When you move away from your family when you're young, it's as if time stops. All those kid memories get archived in your brain. No one gets older or changes. Honestly, it's like the people you remember become fossilized; no longer affected by time or the elements of decay. They simply stay the same.

The things you remember about people and events are funny too. Random things about a person stand out and become their trademark characteristics. I moved away from my family when I was fourteen. (For some reason, I have always said I moved away at thirteen. Maybe because thirteen is the last birthday I remember there; or because that's how old I was when I found out we were moving; I'm not sure.) Most of my aunts and uncles lived within walking distance so they are all part of my kid memories.

One of the things I remember most about my Aunt Linda is that she has diabetes. (I'm sure I remember that because seeing her give herself shots in the stomach was traumatic for a kid who hated needles.) My Aunt Linda is the reason I love grapefruit so much. Not only did she like grapefruit, she also liked Sweet'n Low, Avon, and Fingerhut. The Fingerhut delivery truck was the closest thing I had ever seen to Santa's sleigh. She also went to drafting school, read Harlequin romances, and painted the scene on the baptistry wall at church. I think my Aunt Linda was proud of that painting and so was I. My Aunt Linda wasn't always a church-goer. I think she was very lonely before she met the Lord, but when she did, she finally found true love.

I also remember random things about my Aunt Jerri Lynn; like the time she saved me from choking to death by turning me upside down and slapping me on the back. (I am still very careful not to eat butterscotch discs alone.) My Aunt Jerri was the pioneer bird of the family, always leaving the nest to try new things in new places. I remember staying the night with her in her apartment in Hazard. I seem to remember that she bought me a coloring book and read Hans Christian Andersen's, The Ugly Duckling to me; or was it Thumbelina? It's not a solid memory, just a glimmer. I must have been very young.

I also remember spending the summer with her and my cousin Angie in West Virginia; it was the highlight of my year! That summer I went to Piggly Wiggly for the first time, because I forgot my toothbrush and Kentucky was too far to turn around. During that visit I learned that my Aunt Jerri was passionate about not drinking liquid during a meal; she felt liquid interfered with digestion. This was one of the few things about my Aunt Jerri that I did not agree with. Everyone knows that if you can't digest someone's cooking, liquid is the only thing that can help! Aunt Jerri took us to Hardee's for breakfast when I was there and at night, she let me go to work with her at Western Sizzlin'. One night, I got to stand on the counter and clean the mirrors. They had gum and candy vending machines there. I can't exactly remember if she gave me candy, but I do remember that while she was cleaning the kitchen she got grill brick in her eye! She called someone on the phone and then she went to the bathroom and tried to wash it out. She tried to stay calm because I was there, and she was in charge of me, but I knew she was in pain.

My Aunt Jerri is the youngest of my mom's sisters. Mom says she lived with us when I was really little. That must be why my Aunt Jerri and I always got along so well. She was a cheerleader when she was in school. I remember seeing her uniform once. She and my Uncle Doug were really close. He lived with her for a while and was a chef at Western Sizzlin'. As a kid, I thought Western Sizzlin' was the fanciest restaurant there ever was; it was much fancier than Pizza Hut.

My Uncle Doug “babysat” me once when I was 12 or so. I wanted to watch Night Tracks all the way through, but it lasted from midnight until 6am. Mom wouldn’t let me stay up that long, so I had never seen a complete episode; and the Michael Jackson videos were always at the end. This was my one chance! I asked Uncle Doug if I could stay up all night and he said yes! He even let me drink coffee so I wouldn’t fall asleep! I’m happy to say, the next morning, I was awake for Billie Jean! I’m also happy to say, that even though he asked me to, I did not give Uncle Doug a tattoo.

There are many random, kid memories floating around inside of me. Some of them have made it from my head to my heart; those are the easiest to remember.