Childhood Moments

Childhood Ambition: I always said I wanted to be an archaeologist. My mom bought me a rock-tumbler-polisher-thing for a gift once. It was loud, messy, and pretty much unsuccessful. After that, I stopped wanting to be an archaeologist.

Fondest Memory (then): I can’t pick one memory or one event, so I’ll say that I fondly remember our tiny house with our big yard and the massive tree in front. We had a garden that grew carrots and potatoes and cucumbers, and raspberry bushes right by lilac bushes. There were a couple of rhubarb plants close by as well.

We had large evergreen trees, and I would play under the branches. We had a small climbing tree by the driveway, and tall shrubs to give us privacy all around our yard. We had a small shed that was musty and dirty, but I loved it. And beyond the backyard were fields to play in. I remember all the sights and smells and little details, and part of me always wishes I could go back.

Proudest Moment (then): Any time my mom put me in one of the many frilly dresses she made for me and my sister, complete with bows in my hair. I felt like a princess. Except for the fact that the dresses were really itchy.

Biggest Challenge as a child or teen: Trying to figure out what it means to have a relationship with God. Sometimes, I still don’t think I’ve figured it out.

My First Job: I think it was at a strawberry farm that’s a couple of miles out of town. I picked buckets and buckets of strawberries on early summer mornings, cold and wet from the dew, and itchy from the ever-present swarms of mosquitoes. I did not like it.

Childhood Indulgence: Glasses of chocolate milk at The Royal Table (a restaurant in town that is no longer). My dad would take me and my sister there on Saturday mornings, and he would sit and talk with other men, and we would have a table to ourselves. We would blow bubbles, and play, and we probably made a mess every time.

Favorite Outfit as a Child: Other people’s dress-up clothes.

Favorite Childhood Movie: "Anne of Green Gables." Canadian classic. I still love it.

Favorite Childhood Book: “If I Ran The Zoo” by Dr. Seuss. I thought all the names of the made-up animals were SO funny. I was also a huge fan of “The BFG” by Roald Dahl (BFG stands for “Big Friendly Giant”).

Childhood Hero: I honestly don’t remember having a hero. Maybe all the now-retired, famous figure skaters? I was a huge fan when I was young. I remember watching them and wishing I could be them.

Nicknames as a Child: Scooter. I don’t why, but that’s what it was. Or Jenene-y. Or my dad’s favorite: Jenene-ski. Like it’s Russian or something.

Favorite Activity as a Child: Playing with barbies or paper dolls. I also had a Where’s Waldo puzzle that I did over and over and over and over and over. Usually in one sitting.