Timeline Continued

Started here

One to Two:

My parents finish building their house in Carlton Woods. The playroom is built over the garage and it has a little opening that over looks the kitchen. I'm standing on the mini-balcony and looking into the kitchen crying after my sister leaves me in the playroom. I do not enjoy being left alone.

Shortly after we move in, my dad is downstairs having just finished his shower. Mom has Julie and me in the bath (she was 5) and is in her robe. She doesn't know that Julie has been kind enough to share a peppermint with me before we got in the tub until I start choking. She reacts in her typical manner--yelling for my dad. She thinks, "we can't go to the hospital! No one is dressed." My dad eventually turns me upside down and shakes me until the peppermint comes out.

Later in the year, Julie pantomimes eating a leaf off a houseplant; I actually eat it and have some sort of allergic reaction resulting in a hospital visit. The act of her pantomiming and me actually carrying out the act became something of a theme in our lives.

Two to Three:

We move out of the Carlton Woods House into the Barbara Circle house. It's much smaller but backs up to a small lake. We continue to keep the house allergen free, but Mom has a horrible time in the mid-70's finding a babysitter for me. Everyone either has shag carpet or a pet. She finally goes in to resign and her principal insists on helping her find somebody to keep me instead. It's a continuing issue for the next several years.

In addition to the constant red, puffy eyes associated with allergies, my scalp refuses to grow hair. Julie could have been the model for the girl on the Sunbeam Bread product--beautiful blonde locks with gorgeous blue eyes. I am completely bald with red eyes and a red nose.

I also cry. A lot. When my parents can no longer stand it, they call my grandfather. He's a farmer and lives an hour away, and is one of the few people I will quit crying for. He takes me riding around the farm looking at cows until I fall asleep.

Three to Four:

Mom has finally worked out an arrangement that I seem to be satisfied with. I go to the church preschool 3 days a week and spend the mornings before and afternoons after with either Miss Jane or Miss Amanda. Both of these homes become second homes to me over the next two years--keeping me when I'm sick, when my parents are out of town and basically whenever else my mom needs them to.

One morning, I was wearing my new orange jumpsuit and fancy knee-high boots with a hidden zipper compartment and Bill took off running through the church without me. Never mind that I spend half my life at this church--in addition to school three days a week, my dad is the choir director--I totally freak out. The very nice janitor, James, escorts me to my classroom and I am forever grateful.

The days I'm not in school, I stay at with Miss Betty and her grandson, Bucky. Miss Betty never remembers to pull the tongue on my shoes out before she ties them. I'm too scared to tell her.