Brother Memory #1--Breakfast with LaRue

Why? In keeping with my personal obligation to myself to remember my childhood (for me and my brothers)

Growing up, my brothers and I would frequently spent the night with Grandmommy and Granddaddy (aka LaRue and Ray). We would always sleep in the "green room," and when you closed the blinds it was pitch dark.

There were few toys--only a Space Ghost coloring book and colors underneath the oven. We spent most of our time riding Big Wheels on the black top driveway. That driveway was a huge circle driveway that had a curved, downhill turn that was primo for Big Wheelin'. We would get going real fast on the downhill, turn sharply to the right, then spin out near the CB Radio tower.

Mornings on Lancet Lane are filled with one sweet memory. We would wake up early, lounging in the tv room in our pj's. Granddaddy Ray already had his coffee--white and sugary. He had probably given us a "skin-snoo-ski" as we waited for breakfast to cook. In that room were two lazy boy chairs...all leather. Between the chairs was a round table that had a working crossword puzzle, today's newspaper, and a jelly bean jar. Across the room was a huge salt water aquarium. We would sit for hours watching the fish swim in and out of the coral.

Down the long marble hall, we hear Grandmommy call us for breakfast. The meal was always the same. She ladled the thick, hot, bubbly cream of wheat—then piled a heaping tablespoon of brown sugar—a big pat of butter—and finally—the best for last—the icing on the cake—she poured real cream from the refrigerator—slowly, slowly she poured. It was pure heaven.

Looking back with my motherly eyes and wisdom, I know that making cold Captain Crunch or buttered toast would have been the easier menu…