The Sarah Addison Allen Fan Group discussion

Lost Lake holds special childhood memories for Kate. "Kate spent one memorable childhood summer at Lost Lake, had her first almost-kiss at Lost Lake, and met a boy named Wes at Lost Lake."

Share your favorite childhood memory!

This is a class assignment I give in Psychology - on the topic of memory :)

Every summer from age 8 to the summer before I got married (age 20) was spent at an all girls summer camp in central Texas. Friends, fun, first love (they had "workboys" that were hired every summer) immensely wonderful memories I cherish.

Unfortunately (or not), I have no memories of my childhood. Sometimes it really sucks but other times I think that I should be thankful. Just in case something bad happened.

Spending weekends at my grandparents house. They were my favorite people in the world. I miss them everyday now.

Picking fresh blackberries on my grandparents property then taking them home to dad who would make homemade ice cream in those turn crank style ice cream machines. Best ice cream in the world! Dad lived across the street from a lake so we would have BBQ, best BBQ ever, then eat homemade ice cream on the deck and look at the beautiful stars.

Every summer growing up my great aunts and uncles would have an enormous catfish fry. It was in the 1960s and all the aunts and my grandma wore amazing dresses or capris with cotton blouses. My uncles and grandpa wore straw fedora type hats and short sleeve button up shirts. We'd sit outside in lawn chairs and drink lemonade and eat catfish and pie until we were ready to pop and then the kids would all play flashlight tag, hide and seek and catch fireflies in jars.

My favorite childhood memories are the times our family would visit my dads side of the family. On a farm in Danville, VA in the rolling hills. Picking fresh veggies and berries, milking the cow and gathering eggs and especially when autumn would come around and we would get out the big black cauldron to make Brunswick Stew...with everything in it. All the corn, potatoes, Lima bean, chicken, rabbit, squirrel, and beef and other fresh veggies that went with it!!!! It was the best and I have not been able to find one like it since they both have left us.
We still go there to see family that is left and now spend Thanksgiving there...my mother & I and visit my dads grave.

My grandpa used to save up all his extra pennies in one of his cigarette boxes. When it was full he would me and my sister a box of pennies each so we could go to the "yum yum" store (Rexall Drug) to buy penny candy. I'm so glad I was fortunate to have such great grandparents. I love and miss them everyday!

My dad let me sneak out with him to go fishing when my sisters and I all got in trouble and were sent to our rooms for two hours. He knew I was innocent and felt bad I was being punished... Best day of my life since
it was hard to get some alone time with my dad!

Laughter,young,free,strong and able to roam the mountains free and unafraid on my own..Always running and laughing...Knew everyone and no locked doors..Helping your neighbors.

Days spent riding my bike with neighborhood kids, doing word searches with my maternal grandma, shelling pecans for my maternal grandpa, digging for worms, building a tree house with my paternal grandpa, camping with my siblings, and going to the summer carnival at the park with my friends.

Waiting on my copy of the Happy Hollisters to arrive. Being able to enjoy all that happen with a family that large and wishing I could be a part of it.

Spending time with my Grandmother, swinging on the swings across the street from her house and walking to the Library and bring back lots and lots of books.

My favorite memories are mostly from the wonderful summer camp that my sister, my brother, and I attended for many summers in southwestern Michigan. Still, more than 40 yrs later, I still have so many friends from camp.

Growing up in a beach town, bundling up and taking a walk on the beach on a chilly winter day.

camping in the wilderness of Arizona with my family

My grandparents property backed up to a forest preserve. So I loved going for walks in the forest with my grandfather.

Watching Notre Dame football with my dad.

Reading a book, which was my favorite activity, while my mother, an artist, painted -- usually me since I was the only child who would remain still enough to paint. Many drawings with my nose in a book.

My father used to take me skating in the woods down the street. Even at night...he'd bring a light. He'd find us a nice frozen pond, make sure it was safe, and we'd skate for hours. He taught me how to "skate dance" and he'd sing this ridiculous song about a girl with strawberry curls.

Waking up early in the morning before the rest of my family had stirred and sneaking into the kitchen to listen to my mother shuffling around and getting ready for the day! I would sneak in give her a hug and we would share a coffee/hot tea on the back porch and watch the sunrise.

Spending the summers running around with my cousins & friends and going to our Grandma's house every Sunday for dinner! <3

Aren't grandparents the best thing since sliced bread!?!? Look how many of these posts refer to times spent with grandparents.
My best--I never had a birthday party til I was seven...at my grandma's house in Hillsdale, Michigan. At 7 years old, I didn't understand why I had tears in my eyes, but later I understood the uncontained, unconditional, unending love of my Gram!

Sitting in the backyard swing and my Mom reading me Dr. Seuss stories.

My favorite memory was walking up the driveway after school and seeing my mom rocking in her chair, which meant she was listening to classical music and waiting for my sisters and me to start coming home. There would be music in the house and milk and cookies on the table, and I had a few minutes alone with her (I have six sisters). One time at the beginning of spring, I remember she had a juicy purple plum sitting at my spot because she knew it was my favorite fruit. And on the first day of school there would always be a small present sitting on my pillow when I got home.

I assume this contest is over ??? The red sweater my dad bought me for Christmas when I turned 13. My favorite gift ever because he picked it out himself.

My aunt taking me on her 'errands' which consisted of me tagging along with her to Target or to the mall. And the hours she would let me be in her apartment after school to do my homework and listen to her records. Her patience at letting me sit on the toilet and watch her put on her makeup for her dates. She was a young aunt and I adored her.

my aunt taking me and my sister to the beach

Playing hide-n-seek climbing trees at dusk during the summer time. Childhood dreams!

My mom was watching my cousin Jenny, who was a baby at the time. it was a hot summer day and she was fussy. My hometown didn't have a lot of private homes with air conditioning. Mom stripped her down ro her diaper, grabbed an old sheepskin and we went out to lay on it under a tree in the backyard. The sheepskin wicked the sweat from Jenny's skin, and she fell asleep. We lay there under the dappled shade of the tree. The sheepskin soft and rough at the same time, smelling like lanolin. The grass cushy and smelling green. The warm breeze somehow cooling and warm at the same time. Me falling to sleep next to a softly breathing baby.