Smelly Kid

They say that our sense of smell is the best memory trigger. I have found this to be true for at least one recollection I have from my second year on earth. As I was often want to do, I had wandered away from home and around the corner to the neighbor's house where there was a small fishpond in the back yard. It was late in the fall and cold, and the pond had become quite scummy. Even so, several goldfish still swimming around fascinated me, and as I leaned my bundled-up body over to get a better look, I lost my balance and fell in mitten-hands first. Fortunately, the pond wasn't very deep, and I was able to crawl back out to dry grass. I recall debating at the time whether to go back to the warmth of my home and face the consequences of having wandered off and soiling my clothes, or continue on freezing and stinking in my hapless adventure. I chose home, and it wasn't so bad. But, to this day I remember the swampy smell. There are other olfactory memories I have from my past, and I will tell some of those tales as my personal history progresses.

Pissed Off

From what little I recall, I didn't like being potty trained, though my nick name at the time, "Wade Chappy," suggested I really needed it. After all, potty training was terribly inconvenient and took me away from really fun things like playing in the sandbox and being knocked senseless by the neighbor. But, from what I am told, I made the best of it, and used my time riding the porcelain duck (see picture below) to launch my failed career as a comedian and singer. My siblings will recall that my favorite song entailed the repetitious and plaintiff refrain of "I want a wah wah" (evidently, I was quite thirsty all the time). Here I am brought to tears from the indignation suffered in having my picture taken at the least opportune moment. 

The time I spent perched atop the white duck seemed interminable back then, and now that I am 60 years old, it seems interminable once again, though I have replaced the duck with a more traditional commode. Ah...the circle of life. LOL