3 New Schools

With 6th grade came another new school. Middle School. WOW! Although my friends and I would be back at the bottom of the totum pole, I could not wait to get to middle school. The grown up place. I can remember the excitement of having a locker and having to switch classrooms for different subjects.


I also tried out for the junior varsity cheer leading team. I went to practices a couple of times a week before tryouts and was so happy when I made the team.


Unfortunately, during this time my parents decided they wanted to sell their business and move our family to Florida. So I never even got to cheer at any games.


Our house sold before the business did so we ended up moving in with my grandparents who lived about a half hour away. Which meant another new school for me. The closest school to my grandparents house turned out to be a really bad school and my brother and I went for about 4 days before my mom transferred us to a Catholic school about 15 minutes away.


I really loved the new school and all my new friends, which was good because I was really nervous about starting yet another new school. Our transition into living with my grandparents turned out really well too. My younger brother and sister shared a room and my bedroom was the enclosed back porch area. I loved staying back there, I felt like I had my own little apartment.


I really enjoyed my time living with my grandparents. We were there for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and thru Easter. It was really special to be able to spend the holidays with them like that. My brother and I spend alot of our free time playing in the backyard and riding our bikes in the neighborhood.


By the end of the school year our restaurant had sold and we were ready to make our move to Florida. Which meant another new school for me when I started 7th grade.


***This is an auto - post. I am on vacation this week, so unfortunately I wont be able to blog hop this week***

I am taking part in a 15 week series hosted by Mommy's Piggy Tales to record memories from our youth. To see more or join in yourself- click on over!

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Sleepovers, MTV, jelly bracelets, and jelly shoes. That's was what 5th grade was all about to me.

Music was a big part of my life in 5th grade. My friend Trina and I fought over who was going to marry John Taylor of Duran Duran. I had Michael Jackson and Madonna posters on my wall in my bedroom.

My wrists were covered in jelly bracelets and my clothes were usually neon in color. Oh my. And I got my first pair of Jordache jeans too. With the horse on the back pocket. And as my love for Madonna grew, I started wearing only black jelly bracelets like she did.


We had sleepovers almost every weekend between all the girls in my class. We would lay on pillows and blankets and watch MTV all night. I longed for the red jacket Michael Jackson wore in Thriller. Or Prince's long purple jacket.


5th grade was all about socializing with my girlfriends. I remember getting in trouble all the time for talking and my seat moved around the room. Oh, and bad notes on my report card saying I talk too much.

I also had my first boyfriend in 5th grade. His name was Scott and he was in a different class than me. But he lived about 5 houses away. He asked me out in a note that was delivered to me by his friend Mark. I said yes and our young little relationship began. We wrote notes back and forth and spent recess together. Eventually his friend Mark started going out with my friend Kim. And then it was the 4 of us. He gave me purple barrettes with my name on them and a purple heart bracelet too. And now to sound really corny--I still have all the notes and gifts he gave me. They are in a heart shaped container that had come with some stationary.
I am taking part in a 15 week series hosted by Mommy's Piggy Tales to record memories from our youth. To see more or join in yourself- click on over!

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Camping Trip in 4th Grade

At the end of 3rd grade my teacher recommeded I be placed in the gifted program for 4th grade. I was beyond excited. My 4th grade teacher would be Mrs. Atkins who only taught 4th grade gifted and everyone in the school knew about her. The rumor was she was BEYOND awesome and her class would be nothing but fun. And I could not wait to see.

Being in 4th grade was definately different than all the other grades. First of all, I started to develop REAL friendships with the girls in my class. I think that was probably the year everyone's maturity level went up one. My whole class was very close, boys included. I can honestly say I loved all the kids in it and everyone got along.

But the best part of all was Mrs. Atkins. She had a booming personality. She was fun, stern and loving all at the same time. She taught us to respect each other and respect ourselves. And best of all? At the end of the school year she took all of us camping. That's right, she took the whole class of students on a camping trip. The campground we stayed at had cabins. Boys in one and girls in the other. The bunk bed were triple high and I slept in the middle one. We went out on the lake in canoes and did arts and crafts. It was so fun to be in the cabin with all my friends at night. And of course playing tricks on the girls who fell asleep first.

