The Way We Weren't

Okay, so the deaths of the Clydesdales were greatly exaggerated. Now I am questioning everything I remember. For example, Friday night, Catherine the Red...

... and I had dinner at the apartment of the nice young man above, Damon. Note Damon's view, which isn't just a bunch of lights, it's a view of the river. Damon lives in the prime real estate snag of Saint Louis, the Mansion House apartments, where (as I told everyone in earshot) Tennessee Williams' mother used to live. (And then I would affect a limp, and some people got it, and some didn't.)

But since the elderly "security" staff at the Mansion House were not aware of Mrs. Williams , I started to doubt my memory. Google again didn't help.

Then I started to doubt childhood memories, especially those I had before I was five. For example, I distinctly recall Technical Father yelling at Mom as she sat perched on the back of the couch, crying.

"Never happened." Mom said.
"You blocked it out." I said.
"Rattan couch." Mom said.

So this makes me question my favorite memory from when I was four. The babysitter came in as I was watching TV on the floor in front of the couch and asked if I wanted a lemon to suck on.

"Weird German baby sitter," I thought. "Why would I want that?" I said "No," and continued to stare at the TV.
"Your brother will get them all, then" she said, and paused. "Do you want a piggyback ride?"
"Okay!" I chirped, and she gave me a piggyback ride away FROM THE COUCH which was on FIRE. (Jerry had left a cigarette sitting on the arm.)

I noticed something was amiss when we got outside and saw the people running toward our house carrying hoses and buckets. What occurred to me at the time was that my daddy must be very popular and have a lot of friends who would help him in this time of crisis. Actually they were the neighbors putting out the fire so it wouldn't spread to their houses.

But what a great babysitter, huh? Those Germans are canny.

Comments

[Queen Mother]

The babysitter when the couch burned was a teenage boy. The girl next door was from Germany. Her name was Inga.
You have morphed your memories.

[Catherine (redheaded one)]

AAHH! I have WAY too much blush on! How did that happen and how did no-one tell me?

The view from the balcony really was totally cool.

Damon is THE most excellent cook. in the world.