The Strawberry Patch

There is nothing like eating fresh strawberries right off of the plant in the summer. The fruit is so sweet and fresh and I don't know of anything to compare it with.

When we misbehaved we would have a punishment for our behavior and one of punishment was that we had to weed a row in the Strawberry Patch. We had one weed free Strawberry Patch.

Taking Out The Garbage

This was a chore that one of us would draw to do after supper every night. Mother made a wheel out of paper and drew a circle on the paper and divided the chores up like a slice of pie on the wheel. She put a hand like a clock on it and we would spin for our chores until we each had a different chore. Chores: Wash Dishes, Dry Dishes, Clear Table, Sweep and Mop or Take Out the Garbage. I don't know why but I would end up with the garbage quite a bit. It doesn't seem like a hard job to do get the garbage can and take it out to the larger garbage can outside and put the garbage there until it can be burned. Well this is okay unless you are scared of the dark like I was as a kid. I thought nothing of the dark if I was playing hide-an-seek or chase or army outside with other kids but to go outside after being in the house was another thing all together. One night remains strong in my memory even until this day. I got the garbage and went to the back door and opened the door and stood just outside of the door with the garbage and left it there like before until daylight and then hurry down and take it to the garbage can before anyone caught on to what I had done. But obviously my mother had know what I had been doing so when I came back into the house she asked had I taken the garbage out. I quickly answered that I had. And her reply was are you sure? I knew that it was outside but I also knew that it was just outside and not in the can. She said, "Okay I'll just go and check." I knew then that I was in trouble and quickly explained that it was outside but not in the garbage can. She said, "You know if you do it right the first time it will be better for you that having to do it over and also getting punished for not doing it. Yes, I understand but I was still scared of the dark.

Palmer Waters