Kites, Ruffles, and Childhood Memories

A few days ago, I was eating a bag of Ruffles, and a fond memory found its way into my mind. I know they say scent often provokes the most powerful sense memories, but for me, on this particular day, it was taste that brought on the fit of nostalgia.

I was probably about four or five-years-old, and it was a blustery day in Azusa. Dad took me to the high school a few blocks from our house (which I would later come to know as my Alma mater) to fly a kite. The exact details are a bit fuzzy, but I know we had Ruffles, and he explained how addictive potato chips can be. I remember trying the chips and not thinking much of them until he said that. Then I wanted more.

There we were, father and daughter, enjoying some disgustingly delicious junk food on a sunny, blue-skied, windy day in Southern California. After finishing our snack, it was time to fly the kite. I can see that kite so clearly in my mind's eye. It was a black, Mylar-ish kite, shaped like an octopus with a somewhat metallic sheen to it. It had purple, blue, and green accents and markings on it. I so LOVED to watch it fly.

Plain potato chips of any variety have never been my favorite, but when I do decide to eat them, I think of that great day with my dad. I miss those days and others like them. I've realized I need to record my memories more often... like my many excursions to Griffith Park with Gramma Net to ride the Travel Town Railroad, ponies, and merry-go-round; watching Grease over and over again with my best friend Laura; or girls' nights with Mom, the most memorable of which included an indoor picnic with Easter stuffed animals, a quick shopping trip to the Sanrio store that used to exist in the mini mall behind my house, and going to see The Mighty Ducks at the old movie theater in the same mini mall (it was also once home to an arcade and a Penguin's Frozen Yogurt where I developed my love of peach-flavored froyo).

The glory days. I hope I never lose those memories or my love of the things associated with them. But those memories are really about the people in them - the people I love. One of my greatest desires is to create similarly wonderful memories with my own children and grandchildren (that and end up on this website).