Susie

Susie was the first pet that I remember. I got her when I was around ten. My mom had told me that when I was two I had had a puppy. She said I would pull its tail and it would nip me back. Needless, to say it wasn't a good match. Who knew that my next dog would be close to thirty years later?  So Susie would have to suffice. She was a small Red-eared slider. Her home was a small clear container with a plastic palm tree in the center. I loved Susie and did my best to care for my tiny turtle.  I didn't have her for long, as my mom found out they could carry salmonella. I had to let Susie go at the creek. I guess I learned a lesson about pets that day. As much as you love them one day they will be gone.

Swimmer

I remember almost drowning twice. Once when I was six and living in Germany, and we had to swim in an indoor pool. The shallowest end was over my head- now that's not exactly right. It must have been three times. The first time I was four and in Oklahoma. I was hanging onto the edge of the pool right next to my father. My hands slipped, I went under, I tried to get his attention. He must have been talking. I struggled and somehow my hands found their way back to the edge and I came up for air.

   Getting back to when I was six. I jumped in and the water was over my head. I had not yet learned to swim. Later I remember having to change out of our swimsuit back into our clothes in a very open locker room. I never felt comfortable in my naked state. 

     When we moved to New York I was probably nine. I was swimming at the local pool, except I really didn't know how to swim. I ventured out too far with a friend. Somehow she pulled me back to shallow water.

   By the time I was ten we lived in Florida and joined a neighborhood  pool. I could not swim, but I
was signed up for lessons in June. It was April. I wanted to know how to swim. I watched. I saw how
your hands went over your head, one at a time and cut through the water. I saw how your feet fluttered back and forth. I practiced the arms first. Walking along the bottom, turning my head out of the water taking a breath. I added the feet, kicking wildly. It worked! I swam the length of the Olympic sized pool, treaded water for a minute, dove eight feet to the bottom, and swam the rest of the length of the pool. I proudly wore the green patch pinned to my swimsuit. Now I could swim in the deep end!

     In June I began my first swim lesson. I had removed my green patch because I didn't want them to know that I could already swim. We blew bubbles, we held onto the side and kicked our feet. Somehow they figured it out; they moved me into Advanced Beginners for the next class. It wasn't long before I earned my Swimmer's patch.

  I swam like a fish; side stroke, breast stroke, back stroke, butterfly and American crawl. I swam like a mermaid under water. I dove off the high board. I carefully scrubbed the tiles along the edge with a tiny bar of soap and a wash rag. All in exchange for a dime. A dime that purchased a frozen zero bar at the snack bar. I guess you could say that was my first paying job.

Super Hero

Super Hero. When I lived in Port Washington, New York one of my favorite things to do was ride my bike. Now remember I had brought back my German touring bike, and it was unlike anyone else's bike in the neighborhood. One evening my downstairs neighbor Marvin and I decided to go on a quick trip around the block. Now as usual I was leading the way. It was pretty much impossible for me not to be the leader.  Infact, my mother had warned me that I would not have any friends if I didn't stop being so bossy. I knew better than to talk back, but as I walked away I clearly thought, "Well they'll do anything I say." Hey I had skills- leadership skills that is. As Marvin and I got ready to cross the street I went first and he followed. That's when he went flying through the air. He had been hit by a car. Now this was the mid-60's and there was no such thing as a cell phone. As neighbors ran out to help I quickly volunteered to ride back home and let Marvin's parents know. I pedaled as fast as I could, and as I approached the house I was suddenly gripped with fear. I think I was afraid that I might be in trouble for Marvin's accident.  I quickly ran upstairs to find my mom. She was bathing my younger sisters. I quickly relayed the series of events and she immediately sent me downstairs to let Marvin's parents know. It was in that instance that my inner super hero kicked in. I bravely led them to the scene of the accident feeling all the while quite proud of myself for helping. I was saving the day. Poor Marvin had a broken arm, leg and a concussion. If the truth be known he was lucky to be alive. Marvin and I spent a lot of time together after that while he recovered. It seemed only right.

Book Reports

Book Reports. One of the most exciting days of my young life was when my parents bought two sets of the Brittanica Encyclopedia. When we moved to New York I took full advantage of the Brittanica Jr. One of my favorite things to do in 3rd grade was to write extra credit reports. Now no one had ever explained to me about plagiarism so these reports were written word for word from the encyclopedia. My topics ranged from snakes to sweet potatoes to kelp. Don't ask me why? I know I had never eaten a sweet potato at this time so maybe sweet potatoes and kelp sounded exotic to me. I would write the report in my best handwriting, and then would illustrate a cover out of construction paper. Now the fascinating thing is I'm still doing extra credit reports today. I guess my love of research started way back then with that first set of encyclopedias.

