~ Growing Without Roots ~

My childhood was amazing and unique. In fact, it ruined my life in many ways. I remember when I was seven, listening to the radio in my parents' room in Australia, eyes closed, lying on the rug with my head on a pillow, the sound of the branches and leaves blowing in the wind outside. I wondered, is this a dream and I am still in Australia? Will I wake up and be able to do it all differently? Or is this my life and my memories will always be an albatross around my neck?

1968 Jamie and the Tulips

Jamie was very fond of flowers, tulips in particular. All along the back of our house were several rows Some of them were the black ones, which my mother prized greatly.

One day she went outside to water them and let out a shriek! When I went running, I saw that every tulip was gone. All the stems were there, all the leaves were there, but every flower was gone. We couldn't imagine what had happened to them.

A few days later, I happened to notice Jamie cruising through the tulip stems.

When the next batch bloomed, I waited and sure enough, he went and bit off every tulip.