I am taking part in a 15 week series hosted by Mommy's Piggy Tales to record memories from our youth. To see more or join in yourself- click on over!

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3rd Grade Memories

In 3rd grade I started in another new school. We moved into a new house over the summer and I was zoned for a different school. This new school had an open floor plan. Its hard to describe. The building had 2 main hallways and the library was located in the center of the building with no walls just a couple of stairs down. All of the classrooms just had partians and no doors. It was really neat I remember.

I started learning geography in 3rd grade and I can remember having to memorize the states. This was also the year that being called on to read outloud was my biggest fear. I would sit in my chair PRAYING that my name wasnt called to read the next paragraph from whatever book we had opened.

Lets see, I was also flashed in 3rd grade and stabbed a kid with a pencil. Two different stories actually.

Our desks were arranged so that 2 kids were pushed next to each other. I didnt like the boy who sat next to me because he would always pull my hair and try to shove me out of my seat. I guess one day I had enough because I took my pencil and slammed it into his hand palm side up.


I remember him screaming, I remember blood, and I remember sitting in the principals office while they called my mother. I think I claimed self defense and I honestly do not remember getting into trouble for it.

As for the flashing. It was during story time. The whole class was sitting on the floor in front of the teacher who was reading to us. I was kinda at the back of the circle of kids. Off to my side I hear David S. ( yes I remember his last name but no it wont be printed LOL ) whisper to me "hey- look at this."

and when I turned and looked - there was his you know what staring at me from a hole in his jeans.

I said to him "Your gross and I'm telling." Which of course I did.

I am taking part in a 15 week series hosted by Mommy's Piggy Tales to record memories from our youth. To see more or join in yourself- click on over!

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Gus, Danny Zuko, and A Cowgirl

I had my first crush in 2nd grade. His name was Gus. He had jet black hair and always wore plain white t-shirts. In the winter he came to school wearing a black leather jacket. Well, maybe it wasn't a "real" leather jacket but back in 2nd grade I thought it was.


I was also OBSESSED with the movie Grease in 2nd grade ( ok, not just in 2nd grade- but every grade ). So how could I not have a crush on Gus, who to me looked like this:

Oh, I love you Danny Zuko.

At our class Christmas party my teacher asked me and Gus to go get the juice for the party. The juice had been place out on a little terrace down the hallway. Since this was winter in Chicago keeping the juice outside meant it would be cold! As soon as we got outside and started putting the juice onto the cart to take back to the classroom Gus offered me that black leather jacket. Oh yes, yes he did. My heart was all aflutter as I put it on. I kept it on for the rest of the day and was so sad when he asked for it back. ****Sigh****

As for academics, I remember learning the months of the year and taking timed math tests. The timed tests were my favorite. I would try to beat my time from the week before.

For Halloween that year I was a cowgirl. I won the best costume for the 2nd grade. I can remember being quite shocked that I won. My cowgirl costume was cowboy boots, a denim skirt, pigtails, some sort of vest and a scarf around my neck.

My mom volunteered in my class for our Halloween party. She brought my little brother who was 3 years younger than me. I can remember being so proud to show him my desk and let him sit in it. Like it was some sort of privilege for him to sit at it. And he came dressed in his cowboy costume so we matched....aw.

I am taking part in a 15 week series hosted by Mommy's Piggy Tales to record memories from our youth. To see more or join in yourself- click on over!

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Don't Steal The Lollipops!

When I was in 1st grade I had to take speech class. My mom said that family members had no problems understanding me when I spoke, but strangers had a hard time deciphering my words. I think that's crazy to think about now that I'm older!

I left my regular classroom once a week to meet with the speech lady. My half hour session with her included 2 other students. These 2 boys were older than me and I didn't know them. But I do remember I didn't like them.

They fooled around and didn't pay attention. I can remember the poor speech lady getting very frustrated with them too.

I would just sit there in disbelief that these boys were being so mean to the teacher. It made me sad and scared to be there. I dreaded speech day because of them.

