I Remember When.....

When I was younger, life seemed so much simpler. The only worries on my mind were, what time does the street light come on, what my mom was cooking for dinner, and how to avoid going to school tomorrow. Far from my mind were the rigors of college life and the complications of establishing an adult life. It’s funny how things always seem more valuable when they’re no longer there. This was the thought that raced through my mind as I was reminiscing about my childhood with an old friend. As I try to reflect on the twenty one years I’ve been on this earth, my adolescence seems so distant, slowly slipping away in the rear view mirror of my life. The main reason for this disconnect can be blamed on the tremendous changes my home town of Baton Rouge has experienced throughout the last decade. Concepts that were once considered a staple of Baton Rouge living are now no where to be found, and memories that once engulfed the city are hardly recognizable today. For the next couple of weeks, I will be attempting to revive the life I once knew, while hopefully setting stepping stones for future children who will be growing up in the Baton Rouge area.
I’ve always been drawn to simple things. There is no clear explanation on why this is, but I just know that it’s always been the simple things that have attracted my attention. You could compare me to a kitten with a ball of string.
One of these simple childhood memories I dwell on is waking up on a Saturday morning and going to make groceries (I know I said “make groceries but that’s a story I’ll save for another time) with my mom and little sister.
This was before the time of the ultra chic Target, where the only place to purchase groceries was Wal-Mart or Albertsons. The convenience of the store also played a role considering that the nearest store was less than five minutes away.
This weekly trip to the superstore was something I always looked forward to for several reasons, one of which included always leaving with a cool new toy. More importantly, it gave me the opportunity to bond with my family. I cherished the car rides spent to and from Wal-Mart, and the funny conversations between my mom and I were always enjoyable. Of course the sibling debates that took place were a necessity and always epic. The mornings spent in the superstore were some of what has shaped not just me as a person but my relationship with my family.
I have always enjoyed the company of others, and this trip to Wal-Mart is an effective way to satisfy that desire. For those of you who have ever been to Wal-Mart, this feeling should be very familiar. However, for those who have not had the pleasure of experiencing Wal-Mart on a Saturday morning, do yourself a favor and go. You will witness everything from the mom yelling at her child for wanting skittles at the checkout counter, the guy with the mullet just stopping by to pick up a six pack to get the morning started right, and the people still wearing pajamas from the night before. Wal Mart is definitely a good people watching venue. With all that said, it still managed to feel authentic. Then there was the inevitable meeting of a family friend. Baton Rouge is not the smallest city ever, but somehow the phrase, “it’s a small world” still applies. My mom was bound to find someone she knew and have at least a 20 minute conversation. My sister and I would humor ourselves by guessing how many times she would say, “Well let me get going," only to think of something that kept the conversation moving forward. Next was the phrase, “Are these your children?” and then, “They are so big!” If you were anything like me then you did not want anyone referring to you as a child. So for someone to acknowledge the fact that I was growing was a plus.
Next was the most important part of the weekly Wal Mart trip. I HAD to push the basket. Pushing the basket gave me some sort of power. Although I could barely see over it, it just felt important. It was my duty to keep it close and accessible to my mom at all times. There were times where there was something I really wanted to look at and my mom would say it was alright to go. However, due to the fact that I was the keeper and protector of the basket I had to wait for her.
Again, it’s funny to think about how something of such naive nature could bring so much joy to an individual.

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