The above quote forms this week’s Prompt from Sara over at Mum Turned Mom.
Does anyone really have one singular highlight in any given phase of growing up? It seems like writer’s license to suggest that this could be the case…
For me summer holidays glow in my memory like permanent fireworks. I’ve written before about our holidays to Corfu and our canal boat meander down the Canal du Midi in Southern France. We also had a fantastic trip to Iceland when I was eleven and I’ll never forget hiking what seemed like miles in a murky fug with my sister moaning non stop about her wet socks to be greeted by the most stunning naturally heated volcanic outdoor pool which appeared like an oasis out of the mist. Swimming in that pool will always be a highlight (and the fact that my sister chilled out somewhat after that (well, until she had to put her socks back on!).
It seems that despite our small 2.5 year age gap and the fact that we spent a lot of time in each other’s company there were always so many other children around in our neighbourhood that I don’t have any very specific memories of just the two of us as children. I remember making “radio” plays together with our friends – silly made up ghost stories at sleepovers and trying to freak each other out with scary stories like the tale of the hairy toe!
We also have a funny shared memory of walking together to our local swimming pool along with her friend Sarah who’s little sister – in my mind – was a bit like “My Naughty Little Sister” from the wonderful stories of Dorothy Edwards. As we were walking down this nice, suburban, residential street in South West London Sarah’s little sister suddenly announced that she needed the loo and couldn’t wait. We set her by a tree expecting a quick wee and she proceeded to do a poo the likes of which a grizzly bear would have been proud!! I’m not sure how old we were but I’d guess we were at Junior school which would have made them about ten, me about eight and the little sister about five or six.
In reality we became much closer as young adults – lots of great memories of our late teens/early 20s. We’ve always had a similar sense of humour but I don’t think I’ve ever managed to make her laugh so hard that food has shot out of her nose. I’ll have to work on that 😉
And then the fun began... 
I laughed out loud at the poo! Not just the act, but the whole grizzly bear description. Thanks for making my night, Sam 🙂
Ah great glad I could make you laugh!! X 🙂
Love the story about the poo! I guess at east she didn’t do it in the swimming pool. It sounds like you have a great sibling bond with your sister to this day. x #theprompt
Ha ha ha! I hadn’t thought of the implications of the poo in the pool! Funnily enough the swimming pool we were going to always seemed to have the ‘L’ missing from the sign outside… 🙂 My sister is great although we are so different in many ways and unfortunately we have had our children a decade apart so we’re now at quite different stages of life despite being a lot closer in age ourselves. We also live about an hour’s drive away too which makes it difficult to be in regular touch.
“We set her by a tree expecting a quick wee and she proceeded to do a poo the likes of which a grizzly bear would have been proud”
I nearly choked when I read this!
Hilarious!! Love it. 🙂 X
I know! tee hee 🙂 X
Oh, I am still laughing. I actually snorted, loudly! Brilliant story 🙂 My memories of my childhood are largely quite blurry, with the odd moment like the ones you’ve shared standing out; it’s funny some of the highlights that remain. Interestingly, to answer the question you asked in your comment on my post, I did keep diaries, something that I hadn’t thought of for a long time. Our container has just arrived from the UK, they will be in a box somewhere… I must look them out, although I suspect that they are full of teenage angst rather than memories of any specific events 🙂 Thanks so much for linking to #ThePrompt x
I love that I induced a snort!! 🙂 It is funny how everything becomes a blur isn’t it? Life is just a series of anecdotes at the end of the day I guess… Thanks for hosting X
There is so much joy in this post lovely, made me smile. Just the funny innocence in actions like doing a giant poo ha ha xx
Can’t beat a bit of poo banter! Seriously though, it sounds like you had a lovely time growing up… really pleased you and your sister are so close now. My girls fight like cat and dog and I wonder if they’ll grow closer as they get older xx #ThePrompt
I think it is quite common for two kids two years apart to fight quite a bit! Hopefully their relationship will come good as they get into their young adult years (if not before!). X
I’m sure you’re right, really hope so anyway!! xx
Haha. Kids. You only have one poop incident before you remember to check 1 or 2!
Lovely post. X
This is so true!