I've been thinking of writing an autobiography or memoir but it just never comes together for me but I figured if I write one story at a time and post it on my blog maybe once a month, I can do that. Maybe one day I'll pull all the stories together and put them in a book but for now I'll just share some stories with you about my childhood and into adulthood. Some of the stories will be happy, some sad and some horrific because that was my childhood. But they will all be real, things that actually happened. If it seems like something that people enjoy reading maybe I'll keep it going. These stories will not be in any kind of order, I'll just write them as they come to me.
High School Computer Class
When I was in high school, I was also babysitting and cleaning houses for a couple of people for some extra money because my mom didn't have a lot of money. So, I had to buy myself the stuff I wanted. I used to go to school at least an hour early just to get out of the house and away from my mom's boyfriends and be able to talk with my friends.
The principal and computer teacher always saw me at school early and one day they came up to me and asked if I would like to be in a new pilot program computer class before school. It wasn't graded but the students who showed up each day would get points towards gift cards, coupons and cash. I said absolutely yes. So, for 3 months I showed up each morning to this class that only had 10 students in it. All we had to do was read a story on the computer and answer questions about the short story. It was really just reading comprehension. The more stories we read and got all the questions right, the more points we racked up.
The class lasted for 3 months and on the last day we got to know who racked up the most points and what we won. There was one girl who had more points than I did, she won $100 cash and a $100 gift voucher to some restaurant.
I won $50 cash and a $100 gift voucher to an Italian Restaurant. I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but it was one that I had never been to. When I got home, I told my mom, and she was so proud of me which made me feel really good. I told her that I wanted to treat her to dinner that day but just her and me, not her boyfriend. She agreed and we went to find the place. When we got there, it was a lot nicer than either of us had known it would be. When I told the waitress that I had a gift voucher and wanted to make sure I could use it, she went to make sure and came back with the owner. He came to tell me that he personally made the gift vouchers for my school, so he knew exactly what it was for and he congratulated me. He then told me that dessert was on him after our meal. It was probably the best day of my life up to that point. I was only 16 years old, so it was a big deal for me.
I won $50 cash and a $100 gift voucher to an Italian Restaurant. I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but it was one that I had never been to. When I got home, I told my mom, and she was so proud of me which made me feel really good. I told her that I wanted to treat her to dinner that day but just her and me, not her boyfriend. She agreed and we went to find the place. When we got there, it was a lot nicer than either of us had known it would be. When I told the waitress that I had a gift voucher and wanted to make sure I could use it, she went to make sure and came back with the owner. He came to tell me that he personally made the gift vouchers for my school, so he knew exactly what it was for and he congratulated me. He then told me that dessert was on him after our meal. It was probably the best day of my life up to that point. I was only 16 years old, so it was a big deal for me.
My mom and I ate dinner and had our dessert, there was about $20 left over on the gift voucher and I asked the waitress if I could give that to her as a tip. She was surprised and happy but wanted to make sure that's what I really wanted to do. I said that this was my happy day and I wanted to share the happiness with someone else as well. She smiled and said thank you. I had never been able to do anything like that before and figured I shouldn't be the only happy one that day.
Once my mom and I got back out to her car, she admitted to me that she had felt a bit underdressed being in such a nice restaurant and having the owner come over and talk to us, but she felt so thankful that I had thought of her when I won the gift voucher. It was one of the best days that my mom and I had when I was a teenager.
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What a heart warming story! That is wonderful...
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
DeleteI love it
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading and visiting
DeleteThat is a memory to cherish. Just you and your mom out to dinner. And making the waitress a gift tip! Best of all, knowing you earned it at a school project.
ReplyDeleteMy mom talked about that day for years.
DeleteThat's such a sweet memory. I'm so glad you had that moment with your mom.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
DeleteThat is a fantastic story, Mary! The computer pilot program sounds like it was a good experience and probably led to reading comprehension computer programs my kids did in elementary school (I can't remember the name of it). I bet that meal at the restaurant was amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt was a good experience. I'm glad they asked me to do it. That was a really good meal.
DeleteThis is a wonderful memory, thank you so much for sharing it. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, you're very welcome.
DeletePS... one of the things that I really love about this is that the adult(s) at your school noticed that you needed a little extra, what... care, notice, support? Maybe all of that. I tell people all the time that we don't know when one little thing to us is going to be a big thing for kids.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what they noticed. But they saw me there early all the time and I was really glad they asked me to do it, I had fun and the reward was great.
DeleteOh definitely, this wasn't a big deal to most people but for me it was.
That's a lovely story :-D Nice memory :-D
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
DeleteWhat a sweet story! I should add that you've inspired me, so I also have started writing stories of my life, though I've not posted any yet. So thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! That's great, I love that I inspired you. I can't wait to read them.
DeleteGood memories today!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a good memory for me.
DeleteThat's a wonderful, WONDERFUL story, Mary! Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome.
DeleteOh yay, a sweet story. It sounds like a kind of zero period (I understand wanting to get out of the house). And good for you on winning that. Isn't winning things grand?
ReplyDeleteYes, it wasn't an actual class we were graded on, just and extra class that we were beta trying out a computer program for incentives. It was nice to do something and get out of the house.
DeleteI absolutely love, love, love this story. I could feel the happiness in your writing and to this day you should be proud of that accomplishment. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. It's such a nice memory of me and my mom.
DeleteI enjoyed that, a really wonderful memory.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWow.. I love it so much. Such a touching story.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading it and felt the warmth between you and your mom.
Thank you so much.
DeleteThanks for sharing your great memory.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteGlad you had some positive experiences like this as well as all the horrific ones you've described.
ReplyDeleteI have to throw in the good with the bad. While I think there might be more bad, the good ones are nice.
DeleteSuch a wonderful story. I love that the school and community did that.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad they did too.
DeleteWhat a nice memory! Love that your school was paying attention to you and could give you this opportunity.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I am too.
DeleteDear Mary, thank you so much for sharing your great memory 😀
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteA beautiful memory, Mary.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWhat a great memory! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWhat a wonderful story, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteA wonderful story, Mary. Thanks for telling us.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, thanks for reading.
DeleteThat is a beautiful story. I love that program and how it had so many positive impacts. The good kept spreading! What a special day for you and your mom.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good day. We really enjoyed that.
DeleteWhat a great story. It's so nice to have that lovely memory with your mom.
ReplyDeleteI smile when I think about it.
DeleteAwww a good one
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteAwww a good one
ReplyDeleteAwww a good one
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