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.