My Earliest Memory: Playing with a Firetruck Toy (1984?)
Somehow I still carry around this really old memory of playing with a firetruck toy in the kitchen at some place we used to live. The toy was around 10 inches long and was electronic, so it had lights and sounds and also could move around the floor on its own. It had a rotating wheel on the bottom that made it move a little bit, then turn, then move some more, then turn again, etc. I think I was 4 years old during this memory.
When we got our dog Gerald (1992 or 1993)
We got Gerald when we lived in Oakhurst. We moved to Oakhurst during the middle of me being in 6th grade, which means it was probably early in 1992. We actually got a different dog first, named Tank. But Tank was hit by a car and died. I don't know how long it was after that, but it didnt seem like too long, so it was probably either later in 1992 or early in 1993 when we got Gerald. My parents got home and my mom told us to go look in the car, and in the car were two black puppies. One was Al and one was Gerald. I think Al had one floppy ear, like Talon used to. And Al was very extroverted and wanted to explore. Gerald was more timid and I think a little bit fluffier. I don't remember why, but we could only keep one of them, and it ended up being Gerald. I wish I could remember more about the early years with Gerald. I do remember he used to yelp so loud and be so excited anytime anyone got home. Also I remember he used to always poop into a bush. He would squat down, then back up until he ran into a bush, and then go. And I remember taking him for walks after I moved back home to CA in 2000. One time I tried rollerblading while walking him, and he pulled me into a gutter which had water in it, and my rollerblades slid out from under me, landing me on my back in the water lol. So I didn't try that again. Years after Gerald passed away, he visited me in a dream. And it was great to see him. I'm getting teary eyed so I guess I better move on to a different memory.
Circle K (late 1998 & early 1999)
When I first moved to Colorado in August 1998 I didn't have a car or know anyone with a car yet. So for grocery stuff I would walk down to the nearby Circle K. It was the first place I did "grocery shopping" on my own. I don't remember anything specific other than just knowing that is where I would go. I also went to King Soopers but it was a lot longer of a walk, so didn't go there too often.
Media Play (1999)
In 1999 one of my favorite things to do was go to Media Play and check out all of the different things there. They had movies, music, and books, among other things. But I have a specific memory of going there and buying a couple of those Eternity puzzles, which was a set of four tiling puzzles: one large one and three small ones. Solving the smaller ones would get you a hint for where a piece went on the big puzzle. And the big puzzle had a grand prize of a million dollars to the first person to solve it. I still have one of these Eternity puzzles, called Meteor.
Late Night Stores (1999-2002ish)
Back in the late 90's and early 2000's a lot of places stayed open late. You could order a pizza at 1:30am and get it delivered. You could also go to places like Walmart during that time, since a lot of them were open 24/7. Something I used to do for fun was go to the store and look at CDs or VHS tapes, and occasionally buy one. It was nice because the stores were so empty when you went so late at night. I can remember buying the VHS of The Fifth Element while browsing movies one night. Also that is how I found one of my all time favorite movies, and probably the movie I have watched the most number of times: Mystery Men. Back in this time period I seemed to have Mystery Men in my VCR every night and would put it on to fall asleep to. Even today I still like to fall asleep to this movie. Its just one of those movies I can watch over and over and not get sick of.