My First Memory

In my head, I have this very vivid memory, the first memory that I can remember. It's me with my Mum patting a white dog that came up to my waist. I can recall the action and sensation of slowly patting the dog over and over again, and singing to it. My hand was slowly patting the dog as it was about waist high beside me. If I close my eyes, I can actually bring up that memory and pat that dog again. Am I crazy?

That first memory has stayed with me all my life.

I have been doing a scrapbook of my Mum's life for my granddaughter Frankie, who was named after her. It's been a labour of love for a number of years as I keep on discovering more photos and bits and pieces of Mum's stuff that should be included in it. In fact, it has been very therapeutic. It also brings back a lot of memories of Mum's life.

Imagine my surprise when I came across this small photo of me, Mum, and a small white dog. So I wasn't imagining things. It actually happened. My memory was real.

The funny thing about this memory was that as I grew up, in my head, that dog was still at my waist height. In truth, it was a Pomeranian named Bassie. Bassie was Mum and Dad's dog well before I came on the scene. The photo was taken in 1958 when I was 18 months old. So… yes, the dog was up to my waist then.

Have you got a memory that has been stuck in your mind too? I'd love to hear it.

Fondest memories,

Nana Louise