I’m always surprised at how fast 1 pound of ground meat goes around here. If lamb isn’t your typical source of protein, this recipe will give you something new to try.
I seriously thought that this tax season was going to be the death of me. Typically I love numbers (math major and previous math teacher) and I love working with money (fun story about that - my grandma used to round her checkbook up to the nearest dollar. It used to drive me nuts. I didn’t know how she could keep track of anything by doing that, but she did. I just could never do that) but the chaos that this season’s taxes has created has had me way too stressed. Thank goodness it’s coming to an end.
Speaking of numbers and money, I’m gonna take you waaaaay back today. Back to when I was very, very little and introduced to both at an early age.
How much do you think you have in common with your 5 year old self?
When I was born my parents owned their own jewelry store in Chicago called the Dream Station. For all intents and purposes I basically lived there with them. I had the back room to myself with all my barbies, pound puppies and a TV to watch Sesame Street. My mom has told me stories that when I was little in the playpen and I would hear the bell ring on the front door that I would yell from the back room a greeting of “hello” to every person who walked in the store. As I got older I was given the responsibility of cleaning the glass on the cases, which I of course thought was fun. It was me “going to work”. To keep me busy my mom would buy me “school books” so I could practice writing and counting.
One of my parents’ employees was in college at the time. She had to write a paper for her psychology class and she asked my mom if she could observe my behavior and use me as her subject. My mom didn’t mind, it was no different than any other day, but what’s cool is that she gave my mom a copy of her (typewriter written) paper. I just recently came across this paper, while looking back at old pageant photos, in my memory book from when I was 5 and wanted to share a few paragraphs from it:
We are located in the Dream Station jewelry store where I’m employed. The walls are white, pink and grey. The carpet is also grey. There are jewelry cases with gold and silver along with several stands with 4 shelves each of giftware, stuffed animals, glass items and several new modern items surround the store. She has run of the store and has been at the store since her birth. This right handed dominant little girl is Marla Marie Ceaser.
As I watch Marla she is in great control, or should I say in charge of her situation. She is playing school. Marla is of course the teacher. She scribbles on notebook pages and shows me that she can handwrite. Marla then tells me that a student is bad so she has to write 13 pages from a book for punishment. To be sure the student does 13 pages Marla numbers pages in a notebook from 1-13. Then Marla asks her mom who is always at the store with her to give her some work papers. Marla loves to do work that makes her learn. She is also a perfectionist so if she doesn’t get a star she gets upset. Marla needs to succeed with an A not an A-. She likes to count her numbers, it’s obvious because as I observe she does her 1’s, 10’s and 100’s.
Then Marla sees a customer. She gets keys for the constantly locked jewelry cases. Marla says “Would you like to see anything?” while I stand behind her. The customer wants to see a ring. So Marla opens up the case and pulls out the specified ring. She noticed it was a rose so she pulls every ring with a rose, flower or similar look, that she personally is attracted to and uses her well developed sales skills. Marla tells me how to act, what to say, etc. She is very outgoing and dominant. Marla doesn’t take back seat to anyone, she runs the whole show. With her screeching voice Marla instructs me on what to do and helps me correct my mistakes. Next she has an excellent imagination. Marla makes up songs and dances for her students. Accidently I’m spotted watching her. Marla, stops, giggles, and seems to get embarrassed.
Marla is a child but very much in control and seems more of an authority figure. She has theories for why things happen but never looses control of the situation. Her family have given her enough of a role model that she knows how to act in specified areas (school, home, work, play). Marla knows her role in society, can deal with her feelings, actions and with others as well. As Marla states “I grow every night” She is definitely one of a kind.
After reading over this paper, written in October of 1988, I couldn’t believe the characteristics she pin pointed that still hold true today. I was only 5 years old at the time she made her observations. I thought it was really interesting (and a little eerie) to read. It’s really amazing when you talk to a 5 year old and get a glimpse of what they could be like as an adult. Keep that in mind the next time you interact with a child.
Of course none of this has anything to do with today’s Lamb Balls but I just thought it was interesting.
How much are you like your 5 year old self?
