This. All of it. One of my earliest memories is lying awake in my bed while it was still light outside on a summer's eve after a bath. We played hard back then. I started reading you in Parent's Magazine when raising my own kiddos. Then and now, you hit the nail on the head. Thank you. (I was also an army brat growing up and a nurse before embarking on an art career.)
This morning I learned that April is the month of the Military Child. I never heard of this but thought of you as, according to your writings, we shared many similar experiences.
Thank you for a recipe that looks scrumptious! I've saved it on my desktop. I didn't enjoy being a kid, so my list would be shorter, but I might make one!
Good for you. Mine wasn't the happiest either but I found some magic and imagination that I've lost, as an adult. Do write down some of your memories and I hope you find some happy moments.
I read you in Parents magazine when my kids were small. Every essay had several sentences that resonated perfectly with what I was experiencing at the time. I still have some of the clippings, the thin paper going ragged at the edges from rereading.
I hadn't seen this one, though. Again, the perfectly crafted sentences, the memories, the universal humanity that you've captured and given back as a gift. Thank you.
A couple of things I thought back about while reading this.
I miss being able to do the hula hoop - oh boy, was I good once upon a time! A few years ago I tried to do it and couldn't - I was so frustrated and, a little bit sad.
The other shocked me. I was a tomboy and a terrific pitcher in baseball. Several years ago, the company I was working for had a company picnic and a baseball game was arranged. I couldn't wait to show all those guys how great this girl, me, could throw! Well, I fielded a ball in the outfield that came to me and set up to throw all the way to second base and......I threw like a damn girl! When the hell did that happen?!! sigh
This was so lovely and bittersweet! While raising my 2 children, I used to enjoy reading your work in Parade. Now as a Grandma, I enjoy re-living and re-creating so many of my childhood memories with my grandsons. That cake sounds yummy and it’s on my list to try! Thank you.
You have rekindled so many memories with this piece and have inspired me to write down my own list while my memory is still fairly much in tack. Thank you for sharing your memories and thank you also for the recipe, which I intend to make for Easter. Hopefully, we'll be invited somewhere, and I won't eat the whole cake myself.
I rediscovered you recently here in Substack after reading your articles in Parents so many years ago. I have your same last name and even wrote to you back then; it had to be a real letter, too, since no email yet. I wanted to be a writer and asked for your advice. You replied, "A writer writes." I did, but not for publication until last year. I started a blog: vickibergwrites.com, with only 4 posts. More to come, I keep saying to myself. Remember: "A writer writes".
I have been told that too. Both my mother, one novel, Cold Heaven, back in 1949, and my sister, Molly Giles, are and were writers. My sisters, newest novel comes out in June. She's 81 and I couldn't be happier for her or prouder. Keep up your blog. I will look for you.
I was thinking about things like this as I struggled to sleep the other night. How safe and loved I felt in my childhood home. Didn’t have to worry about the furnace deciding not to work, the oil in the car needing to be changed, the refrigerator needing to be cleaned out, etc., I felt loved and cherished and carefree, my play clothes out for me to change into after school, looking out the back window in anticipation of my dad’s arrival through the alley after his day at work, the anticipated excitement of riding my bike to the much loved library, the innocence, life is not so much fun as an adult. Thank you for taking me back to carefree days of childhood!
I enjoyed this - it has a directness that feels like the child is still part of you.
This. All of it. One of my earliest memories is lying awake in my bed while it was still light outside on a summer's eve after a bath. We played hard back then. I started reading you in Parent's Magazine when raising my own kiddos. Then and now, you hit the nail on the head. Thank you. (I was also an army brat growing up and a nurse before embarking on an art career.)
Loved this! Thank you.
This morning I learned that April is the month of the Military Child. I never heard of this but thought of you as, according to your writings, we shared many similar experiences.
Thank you for a recipe that looks scrumptious! I've saved it on my desktop. I didn't enjoy being a kid, so my list would be shorter, but I might make one!
Good for you. Mine wasn't the happiest either but I found some magic and imagination that I've lost, as an adult. Do write down some of your memories and I hope you find some happy moments.
Thanks, Nora--I currently have a very good life, which I don't take for granted. Glad you found magic and imagination.
I read you in Parents magazine when my kids were small. Every essay had several sentences that resonated perfectly with what I was experiencing at the time. I still have some of the clippings, the thin paper going ragged at the edges from rereading.
I hadn't seen this one, though. Again, the perfectly crafted sentences, the memories, the universal humanity that you've captured and given back as a gift. Thank you.
This essay reminded me of so many lovely things about my childhood, and my children’s, that I haven’t thought about in awhile. Thank you 😊
A couple of things I thought back about while reading this.
I miss being able to do the hula hoop - oh boy, was I good once upon a time! A few years ago I tried to do it and couldn't - I was so frustrated and, a little bit sad.
The other shocked me. I was a tomboy and a terrific pitcher in baseball. Several years ago, the company I was working for had a company picnic and a baseball game was arranged. I couldn't wait to show all those guys how great this girl, me, could throw! Well, I fielded a ball in the outfield that came to me and set up to throw all the way to second base and......I threw like a damn girl! When the hell did that happen?!! sigh
It was in a pediatrician's office where I read a Parents' magazine article of yours in1975 or76! I have been a fan ever since.xo
As usual..your words resonate...thank you for the memories.
This made me tear up. 🥹❤️
This was so lovely and bittersweet! While raising my 2 children, I used to enjoy reading your work in Parade. Now as a Grandma, I enjoy re-living and re-creating so many of my childhood memories with my grandsons. That cake sounds yummy and it’s on my list to try! Thank you.
Wonderful.
Fabulous. Thank you
You have rekindled so many memories with this piece and have inspired me to write down my own list while my memory is still fairly much in tack. Thank you for sharing your memories and thank you also for the recipe, which I intend to make for Easter. Hopefully, we'll be invited somewhere, and I won't eat the whole cake myself.
I rediscovered you recently here in Substack after reading your articles in Parents so many years ago. I have your same last name and even wrote to you back then; it had to be a real letter, too, since no email yet. I wanted to be a writer and asked for your advice. You replied, "A writer writes." I did, but not for publication until last year. I started a blog: vickibergwrites.com, with only 4 posts. More to come, I keep saying to myself. Remember: "A writer writes".
I have been told that too. Both my mother, one novel, Cold Heaven, back in 1949, and my sister, Molly Giles, are and were writers. My sisters, newest novel comes out in June. She's 81 and I couldn't be happier for her or prouder. Keep up your blog. I will look for you.
I was thinking about things like this as I struggled to sleep the other night. How safe and loved I felt in my childhood home. Didn’t have to worry about the furnace deciding not to work, the oil in the car needing to be changed, the refrigerator needing to be cleaned out, etc., I felt loved and cherished and carefree, my play clothes out for me to change into after school, looking out the back window in anticipation of my dad’s arrival through the alley after his day at work, the anticipated excitement of riding my bike to the much loved library, the innocence, life is not so much fun as an adult. Thank you for taking me back to carefree days of childhood!
This brings back lots of good memories 🥰 And the cake sounds delicious!