My mom kept this book for me from the time I was in kindergarten until I graduated high school.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3r-Qwkq6CTBfLFUk1JBEDhhjHOjOrAySLoPrAgAPIGjEX-1-50W1adwTAMrPHpHfVgRsDgcn-LWZT2z-DsGCaOC-Xw5sJ8Q74mzYzvI7cCSbMsIeNOSrU2ayvgStdk2HjV_8bYffAiLs/s320/DSC03262.JPG)
Here I am in my kindergarten graduation gown.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0S7Dhb2Z7MBIN7O-3RqFaZNsp93mN3OyQ4tzn0WMdvWcE4-7rXO4B8d1KtgsMjmxF8yO2H3VLstQ910O6uaKbJlkxbn3LUkaLKHLVb86vhyphenhyphenLANB97rhToP7zHpfj9b99NBgIQsqI_rQz/s320/DSC03263.JPG)
Check out that signature. I can only say it went downhill from this stage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4op2GboRpTLbbbdT6dNb2TQWhYDdwmWkkrn3LVr9W_bD9Co7VrlP4PD_iVErjUvW_eroj3iQyX9IfKVLrJq_4BBHZj2oX0XkKeDoj-PVEFvHt1KBiWQNwAkrGkmEgoXF2LGQS6wBZmzBe/s320/DSC03264.JPG)
In 1st grade, I think I went to school in my granny gown. This is also the year that my mom used Toni perm rods on my hair.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnmlWkW3_Xp93qEVRhtR6dr948OWBuMNvhW2n0Q5_npEZdOcL8cBxWxYRiz1iA7KICTW7IK_k8uaS4_HNNN7FXq6eWOTpbLqV90ihqGkqobIPoi89qqMIenR-MjXfEalbY963TMeh5Kgv/s320/DSC03265.JPG)
And in second grade, I forgot to take off my poncho for the school photo.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQArcHIqSnyyMjFSdmN7olZtELnuFxfoFe2_vQWe6URtIqeELfr_u7Sp3xWagBbIA-ZJbHKZrDVblRmM_VF7eRF6GXFGzjirnI7mUF_SOkCQjOJE2z-UI6NGqWeMtLZjrgXN6veYKqFply/s320/DSC03266.JPG)
I received by brownie pin this year and wanted to be a ballerina when I grew up. Don't know what I was thinking as I never took any ballet lessons growing up. Maybe it is every little girl's dream.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJb9sVr1mu-YG4YFuv-kwgFiOd8XSTUM9yt1pw_BmoL5ULknDAkg4J7_TAou2FDbXW7dNgHpypeFZlNLrfFNmpMWJpcxSC-tiBqeHGFiiSA0fEU8xOgw0agrrV-cYz5yFm9DDWTwXWvBm/s320/DSC03267.JPG)
In third and fourth grade, I received awards for physical fitness. Third grade was for the flex arm hang and 4th grade was for track & field.
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Look at this face. How could I have received a paddling in 4th grade? Yes, those were the days of wood paddles and spankings. Somehow crawling around on the floor tying the boys shoes together during a film presentation was not acceptable behavior. I was a troublemaker for sure. Or was I a rebel?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA4gKzC5ydMcM1ZRt9p2ku8BcXI6M3gAmPdcDGL56PeVoS3kJguMTDqOvklTJA4tn9YwaOpcu8bv0fAPN_kIQf3mCIGkuLgA_S7I5GoHMggtHeDDkVkzb9YvwEkVlLvfi0swr8KMSKeMR/s320/DSC03269.JPG)
Ironically, I wanted to be a school teacher at that time. I don't have many clear memories from growing up, but I do remember 4th grade.
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Fifth grade found me wearing a very shabby chic dress. Who knew!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGio6r6c3OF9NFQ54pQ4NLtNEdpp4bmU6Du6ZRGa12bc-3eib0DLOK9GdzYYHIvUtlGtzmWgwm73QECP4scx967wgW5fB2BCL-TqifhJFoWyNvXXHo2YLc7wkFtRRBwI0oM6Fb2Jv84Bkd/s320/DSC03271.JPG)
I also received a nomination to the summer gifted program at USL but didn't make it that year.
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In 6th grade, I was in Honor Chorus and wanted to be a singer.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aXm2BMAZfE5TQHhQNU038a6Ff2gkLNGMqM0IMMUt66IZ_NTRd89c-AfTq8GFJkI3_Ap6475znJRLnnoLiej0qVn9FOhxMof0dJg9lx7KqRG0s_yYztT9uYPXUJwrzs1rAKpUD200KuSA/s320/DSC03273.JPG)
It's so funny to me that my memories of those years are so fleeting. I have very distinct memories of certain moments, and then there is a span of no memory at all. I do love going back through this memory book of my school years. Each year has a pocket of memories, report cards and other things that my mom saved. Apparently, I talked too much for many years; sometimes my grades were above average, and other times, well, they were not so good. I am so thankful that my mom kept this book for me. Even my kids are enjoying the walk down memory lane (especially when, somehow, they think it benefits them -- when they can say, see mom........")
Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us. ~Oscar Wilde, "The Importance of Being Earnest
Peace & blessings, Tammy