A Little Bit More

I started with my blog when we moved to Portland in 1974. So, I thought that I would fill in some of the story before I moved to Portland. My earliest memory is that of me crying and chasing after my mom down the street when she left me with my grandmother, Laura Grace Kennedy (DOB unknown) she was from Deming New Mexico the Daughter of Laura Bell Kennedy and John Littleberry Kennedy, her maiden name was Richardson. I will be getting more information from my sister Laura who has done research on our family history. So, back the story. In my memory I remember crying a lot when I was left behind. Hum... I wonder how that affects me today. This all happened in Sacramento, were I spent my pre-high school years growing up. Another memory was about seeing a kid squirting water from a hose onto my grandmother's porch because it was on fire. I believe after talking with my grandma years later, that she thought the guy next door was playing with matches and lit it on fire. It didn’t really burn much, and the porch was not burned down.

My mom didn't have much money, but she cared and loved for me so I never really knew we were poor. I remember that we lived in public assisted housing or the projects as some would call it. I was about 7 years old, and I remember going to kindergarten there. My best friends name was Johnny Rodriguez I liked him so much I got to name my little brother after him, John but of course we called him Johnny for ever. These days my sisters and I will call him Johnny just to irritate him. He was born (1966) while we lived there. My grandfather, Joseph Winifred Bates (born 1915 somewhere in Oklahoma), he came and stayed with my sister Laura and I while our mom went to the hospital to give birth to Johnny he hates being called that now, but we don't care it’s really our term of endearment for him. Our project housing was heated by gas because, I remember looking into the end of the heater and seeing the rows of flames. This fascinated me because when you looked in there you would see long rows of flames. Though were really only about 3 feet long. I think that was my first experience with an optical illusion.

One of my mischievous behaviors was to replicate the needle on the record player with a straight pin. I must of wrecked my moms record of Luis Armstrong, I loved to listen to him. I believe to this day, that is one of the reasons why I like jazz music. Another memory I remember was waking up, going downstairs of our house and seeing what I thought was who knows what. My grandmother I think cleaned it up. After years of recalling that memory I (my best guess) figured what it was, shrimp cocktail or something to that effect. I guess my mom had partied it up the night before (explains why Grandma was there that morning) and puked it up.

There was a store close by and I remember getting lime candy out of the candy machine. they were alot like skittles. I loved that stuff and still do but because of being diabetic I try not to eat candy too much any more. I just remembered how I would get money to buy candy. I would go to the housing grounds keepers building and check out a push lawnmower. I would go around and ask my neighbors if they wanted their grass mowed. I would charge 10 cents. I chuckle when I think about it, a 7 year old out hustling for cash to feed his sugar addiction. I did get one job, I can't remember if I did much more than the one. I was worn out by the time I was done with one yard. However, I do remember getting a shiny dime to hold in my hand.