Childhood Memories

I remember many things from my childhood Twelve of us in the house and where it proudly stood On a busy tree lined street in a smaller city A picture perfect childhood, a neighborhood so pretty. I remember running for the bathroom every morning. Trampled by siblings without any warning. Running off to school, to beat that dreaded bell lots of us together, not that you could tell I remember playing, in our great big yard. All of us together, someone always scarred. Every kid in the neighborhood was at our house each day Drove my parents crazy, listening to us play I remember the picnics, weekends spent outside Lots of happy family, solitude denied, Many games of horseshoes frisbee and bocce ball. If you were very patient, you could play them all. I remember holidays at our busy house Easter Bunny, tooth fairy even a Christmas mouse Opening many presents every Christmas Eve. We could scarcely wait for Santa Claus to leave. Ten children sitting around the Christmas Tree Wrapping paper covernng everything you see. Dolls that cried and cars that rolled and All those dreaded Christmas clothes. We faced all our hardships all of us together Many difficult times were by us always weathered Still we always knew that no matter what Family was what it was all about. Now that all those times are forever gone Still all those memories are clear and very strong Of all the memories made way back then Were of my special parents and their brood of ten.