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childhood
November 2009 
What's your most vivid childhood memory?
Posted on Jun 21st, 2009
by 
Susan #1
Susan #1
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for June 21, 2009:
One of my all-time, favorite childhood memories happened during our first visit to Cape Cod. My brother and I were excited to explore new territory... we had never seen such huge grasshoppers before. We spent the entire afternoon of our first day on the Cape catching grasshoppers in the tall grass in front of our cottage.
The next morning, my brother and I woke up itchy and covered with a rash. My mother thought that we were allergic to the laundry detergent. She called Mrs. Hatter, the owner, over. Mrs. Hatter took one look at us and chuckled. "So, I see that you children have gotten yourselves into a little bit of poison ivy, didn't you?"
So began our summer ritual of somehow tango-ing with the leaves of three... we didn't know how to just let them be. Our poison ivy rashes seemed to get worse with each passing year. One year, my brother's eyes even swelled shut. It got so bad, that if I touch poison ivy, I have the rash before the sun sets - that very, same day.
I'm even itching just thinking about it!
The next morning, my brother and I woke up itchy and covered with a rash. My mother thought that we were allergic to the laundry detergent. She called Mrs. Hatter, the owner, over. Mrs. Hatter took one look at us and chuckled. "So, I see that you children have gotten yourselves into a little bit of poison ivy, didn't you?"
So began our summer ritual of somehow tango-ing with the leaves of three... we didn't know how to just let them be. Our poison ivy rashes seemed to get worse with each passing year. One year, my brother's eyes even swelled shut. It got so bad, that if I touch poison ivy, I have the rash before the sun sets - that very, same day.
I'm even itching just thinking about it!
Access: Public
Your story made me itch!
What did your mom use to stop the itching - Calamine lotion, white vinegar, witch hazel, or oatmeal baths?
Calamine lotion was a favorite. We looked all spotty and pink, but that goes along with the territory.
My mom was a saint. As we got older, the rash actually turned into blisters and we had to use special steroid cream from the doctor. We know what the plant looks like, but we seem to be hyper allergic now. I always say that I can get poison ivy just by looking at it!
I believe I would stop visiting Cape Cod altogether and skip the Calamine lotion! ~grin~ baking soda baths are pretty good too… we used that for the chicken pox. Isn't it interesting that our most distinct childhood memories involve some sort of pain?