Childhood Memories

In life it’s not about the destination but the journey. Mans’ most primitive tool changed the outcome of my life twice, figuratively and literally lit the spark for me to move towards independence. Fire has affected both my childhood and adulthood in so many ways. In ways it made me weak, but in more it made me stronger.

On December 20th, 1961, I was born in Newark NJ, but raised in North Carolina up until the age of seven. I lived in a white one family house with a huge backyard. At this place, most of my greatest childhood memories started here. In the winter I remember making snow angels outside with my siblings, also my mom showed me how to make ice cream with the snow. In the summer time we played on the tire swing in front of the house on this huge tree. All these memories were hugely affected when I was seven years old. In May of 1967, my little sister was playing with matches, and burned the entire rear of the house. The fire manages to burn all the bedrooms in the house causing it to be inhabitable, and shortly after demolished. My parents were devastated due to financial burdens and now not having a home, so we all split up. My sisters and I went to my grandmother’s house and the rest went to my aunt’s house.

For seven months my siblings and I were separated, when we all relocated to a tenement in Newark New Jersey. Seven children and two adults moved from a four bedroom, two bathrooms, and huge backyard; to a three bedroom, one bathroom, and no yard. The building was called Christopher Columbus homes, better known as Seventh Avenue projects. I went to McKinley elementary and Webster junior high school where I then had a daughter at fourteen. For a few years I struggled raising a child and attending school. I was forced...

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...nine others. With the opportunity of an apartment opening I had to jump at the chance. I took months to fight for an apartment I fixed up and made livable. I believe if the first fire didn’t happen I may have steered a different path due to me still living in North Carolina. I would not have had my kids, or the experience of the big city, or eve met my husband. I am glad to have experience of adaption. I had to adapt to my surroundings to survive a country to city move which was a shell shock moment. Seeing street lamps and row stores baffled me. I went from rural area to a cramp environment. Also I learned fire safety. From my first apartment on, I always brought two fire extinguishers and first aid kits. I rather to be prepared then surprised. But through all I had a life moment that could make or break me, and choose a path and struck it through thick and thin.