Tuesday, April 15, 2008

When I Was 4


In October of 1956, my youngest brother, Bobby, was born. He was the fourth child in our family, but he was the first one I can remember seeing as a new baby. Mama brought him home from the hospital, all wrapped up tightly in a blanket. I watched her change his diaper, and saw his umbilical cord still attached to his little fat body. Of course, I did not know what it was, actually, and I can remember thinking that it was a spider stuck to his belly.

I had nightmares about that incident for years, even after I was half grown and knew what it really was. I would wake up in a sweat, thinking that a real spider had somehow gotten into my clothes and that it was trying to get into my belly.

Maybe that is where my fear of spiders comes from. I guess I'll never really know.

3 comments:

lupingirl said...

That's funny! I think I got my fear of spiders from you!

By the way you are too cute in that picture - you look mischievious

Lynn Barry said...

I never feared spiders...it was mice for me...I remember dreaming that thousands of mice were crawling all over my body...I can see why you freaked out, wondering what the heck that was on your baby brother's tummy...HUGS

Unknown said...

Lynn, I'm glad you came here and joined. I hope this will be a fun place, welcome!