PhotoHunt#2 & Saturday Special Smiley 'Stuph'

Today's theme is Time
I'm participating for the 2nd time ever
and this is today's Sunrise from my front yard

Click for other Photo Hunters this week.

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I discovered Saturday Smiley and Saturday Special
at The Daily Meme and decided to participate in both this week.

so ... if you're ready to smile and have some time, check these out for yourself ;--)

1. Joyce at Creation in Progress shared 'Girlie Wisdom' that made ME smile.

2. Joy's posts each week entertain and delight ... and this is one of my recent favorites.

3. Peajay often has heart-warming posts and stories. I highly recommend 'Is this heaven?'

4. The hilarious sign from a visit to Taos, New Mexico last summer that I shared for last week's Photo Hunt always makes me giggle. Many of the other participants last week shared unique &/or funny signs so you might enjoy checking them out ... but last week's winner by Elinor is classic!

5. I admire those who participate in Raven's Wordzzles like Akelamalu does each Saturday and reading their 'stories' always makes me smile. I wish I could be so clever myself.

Click for others participating in Smiley Saturday this week.

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~Remembering Childhood~

1. As a child I loved to play...?:

2. As a child I wanted to grow up to be...?:
3. As a child my favorite thing to eat was...?:

4. As a child my favorite relative was...?:

Question One

I lived in my imagination when I played throughout most of my childhood. When there was no one around to play with me, I built elaborate 'settings' with a variety of blocks and 'linking toys' in which I occupied myself for hours. In addition, I rode a 'imaginary horse' using a pole my father gave me ... creating adventures with imaginary playmates only I could see and hear. In addition, I learned to read at a young age and lost myself in 'stories' throughout my life.

Of course, I had friends and played the usual 'interactive' games of Hide & Seek, Red Rover, Mother May I, etc. ... along with tetherball & dodgeball in our big backyard and 'team games' at the playground and park ... and we roller skated and rode our bikes in the neighborhood.

Addendum: After reading a few other's posts I was reminded how I used to play 'Jacks' with my mom on the back porch in the evening and how I loved to jump rope for hours and hours.

Question Two

I don't recall thinking much about what I wanted to do or be when I grew up. I pretty much lived 'in the present' ... aware of my 'position' as 'baby of the family' (with a brother 9 years my senior and a sister 4 years older ... neither of whom seemed 'interested' in me until I was 12-ish) but never 'limited' by that age difference ... at least from my perspective. I was an excellent student and 'advanced' in many ways primarily because I felt determined to 'fit in' and figured I should be able to do everything anyone else did. I wish someone had suggested to me that I might become a 'writer' ... but no one did. I was expected to go to college and a High School 'adviser' did tell me I could (I quote here) "... be a teacher, nurse, private secretary, or do the right thing ... get married and raise a family."

Question Three

My family didn't have much money and we ate whatever mom prepared without question. I remember 'tuna sandwiches' being a 'special treat' in my lunch at school ... and on rainy days at home I loved 'tomato soup' with a grilled cheese sandwich. Every now and then on a Sunday afternoon my brother would ride his bike to A&W and use his 'paper route earnings' to buy 'root beer' to share as the family enjoyed popcorn watching a TV show together. Red Hots and Lemon Drops were favorite sweets and Dad always had Juicy Fruit gum in his pockets at church. He'd slip me half a stick (usually as the sermon began) and let me play with his pocket watch as a distraction so I'd sit still.

Question Four

As a kid, it was easy to get 'lost' in the huge family gatherings because there was nobody anywhere close to me in age, but generally I enjoyed my dad's side of the family (Kansas born & bred) more than my mom's (proper Dutch folk) relatives because I didn't have to be on my 'best' behavior all the time. I idolized my big brother always ... and we became friends when he taught me to play tennis and water-ski when I was 12. He died 8 years ago when I was 55 and he was 64. My sister & I became close friends and started 'hanging out' together while I was in college and she was teaching Kindergarten & 1st grade.

If you decide to play either in comments here or on your blog (leaving me a link here) feel free to choose an award from my 23rd Thursday Thirteen, 200th (anything but) Wordless OSI Post, or Hot #4/ToT #5 posts.

Click for others participating in Saturday Special this week.

Thought for Today
" If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it." Andy Rooney