Growing Up Cleveland

While you NEVER forget where you came from, a trip down memory lane every once in a while will bring back fond memories of the times when life was so simple! Growing up in Cleveland has taught me how to maneuver this thing called life! Cleveland's weather is just like any other mid-western city. Cold and snowy winters and hot humid summers. I was blessed to be raised in a home with BOTH of my parents, along with my younger sister and cousin whom my parent gained guardianship over. Both college educated from South Carolina State University a HBCU in Orangeburg SC where my dad was born. My parents meet in college, well actually my dad graduated with his Bachelors of Science in Business Management a few years prior. When he returned to the University to work as a Student Adviser he met my mom, who was from Manning SC about 45 mins away. My mom was pursuing her Bachelors of Arts in Education. When my dad was offered a job at Ford Motor Credit Company he relocated to Cleveland Ohio from Orangeburg, SC. He then decided to invite my mom to join him in Cleveland when she finished her Bachelors degree. My mom continued to pursue her Masters Degree in Education at Baldwin Wallace College. She also began working within the Cleveland Public School District as a High School Reading Teacher. While my dad worked full time for Ford Motor Credit Company.  My mom was a loving and caring woman. ANYONE and I MEAN ANYONE that she could help she did without hesitation! Since she was a full time school teacher. she was off during the summers and this is what I remember MOST about my childhood, my SUMMERS in Cleveland. My summers were filled with outside activities from the moment the sun rose in the sky  until the street lights came on in the evening, we were outside ALL DAY LONG! I remember making mud pies in the backyard with my mom and friends. I remember playing any bounce in the streets, with the rule being "NO PITTY PATS", LOL whatever that meant! I remember my mom bringing her speakers outside and a group of us both girls and boys making up dance routines thinking we could be good enough to perform on Star Search! Playing Double Dutch and hopscotch in our driveway. Water fights with Super Soakers and of course the water hose!  My mom was the neighborhood "candy lady". WE would go to Sam's club and my mom would buy all types of candy both hard and chocolate, juices and chips and the kids would come to our house and buy what we had to sell. I remember one time she bought a bb-gun and taught us how to shoot it using coke cans as target practice on the fence. One time we all decided to race our bikes down the street. I had a nice NEW 10 speed with brand new breaks! Well once I cross the finish line, I squeezed my those brand new brakes and I ended up flipping over the handle bars and landing flat on my back!. My mom wasn't home that day just my dad, so I remember my friends running over to me to see if I was hurt.  then I remember seeing my dad running down the street to come get me! My dad took me home and made me comfortable I remember wishing my mom was home to take care of me. I ended up OK just got the wind knocked out of me, but I learned a valuable lesson about bikes and brand NEW brakes! My childhood home has so many wonderful memories. Whenever go back home to Cleveland to visit, I stop by just to reminisce. We no longer own the home and I don't know the family that currently lives their but I know they are making special memories just like we did!