The Talent Show

The Talent Show. I began second grade in Germany and continued in Leavenworth, Kansas. It would not be my last school to attend that year. Dad was participating in a 6 month school and we would be moving onto Long Island, New York next. I enjoyed my time in Kansas. I got to experience my first real tornado scare down in our neighbor's basement. I remember making shadow animals on the wall. Luckily, it was only a treetop high tornado and it did not damage our street. I used to walk to 3rd Ave. Elementary School where I probably had the most fun teacher ever. We made butter, and cheese, played with magnets and even wrote a song about the history of Kansas. It was a small class of no more than 12 students and made for a very unique learning experience. It was here that I participated in the school talent show singing with two friends, "My Home's In Montanna." We were awarded 4th place. I'm quite proud of myself for taking on this task and remember thinking I looked quite like a cowgirl in my bandana. It was also here in Kansas that my heart was broken. I had been involved in Brownies when we lived in Germany, and one day when I arrived home from school Mom told me to head back because they were having a Brownie meeting that afternoon. I may have been brave enough to sing in front of an auditorium full of people, but I was scared to death to return back to school on my own and ask where the meeting was. I was heartbroken and cried deep sobs for a long time. Mom had no car and with 3 younger siblings there was no way she could take me. That was the end of my Brownie days. Kansas is also the place where I got my first Barbie for Christmas. That Christmas was quite memorable because all of our ornaments were in storage and we had to make our own. Mom led us in making a red and green construction paper garland and other homemade ornaments for our tree. I still remember that tree to this day. We left Kansas in May on the Sunday I made my first communion and headed to New York.

Crossing the Atlantic

Crossing the Atlantic. I can truthfully claim to have crossed the Atlantic twice as a young girl. I even have a certificate to prove its authenticity. I was an Army brat and my Dad was stationed in Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany while I was ages four to seven. I have many fond memories of my time in Germany. I started Kindergarten there and was shocked to see that some kids actually fell asleep at nap time. I went to the movies every Saturday and watched many a Lone Ranger film. My favorite candy was a German treat we called Sour Sticks. They were very close to a sweet tart. I learned to ride a bike on a beautiful German touring bike with straight handle bars. I took many a ribbing when I returned home with such an odd looking bike. It was actually quite cool and came fully equipped with a tool kit that hung on a leather pouch behind the seat. We played in the woods, collected glass seed beads from a neighboring factory, and sled down the big hill behind our school all the while wearing ski pants. My hair was a beautiful shade of blond and it cascaded in curls down my back. It would be a long time before I had long hair again as my Dad insisted my sisters and I get haircuts before the long journey home on the ship. Mom would be no help to him, as she would be deathly ill for the seven day journey. It was during this trip home that my favorite childhood president, John F. Kennedy would be assassinated. I am probably one of the few people of my generation who don't remember where they were when the tragedy occurred. We were away from television and missed all the events of this historical occasion. When I left Germany I was only able to count to ten in German;  the results of a weekly lesson at the American school I attended. 

First Born

First born. I am the first born of six children. Although, being the first born comes with its own set of challenges-rule follower, people pleaser, high achiever- it really is the best position of all in the family. I never doubted for one minute that I was my parent's favorite. Now was this true? I have no idea, but it didn't matter. Perception was reality to me. Being the first born also came with its own perks. Framed baby pictures, a baby shoe dipped in pink, the most photos in the family photo album all proved to me who was the favorite. I was a beautiful baby with big blue eyes and a smile from ear to ear. I always thought my head was awfully round and referred to it as a basketball head. It must have run in the family because my own daughter inherited it as well. 

Baptism

Baptism. I love the fact that I was baptized as a baby at just a few weeks old by my Uncle Richard the priest. I love that I was raised Catholic and that my family attended church every Sunday and all the Holy Days of Obligation. I love that I was raised in a family that prayed before dinner and at night before we went to bed. I love that going to church was always a part of our Christmas and Easter celebrations. I love that I was taught right from wrong, and the Golden Rule. I was actually a very devout Catholic as a child. I loved God with such a pure heart. I was so devout that I struggled with the church when things began to change in the mid-sixties. Although, I am no longer a practicing Catholic I treasure those days.

Beginnings

Beginnings. All stories begin somewhere. This is where mine began when my parents Rita Elizabeth McManus and Phillip James Cunningham were married on January 16, 1954. They were married in the beautiful Catholic Church, St. Columbkille, in Brighton, Massachusetts. On July 6, 1956 I was born at the Naval Hospital in Chelsea, Massachusets. My mom liked to tell the story of how the very large male nurses used to carry the babies around like footballs. I always liked hearing that story.