1963

I was a very active child to say the least and kept my whole family wondering where all that energy could possibly be coming from.  What they did not know was that I have always enjoyed a good nap as the best source of new energy.  At the age of three I possessed more energy that ten three year olds and kept my parents on the go constantly.

That kind of energy required constant naps to “re-energize” and I was never one to refuse a nap as long as it was when I wanted to take one.  In the summer of 1963 during my daily activities I found myself playing in the “fort” under the basement stairs behind the clothes chute catch bin.  Over time my brother and sisters had turned this “fort“ or space into a secret hideout.  They had even managed to put a stack of old towels and clothes in there to make it more comfortable than the cold cement floor.

On this particular day I managed to squeeze my way into the “fort” for some fun and fell fast asleep.  When you are known for talking too much and being constantly underfoot, your absence does not go un-noticed for very long. 

I no time my mother called everyone she knew for help.  The word spread fast and soon, what seemed like half the town, everyone one was out looking for me.  Even my father and his crew left whatever construction site they were working on to join in the search.  Over a period of two hours they searched just about everywhere including in the clothes chute bin to no avail. 

After a good nap I emerged from the “fort” and headed back upstairs to a kitchen filled with friends and family.  The look on my mother’s face was one of relief as well as “once I know you are ok I am going to kill you!” 

With my whereabouts known it was time to celebrate.  My mother loved to tell that story and did so for the next 35 years.