My first Memory, at barely 3, is a bad bad bad memory. It has nothing to do with my Family. I had a wonderful Childhood and most of my memories are great ones.

My early years were in the 40s and my life was very much like the movie, "A Christmas Story" w/Darren McGavin..LOL! I watch it every year and so, relate to it.

My first memory is actually a smell.

When I was one, my father was stationed in Iran. I don't remember anything other than a smell that reminds me of Iranian bread. Back in the states whenever (before all the emissions testing) a big truck would pass by there was a smell that always reminded me of the bread. My mother says it's probably the smell of sulfur since that's what they used to cook with. I don't remember what the bread actually looks or tastes like but that smell always reminds me of it.

I was probably around the age of 1 or 1 1/2. (my sister thinks I was younger tho)

I woke up in my crib, and no one was around to come get me. I cried for a bit, hoping my mom would come get me, but she didnt. So, I started climbing over the railing.

I was hanging there, holding onto the rails and trying to climb down when my sister (2 yrs older than me) came into the room. I was just starting to fall when she caught me. I whacked the back of my head on her mouth. I dont know if I knocked her front teeth out, but we do have some pictures of her missing her front teeth at around the age she would have been then.

I do have the very clear memory of looking back at her just before I fell and I can remember feeling her catching me and the incredible pain in the back of my head from hitting it on her mouth.

Another early memory...probably the first memory that I have where I know what I was actively thinking. (probably 2 1/2 or 3yrs old) I was in the living room, standing on my head in one of the armchairs. The memory of it feels kind of like that's when my concious and logical thinking must have just kicked in, since the memory is so clear and I can remember going out the front door after that, and looking at the bright red and yellow tulips that grew in our front yard. So, it must have been early spring.

I can also remember dropping a baby bottle behind the toilet in our basement. The toilet was on a platform next to the furnace. (no bathroom sink there, just a toilet...wasnt even a door there) My baby bottle landed under the furnace. I think my parents found the bottle several days later...still half full of milk. (Ewwww!)

All of your memories make me smile! I really needed that tonight!