Friday, 12 February 2010

Childhood Memories

In late January we purchased a home and have been busy moving and slowly attempting to get our lives back in order.  A few days ago we finally were connected to the internet again and I had an urging to go check up on the latest challenge over at the Round Robin Photo Challenge. 

When I saw it was "Childhood Memories"  I was thinking this could be fun and a charming step back in time., I have to do this!  Then I read on and they said I suggested it!!!  With everything that has been happening I had totally forgotten.  I'm glad I got the internet in time to participate. =)

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This was my beloved "Tiggy".  I insisted that he WAS a tiger.  In my young childhood mind, ALL big cats were tigers.  People would tell me it was a leopard and I thought they were ALL stupid!  Come on, he looks like a Tiggy, right! =)  (sigh)

Our family cat obviously didn't like him and took off a section of Tiggy's nose.  So much trauma I really don't remember it happening.  Though I still to this day remember being in tears when he lost his eye and my mom had to sew on a button and insisted that Tiggy could see once again.   I think he's only got one good eye.  What's your opinion on his eye condition?

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I didn't take this photograph above.  It's a scanned copy of a photo I have.  This was my dad's bookstore in Ojai, CA called Bart's Books.  While other children went to a park to play, this was my playground filled with books, comic books, an art easel, our bad kitty and lots of fun people.

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This is the inside how it looks now.  It's still gives me warm fuzzies when I think of being there! =)  If you go to Southern California I HIGHLY recommend you stop in Ojai and check out the bookstore.  Yes, it's still in operation. 

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This last photo I'm sharing is downtown Ojai.  I walked so many times down this street as I headed to school or when my mom took me with her when she did some shopping. =) 

One time we looked into a store window and I (we) saw MARY POPPINS!  They tried to tell me her name was Julie Andrews or some silly name like that.  I KNEW ... it WAS MARY POPPINS!  Oh,  and she was really sweet to me but didn't pull anything out of her bag much to my disappointment.  What was up with that?

It was fun going back in time.  I look forward to visiting everyone's childhood memories on Sunday as I have a wedding to photograph Saturday.

Have a great weekend and thanks for letting my inner child come out to play again! =)

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9 comments:

  1. Jama13 February 2010 at 03:44

    I don't remember playing with stuff toys or dolls as a kid, I was just not into those cute little things girl like.

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  2. Quilt Works13 February 2010 at 06:03

    So sweet to see an old worn out loved teddy bear!

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  3. Linda13 February 2010 at 06:23

    Love Tiggy---and how wonderful to have a bookstore as your playground!

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  4. ellen b.13 February 2010 at 07:55

    Monica, the link on my blog sent me back to the post you did about the Quick Stop Hamburger spot and I'm so happy to have seen that and then I clicked on Home to get to your childhood memories post. Ojai! My husband and I are living in Camarillo for a couple more weeks before we move back to Washington...I'd love to make it up to Ojai and check out the bookstore :0) So you first enticed me with a burger and now you are enticing me with a bookstore! That was sweet of your mom to add that button for an eye but I'm going to have to say that he only has one good eye :0)

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  5. Carly13 February 2010 at 08:57

    Hi Monica :)

    You won't believe this, but I had a "Tiggy" too! My brother got him for me from a restaurant he worked at when he came home from Vietnam!! And guess what, I named him "Tiger J!" OMG... I couldn't stop smiling when I read this! And about his eye, I believe completely that he can see just as well with the button. Tiggy's are tough and bounce back quickly! ;)

    Hugs, Carly

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  6. Scrabblequeen13 February 2010 at 15:41

    I love your childhood playground, and I'm terribly jealous! I had to have someone take me to the library, until I was old enough to go on my own. I used to live in Thousand Oaks, and remember Ojai fondly.

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  7. Suzanne R13 February 2010 at 17:56

    Your tiger looks well-loved. Never mind about the bitten-off nose. LOL! I like bookstores a lot and it's great that you had one to enjoy growing up. Neat pictures!

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  8. Karen Funk Blocher13 February 2010 at 19:21

    You know, your dad's bookstore reminds me strongly of a store I went into on my one visit to Ojai with my mom in 1977. It probably isn;t, but what if? What if? Meanwhile I'm jealous of growing up in a bookstore. You're like the Meg Ryan character in You Got Mail! And meeting that magical nanny - wow!

    My tiger was a tiger, with stripes. His name was Timmy.

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  9. Nancy14 February 2010 at 11:35

    What a wondeful post...made me smile a lot.
    I too had a tiger...his name was "Tiger". (LOL)

    Love the story of your dad's store and the old and new pics....terrific job.

    Nancy

    http://nancyluvspix.blogspot.com/2010/02/childhood-memoirs-and-memories.html

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