One time I can clearly remember is when the teacher left us alone in her office for a couple of minutes. One of the boys got up and went to her desk and took some lollipops she kept in her drawer. He asked us if we wanted one and the other boy said yes.

I said no. I was horrified that he was stealing. I was horrified that I was with these 2 BAD kids. I was scared to death of what was going to happen when she found out.

Looking back on it now, this was probably one of the first times my little 6-year-old self was seeing that some kids were bad. That some kids didn't have the same morals instilled in them like I did.

It really was an eye opener for me. And of course as soon as the teacher walked back in, I told her what they did. They got in trouble and that made me very happy. LOL.

I am taking part in a 15 week series hosted by Mommy's Piggy Tales to record memories from our youth. To see more or join in yourself- click on over!

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Cassie - I Will Never Forget You

This weeks assignment over at Mommy's Piggy Tales is to share some memories of our Pre-School/Kindergarten years.

Let's see. Pre-School. I do remember my very first day of preschool. I remember being SCARED to death to go. I was not excited in any way, shape or form. I remember standing in the doorway crying as I was begging my mom not to leave me. My mom walked me over to a little table where a little girl sat doing a puzzle.

My mom asked the little girl her name and she answered "Cassie".

My mom said to me -"Melissa, this is Cassie. She will be your friend and you guys can do this puzzle together."

And I remember relief taking over.

Until Cassie said " NO, I'm not sharing."

Oh yes she did!! That little brat LOL.

And from that day forward I harbor bad feelings toward anyone named Cassie.

The only other thing I remember from pre-school is the calendar on the back of the door. Not sure why.

And let's see now.....Kindergarten. I remember picture day. My mom had set my hair in those pink spongy curlers the night before. Oh how I hated when she did that. I hated the way my hair looked that day. As our class walked thru the school to the gym to get our pictures taken I felt like all the kids that passed me were laughing at my hair. Wait. I just didn't feel it, I KNEW they were laughing at my afro hair. But I survived I guess.

I also remember the night my dad woke me up from sleeping in the middle of the night. He took me to the upstairs window where we had a good view of my school a couple of blocks over. And in the night sky we could see my school burning up in flames. I will never forget thinking how cool it was that I didn't have to go to school the next day!

I was transferred to a different school to finish out the year. And for the life of me I have absolutely no memories of the new school.


I am taking part in a 15 week series hosted by Mommy's Piggy Tales to record memories from our youth. To see more or join in yourself- click on over!

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June 20, 1974 ~ My Birth Story ~

I was born at Christ Community Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

My mom was in labor for 36 hours. 24 of which were in the hospital and 12 hours of hard labor she has told me. On Thursday June 20th, 1974 at 2:00AM I was finally born.

The doctors quickly diagnosed me with Patent Ductis Arteriosus (PDA) and a heart murmur. PDA is the blood vessel the baby uses while still developing that lets blood bypass the lungs since the baby gets all its oxygen from the mother. After birth the valve closes on its own.

Mine did not close. I was placed in an incubator to monitor my difficulty breathing since blood was now being pumped into my lungs. The doctors told my mom I had about 24 hours to live unless the valve closed on its own.

And to make matters worse, a tornado decided to touch ground right by the hospital. All the windows to the nursery were blown out and all the newborns were pushed into the hallways for the rest of their stay. Thank goodness I was in an incubator!!

My 24 hour window passed and the valve had still not closed. My mom has told me that at this time the doctors told her my valve would not close now and I would be gone within 12 hours. Sometime in that next 12 hours my valve did close all on its own and my heart murmur was gone too, much to my moms relief I am sure.

My parents named me Melissa Charlotte. My mom has told my that my father picked it out because it was different. And let me tell you, I grew up HATING my name. I wanted a popular name like all the other girls like Jenny or Amy. And I also refused to tell people my middle name. All the other girls had middle names like Anne or Marie.

But now I am older and wiser, haha. And I no longer have name issues.

To see other birth stories or to add your own head on over to Mommy's Piggy Tales.

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