Page 7 - REALLY What A time Book IX

REALLY SO WHAT
What A Time

INTRODUCTION

I’d been thinking about my early, pre-teen years, for some
time. Memories continued to run through my mind. These
were early years, like 4, 7, or 9. Years during elementary
school, while living with my family in Fairlington, Virginia in
the 1940’s as Washington D.C. flourished.

I could recall memories like playing in the woods, going to the
movies, getting terrific headaches, and playing some sports.
Mostly experiences I seemed to have by myself, not with my
buddies. Yet there were lots of friends.
What was surprising was the weak memories I had about the
children I knew and played with. I could recall only the names
of a few boys, I couldn’t recall any girls. There were 35 kids in
my second grade class, yet I couldn’t recall any of their names.
I must have spent 5 years with that group of kids. Who were
they? I don’t know.

On the block where I lived there were at least 20 boys and girls
from my age 4-5 to 16 or so. I couldn’t remember many of
their names either. Those few that I could were all boys, the
Curins, in high school, the Collins and Claxtons, in junior high
with my brother. But, when it came to my age, few names
were recalled.
I came across a Newspaper article, and if not for it I’d have
drawn a blank for most of the kids my age. What was
surprising was once I saw their names, boys and girls, in print I
remembered them. Jon Lynn, Bob Watson, Tim Hann, and
one girl Betty Linstrum.

7