Learning
In my hometown, cross-town traffic came to a halt with each train that rumbled down the tracks that paralleled Route 66. The
freight trains often had more than 100 cars attached to the engine and to help
us pass the time while we waited for the train to creep down the tracks, my
mother encouraged us to count the cars.
When I see a freight train today it brings
back memories of counting, sorting, and classifying. I learned to count objects by watching slowly moving freight train cars roll through the
center of my hometown. I had to stay focused to keep my count. Freight trains
had different cars…box cars, coal cars, flat cars, refrigerated cars, tankers, and cabooses. Observing them taught me to sort and classify, too!
I imagined what each car held. Were they full, half empty, or
completely empty? Red cabooses intrigued me the most. To me, they were little rolling houses.
In all the years I watched freight trains move through town, I never went inside a caboose! My imagination continues with its own versions of the interiors!
Preparing
My father’s business bought thousands of handmade
silver beads from Navajo silversmiths who made them to trade for silver, turquoise, and other
jewelry making supplies. Using my thumb and index finger, I carefully picked up each bead and strung it onto a wire coat hangar. I counted
as I strung them. When the hangar was
full I looped the end around and began the process over again. My thumb and index finger received necessary practice for
moving together to coordinate and strengthen them so later I could hold a pencil and write letters!
Risking
Every block in our neighborhood
had alleyways behind the homes. They were lined with old oil barrel used for trashcans. There were no lids and the smell was pungent
on hot summer days. To me, the alleys were no man’s
land and a bit risky for hanging out. However, that didn’t stop me from playing one of my
favorite games. Preparing to wander down the alley, I strapped on my holster with my toy six shooters
and headed out to play shoot out hide and
seek. I liked my shiny six shooters–especially when I could put a roll of caps in them! The thrill
of waiting for my prey to surface
as I hid behind an oil barrel so I could shoot my cap gun was worth the smell and dirty hideout. The fun of wearing a fringed vest,
cowgirl hat, and carrying the weight of my pistols let me take risks in
the alley behind my home—shooting at my brothers, sisters, and neighborhood
pals—all filled with playful imagination!
Discovering
My
redemption from the alley shootouts came with Vacation Bible School at community churches. My hometown didn’t have summer programs for kids so my mother enrolled me in every church’s Vacation Bible
School. Although I attended several, two stand out in
my memory. The Baptists had really sweet
red Kool-aid and the most fun outdoor games.
It is where I learned to play Red Rover. The church was two blocks from home and I could walk to the
program. The Methodists had the best
cookies and music. I still sing the Little Brown Church in the Vale and
remember how fun it was to march up the steep steps into the church singing it loudly. Sometimes our family visited Native American Pueblos and villages. I learned about dancing, singing, and different musical rhythms by watching their prayerful rituals. Each of these experiences opened the world to me and taught me that religion comes in many forms.
Wondering
My mother
required us to take a nap every afternoon during the summer months. Sometimes the hour felt like eternity. I begged to rest on the swing in the backyard
because I could watch the large cumulus clouds move slowly across the blue
sky. They entertained me for my quiet hour. I knew the hour was up when I heard the approaching sound of
a propeller airplane above me. Frontier Airlines flew overhead each day around three o’clock.
With all the energy I could muster, I waved my arms back and forth
and called out, “Hello Frontier Airlines!”
I imagined the people in the airplane, what they wore, how they looked,and where they lived. The plane with my imagination linked me to the world beyond my
little hometown.
Playing
Summer
evenings gave way to games in the vacant lot across the street from my home. Neighborhood kids of all ages
played together. Since I was one of the smallest and youngest in the group, I was never chosen first when it came to forming baseball teams. I learned to be patient and then persist! What satisfaction I felt when I hit the
ball even if I was put out at first base! We played until the crickets came out and the sun set. Then we gathered our bats and balls and headed
in—another day spent making rules, following rules and playing!