of me running around a table, screaming. It was in my Mom's home where we were staying as a joint family, and my aunt had just brought home the first dog I loved - Chickoo. I was out in the backyard, up a guava tree when he came home, and when I heard the news, I raced inside. Only to race back equally fast. Chickoo was a young pomeranian and they are not known for their love of small children. I must have been about 6. Hearing me run and squeal in excitement, I don't remember what he did, but I certainly do remember running round and round the huge dining table, not listening to the adults asking me to stop running, but finally jumping on a chair and clambering up the table and out of the excited Chickoo's way, who was running frenziedly at my heels.
After that it is a wonder I love dogs the way I do, but then, some things are just meant to be, I guess. I have been bitten by Chickoo twice, but I loved him nonetheless, and every other dog since.

Well, those are my earliest memories. I also have one about me going out to buy Scissors for my Dad, but I've already written about that in a separate post.

Thank you Usha, for that trip down memory lane.