During the spring vacation of this year, I spent one week visiting first with maternal German grandparents and then with paternal great aunt and uncle. At grandmother’s home, I rested with her as she watched soap operas on television. I accompanied her on the walk to the grocery store. She taught me how to sew and arranged for an excursion to the city to see an Easter show which I much enjoyed. Great aunt picked me up later in the week to stay with her and great uncle who were childless. Great aunt was an enthusiastic personality and young for her years. She enjoyed bowling and was a member of a bowling team. Hence, time was spent bowling and chatting with league members. (A few months later she brought me a bowling ball, and I joined a bowling league.) During this visit, she and I visited a department store where we browsed through swimsuits. I saw a bright, multicolored bikini with a matching cover up that I liked very much. I informed great aunt however, that I was not permitted to wear a bikini. Great aunt laughed and bought me this swimsuit ensemble stating that it was an early birthday gift. She also provided me with nail polish and an electric leg shaver that I thought was amazing. Needless to say, mother was not pleased with these gifts and complained to father about his aunt.
In the neighborhood, lived a child who was regarded as a “genius” with whom I had the opportunity to be acquainted. The boy was about three years younger than I and at three years old gave his father the correct instructions on how to repair their lawn mower. At this young age, his vocabulary was equivalent to that of a college professor. The child was an accomplished reader and knowledgeable about various scientific topics prior to beginning public school. The public school district was unsure about a grade placement for the boy so various tests were administered where it was determined that at least an upper elementary level was the appropriate placement based on his intellect. However, other concerns and factors were examined by the parents and school district such as various psychological considerations. For example, because his physical development was that of a five year old, concerns were that perhaps he would be bullied by other older children in the grade. The parents who were religious Catholics decided to place the boy one grade ahead of his age and supplement him with a higher level of instruction taught at home. A few years later and during a conversation with the boy, who amused and amazed me with his intellectual prowess, the suggestion was made by him that we form a band as through the conversation he became aware that I played the accordion. I humored him by agreeing that perhaps we should form a band. Days later he called at my home to inform me that he had “signed on” other members to join the band and that he wanted to arrange for a practice date. Realizing that “I had put my foot in my mouth”, as I knew him to be an accomplished player of several musical instruments while I was a novice accordion player, I politely declined his invitation stating that there was a reconsideration of thought on my part not to join the band as my schedule would not allow time to participate in practices. After the boy left our home, I stated to mother that this boy would likely solve many of the world’s problems as it appeared to me that he always had the correct moral answers and solutions to problems. Years later while visiting mother and father as an adult, one asked what had become of this boy known in childhood. Mother stated that he had obtained a job as a foreign language instructor.