Intoxicated father...

This was a scary one! Well, at least for me. Me, mom and dad were on some Greek island for a conference. I was about 12-13 yrs old. Dads company would once a year have a conference around the Mediterranean, and would allow family members to join. Dad would sit in meetings all day, and Mom, I and all other mothers and kids would be in the pool or swim in the sea and just have fun and enjoy the sun. Towards the afternoon the Dads would join, for a quick swim, a siesta, and then we'd all go to dinner.

This particular time we went to dinner in some Greek, local restaurant by near the fishing port. I remember we were at least 50-60 people seated on two or three long tables. I was sitting close to Mom and Dad, and we had a nice dinner. But halfway through the meal, I realised I didnät recognize my father. He said things he normally wouldn't. And acted strange too. And Mom was not much better either. I have no recollection if what they said or did, but just a scary feeling that they were not the people I knew. And the more the evening progressed, the stranger and more unfamiliar they became. I asked them to stop, and they said they would. But didn't. Until finally my Mother realises that we need to leave the restaurant and head home. I thnk we took a taxi home to the hotell, and I remember staning in the hotell reception waiting for the clerk to hand us our key. And there was som hassle with the key because it was lost, or Mom or Dad didn't remember the room number or whatever it was. But it took time, and I was ashamed of them while they were in the receptioin, being obnoxious and trying to figure out where we should go.

We made it to our room somehow, and I can remeber the sense of relief when we were out of everyones way. And no one to be embarrassed infront of.

The following day, Dad and Mom wore dark glasses when sitting at the pool. Something they normally would not wear. But I remember others commenting them, and sying things like 'wow, what a heavy evening last night'. and 'You weren't the only ones. Ha ha ha '.

In hindsight, I realized I saw both my parents get very intoxicated. or Drunk. And this was the first time ever - and it was scary! I had seen them drink before, but never become like this. But on the other hand, by listening to everyones comments the next day, I understood (stil being a child) that this was not uncommon in the grown-up world. Neither my parents nor anyone else thought much of it.

But I do remember mom apologizng to me the following day, and she said it was due to the Greek Metexa or Ouzu that they had never had before, liked it, and misjudged the alcoholic content.

So even grown-ups can make mistakes... Good to know!  

Per yanks my arm

I was about 10-12 yrs old. Standing in the hallway at our country house. Per (my great brother-in-law) and I were playing in the hallway. I was maybe pushing him to hard, and he (15 yrs older) yanks my arm up my back, and I ask him to let go. But he doesn't. He keeps my arm twisted behind my bakc until I start crying, until my sister and mother tell him to stop. Once I am free I immediately run out of the house and lock myself in, in our toolshed. Crying, ashamed, hurting. After a while Per comes down and wants to talk, but I refuse to open the door.

I cant remember the rest in detail, but I guess I came out, we talked, said sorry to each other and sorted things out. Just a strange memory I have retained. I think it was due to the fact that a 'grown-up' could actually hurt a kid... Or maybe not. But it was an uncomfortable situation, and it all turned out the the best anyway. Saying 'Sorry' I think was the key here.

Father takes my ice-skating

This is also an odd memory. I was about 8 or 10. Winter. After Christmas. I had just been given a brand new pair of ice-skates. Mom was off to work, and I had been begging both parents to take me skating. I remember Mom asking Dad to take me to a skating rink close to our house. When she left, I asked Dad if he could take me. I recall he was somewhat reluctant. Don't know why. He told me I could put on my skates in the house, and walk with him down to the rink. Whihc I did. Trouble was I didn't have any covers for the skate, so I had to walk on the snow and graveled roads down to the rink. And I couldn't bring my shoes either, because I had a hockey stick to carry... Once down at the rink, I was exhausted. And the skates were ruined since I had to walk on bare roads. I tried to skate for a few minutes, and Dad was next to the rink. It was mid winter, he was freezing and I was tired. So not a fun experience - all in all. On the way back, he wanted to go into the nearby gas station to buy something. I followed him in, but almost fell over. Walking with Ice-skates on plastic floors is not a good idea.... So we walked bak, my feet hurt, I was tired, and Dad was not happy because it was cold and he didn't enjoy it. Dont know why he was so reluctant, but when we came home, I took off my skates and never used them again.

Breakfast in Bed

I realise this is strange to some, but from a very young age, about 7 or 8,  my father would wake me up in the mornings with breakfast in bed. Sweet tea with milk and sugar, two toasts with cheese, honey or marmelade.  He would carry it on a round tray with the Uninon Jack (they had lived in England before I was born...) and would set it down on my bedside table. He did this until I was about 12. After whihc I would wake up and have breakfast with him in the kitchen. And the toast was replaced with sour milk and cereal. But the tea remained...

Also on weekends, and especially when we were in our house in Brighton, England, he would wake Mom and me up with freshly baked scones. I recall especially in England when we would sit in their bedroom window and have breakfast. Their bedroom was on the second floor, and we had a nice view over the park, while eating breakfast together.