Happy memories seem to be my summertime post every year, and I’ve been especially thoughtful this year with all the changes in my life.
My favorite sandwich growing up when we went picnicking or camping: a sliced ham and roast beef. No cheese, just Blue Plate mayo on 2 slices of Roman Meal Wheat Bread. Some of my favorite memories were picnics at the reservoir or other river camping parks with Mom, Dad, Damon, and Parker plus other families. And I have memories of us kids, hot from the summer sun, leaning toward the cooler when it was opened to feel that rush of cool air.
I’m reminded of the comfort of being little, tucked into bed, and soothed to sleep by Momma rubbing Solarcain on my sunburnt shoulders. I can clearly remember the cool air of the fan, the quiet snore of my younger brother, and crickets’ song lilting in through the opened window. Nothing tuckers you out quite like playing hard in the summer sun and water.
I randomly remember our older brother Damon teaching me and Parker how to play Frogger on his Atari! I also remember when Mom and Dad agreed to let me and Parker have a Nintendo and Super Mario Bros. One day, she figured we’d had enough and ordered us outside to get some sunshine. Parker and I were distraught: “But Momma, we’re finally at the castle!” and Mom’s stern: “Out - You need exercise and sunshine!” 
A much newer memory involves my nephew Donovan when he was about 5 years old. We were standing in Tonya’s kitchen, and he looked up at his mom and asked for a snack. She said, “No, dinner’s almost ready”, to which Donovan said, “But Momma, I’m starving! Can’t I just have something to tide me over?” Adorable!
I remember when it was a big deal when Parker and I were old enough that Mom and Dad would let us ride our bikes to the “Tote-sum” store to get snacks (the corner grocery or gas station a mile from our house).
One day, my Dad brought home a stray puppy he found that had both front paws covered in bubblegum, which is precisely what we named him. Our tomcat at the time, Hoosey, was not thrilled at all by this new addition to the family and promptly popped his little nose. Years later though, they were inseparable, and one could often find them napping together in the sun.
Finally, my parents were those that stocked the house with lots of fruit for afternoon snacks, which is a good thing. We used to ask for the Hostess snack cakes, because so-and-so who lives one street over has an assortment of StarCrunch/Twinkies/Ho-Hos/Cupcakes. Sometimes we had Oatmeal Pies, but that was likely because it contained oatmeal. 
Leave it to grandparents though! My Mom’s dad would always keep RC colas and moon pies well stocked over the summer for all the grandkids. My favorite was banana flavored. Good stuff, good memories.
