The First Seven Years
My first seven years I lived at 1603 W. 22 nd Street in Houston, Texas. I remember it was a lovely place to grow up. There were oak trees, an elm tree, a sweet gum, a pecan tree, magnolia trees, a wisteria vine, rose of sharon bushes, a pyracantha, and a grapefruit tree. My mother grew nasturtiums, daylillies, sweet peas, and shrimp plants. I was always curious about the things that grew in the yard. I remember lying down on the grass in the front yard, wishing I knew the name of every plant and bug. That practice continues till now. I remember having tea parties and playing paper dolls with Debbie Hauck. She was my catty-cornered backyard neighbor. When we couldn't go over to each other's houses, we played in the corners across the fence. Her aunt, Mrs. Klaus, was my next door neighbor. She also grew lots of plants, swept her back yard, and had a hand wringer washing machine in her back yard. We all hung our clothes on a clothes line. She was a seamstress, and her husband ...