If I were going to change my name, I would change it to Aimee Marie. My mom wanted to give me this name in honor of a dear cousin who married a man with the surname Aime. My mom adored her cousin Mildren Allen Aime. Mildred’s parents were Samuel L. Allen and Mabel Vernice Trickel Allen. I still have the baby blanket my Aunt Mabel crocheted for me. Mabel lived across the road from my grandparents, Tom and Elva Allen, and my grandmother always stated that Mabel was a dear friend.
Camping has always been an important activity in my life. I love being outdoors and getting away from it all. And over the years, I always set time aside so that I can go to the mountains and enjoy some time among the pines.
I was in fifth grade when I went on my first camping trip. My mom had signed me up for Girl Scouts, and our leader was given some old army tents and supplies. Since our leader did not drive, families volunteered to drive us, and some volunteered to spend the night too. We camped at Big Basin, and I will never forget my first experience of sleeping in the woods. Waking up in the redwoods was so much fun.
I love doing research, especially about my ancestors. The time always seems to slip away, and I get lost down the genealogy hole. I have found so many exciting people, and their stories amaze me.
I really wish I could say no, I am not superstitious, but I have my moments. I grew up in a haunted house, and when the tea kettle would boil water on its own and then whistle, mom would make instant coffee, and I would often make a cup of tea. After all, “someone” had gone to all that trouble.
If I won the lottery, I would do all the normal things that I know I should do. I would help family and friends and set aside money to help those down on their luck. But the one thing I know I would do in a heartbeat would be to find a mountain cabin among pine trees and aspens in the Colorado mountains.
For me, there is just something magical when spending time in nature. I love the smell of mountain pines on a crisp morning. I enjoy setting on a porch, drinking my coffee, and watching hummingbirds flit about their feeders and chipmunks scurry about looking for food to store. I love hearing breaking twigs and crunching leaves, knowing that when I look up, I will view mule deer walking slowly in the distance, ever alert of their surroundings.
Relaxing in the mountains offers a quiet peace and restores the soul. So until I win the lottery, I will be content taking my mountain getaways and dreaming of a time when I can call a piece of the Rocky Mountains home.
As a child, my mother would read to me every day, so books became an essential part of my life from an early age, and Mama laid the foundation for my love of books. When I was about three years old, she started teaching me the alphabet, and I began writing those letters. By the time I was four years old, I was reading books independently.
One fun activity I enjoyed was our treasure hunts. It taught me some of my sight words. Go, to and the. Then my mother would draw objects from around the house with the word printed under her creations. My vocabulary grew as I learned the words: lamp, couch, mailbox, and so many more. Once I completed my activity, I would find a treat or barrette or hair ribbon for my treasure.
As my vocabulary grew, she taught me how to read with the Dick and Jane primer series. I was excited to show my dad I could read Fun with Dick and Jane. As I progressed, so did my library. She always made sure that I had plenty of books to read. Some of my favorite childhood books were James and the Giant Peach, Where the Red Fern Grows, Charlotte’s Web, Little Women, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. As a child, I also enjoyed the book series Dr. Seuss, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys.
Looking back at that time, I fondly remember a busy mother taking time to ensure I had a good start on my educational journey. Without a doubt, my favorite teacher made learning exciting.
Recently, our school worked on research projects for the Middle Years Program. Our eighth graders worked on a living history project. One of the projects students created was a timeline about a person they interviewed. It included at least ten global threshold events and ten personal events about the person they picked. Since I thought it was a great idea, I completed a timeline too about my mom Dorothy Allen.
“There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: One is roots, the other is wings.” Teaching children values and giving them the opportunity to excel is essential to good parenting. However, I feel I must also provide my children (and myself) insight into the ones who came before us: our ancestors whose lives and stories have shaped us into who we are. This is my journey; these are their stories…
Tales of a Family 