As My World Turns!

I don't remember much about my birthplace, Great Falls, Montana. I think we left there for Alaska when I was 3.

Fairbanks, Alaska... I don't remember much about that place either. I do have faint memories of having to pull down the shades when it was night time in the summer because the sun never really set. I also recall being bit by our puppy, Snowball. The memory that I recall best about living in Alaska, was when my Aunt from the Philippines, Tiyta Lulu, was visiting and I got separated from my family while we were out shopping. I can still remember the feeling of being lost... the panic I felt... how scared I was to be separated from my family.

We moved to Bangor, Maine just in time for me to start kindergarten. It was about a quarter mile from our house to school. Those were quieter times and we, my older brother Joel and I, would walk to school and back. Once we were walking home and were passing by a yard with a chain link fence. In the yard was a German Shepard. It wasn't barking and seem friendly. Joel put one of his fingers through the fence to pet the dog... then it clamped it's mouth on Joel's finger! Joel didn't want me to leave him, but I wanted to knock on the front door and get help. Eventually the dog let go and we ran home. Miraculously, the dog didn't break the skin on Joel's finger! Boy, he was lucky that day.

I remember being a little disruptive in class, but never getting caught. Somebody else always got the blame for my actions.

What I remember the most about living in Maine was when I walked to school and back in a snow blizzard! I was part of the afternoon kindergarten class. So Joel was already at school. I was suppose to be brought to school by a classmates father, but her father was really late. So, she, I and another girl started to walk to school. As we were walking, the snow started coming down hard. The wind was blowing so hard that we had to lean into it. The girls started walking slower and eventually I was pretty far ahead of them. My classmates father finally caught up to them. I remember hearing the horn honk and looking back to see them get into the car, but I just kept walking. I thought they would drive up to me and stop, but they didn't!!! The car just drove right past me. I remember being a little confused about it, but I just kept walking to school.

The snow had stopped falling and the air was calm by the time I reached the school. I tried to open the main door, but it was locked. I knocked on it, but there was no answer. So I walked around the outside of the school trying to find the window to my classroom, but I realized I didn't know which windows were part of my classroom. I didn't want to knock on just any window... what if it was the wrong class and the teacher got mad at me. I panicked! I didn't know what to do! I was late for school and I was going to be in trouble! I had never been in trouble in school before. MOM! I wanted my mom! All I could think of was I needed my mom! I started to cry. MOM! I started running back home... crying all the way. Now remember, it was freezing out there. I just survived walking a quarter of a mile in a snow blizzard. I finally got home, but my tears had frozen on my face. I don't remember what happened after I got home, just that I was safe with my mommy.