My Earliest Memory:

It took me a rather long time to distinguish the different time periods of which my childhood memories took place. I began to place my different memories into categories. I lived in one house until I was 9 years old, so I know that any memory from that particular house took place when I was younger. During those nine years, different circumstances took place that have made my memories even easier to categorize. If I remember a time when my parents drove VW vans, then this would mean I was younger than 7. If I can think of memories that occurred during a time where wheelchairs were not present, my mother and father both going to on runs in the morning, and a time with absolutely no one in the house (including nurses, nannys, babysitters etc) except for my parents, then this would mean that these memories took place before I was four years old.

Every once in a while, while thumbing through my childhood picturebooks, I get these bizarre flashbacks where it almost seems as though I can remember those exact instances when the pictures were taken. However, when I think really hard, one memory stands out stronger than the rest, and seems more vibrant. Because there are not any pictures representing this particular day, I know that this image in my head rests solely on my own memory.

It was my mom's 39th birthday, which means that I was 3 years old. My mom's Bday was also close to my parents 5th wedding aniversary, so my father was planning something really special for her. A week before her birthday, my dad brought all the kids around him, (my brother, sister and I) and we sat in the hallway next to the kitchen. He had this flat, black box that was really soft, (I know now this softness was velvet) When he opened it up, there was a really pretty, sparkly necklace and set of earrings. My sister and I were mezmorised. I dont think that either one of us had ever seen so many sparkly clear stones at one time, and my dad asked us if we wanted to try it all on to see if we thought mom would like them! This was very exciting stuff for Britney and I. My brother Cade could care less, but as soon as dad told him that he was taking mom on a helicopter ride and that Cade could watch them take off, Cade also joined in on the excitement.

Now I would not have been able to remember that incident in the hall way if it was not for what happened the following week, the same night when dad and mom would go away on their little excursion for her birthday suprise. The parents had left and were going up the coast for a romantic flight/dinner, and the three kids were left with a really annoying babysitter. I remember she was old, smelled like moth balls, and had really bad breath (so I never wanted her to read to us). It was pretty late at night, and the sitter told us that we had to brush our teeth and get ready for bed, but that was not something that I wanted to do. I remember throwing a really big fit because I wanted to eat ANOTHER popsicle. The sitter said absolutely not, so I decided to play my favorite game with her... Hide and seek... I sprinted away from her old, "unable to run legs" and hid under a great big chair in my parents room.

A few hours had gone by and I must have fallen asleep. Because the next thing I remembered was being carried down our spiral staircase and seeing my mom crying with excitement at the bottom of the stairs. The baby sitter was not there. I do remember, however, that my dad gave me a popsicle.

I dont remember anything that happened while I was under the chair. Obviously. I just remember the police officer carrying me to my parents. Turns out, the babysitter could not find me. She had insisted that I ran away from home, and might have accidentaly ran across the street to the beach. In those few hours that I was sleeping, the police were called, a search party took place, and my parents were contacted at their restaurant to leave and come home immediately. It is funny, how so much can take place, but being a child you seem to be so much more oblivious to everything else surrounding you. I remember my crappy babysitter, not being able to have my popsicle, and the trip down the stairs. And after reviewing my memory theatre for my earliest memory, I can honestly say that I think that week, my mothers birthday week, was when this first memory became implanted within me forever.