Seven years old is pretty young, but I have quite a few memories from that year, especially of my birthday. I bet it's because of my broken arm. That made everything different, so the memories stand out.
I broke my arm on July 24th, I had to go to the hospital and have it re-broken a few days later, then stayed in the hospital for another day, so I had only been home about a week before my birthday on August 4th. By that time my arm was no longer aching and I had become accustomed to the cast which started at the top of my hand, wrapped around my thumb, and extended up a couple of inches above my elbow. It was bent like an L at the elbow, so it was easy to rest it on my lap when I sat down, or hold it in the sling that tied behind my neck.
So far it hadn't started itching, that came later, and mom had figured out how to wrap the cast in plastic when I took a bath so it wouldn't get wet. I still had to rest it on the edge of the tub, and then I only had one hand to wash with, but I could do it. Since it was my left arm that was broken I got along pretty good, being right handed, but I needed help zipping and buttoning and pulling some of my clothes on.
Our neighbors built a swimming pool in their back yard that summer, the most exciting thing that had ever happened on our block! It was finished just when I broke my arm. They invited all of us to come swimming, and that was probably the worst part about having a cast. I couldn't get it wet, and how do you swim while holding your left arm above you head? I was bummed out! Mom tried encasing my cast in a plastic sack with a rubber band holding it closed at the top, but it wasn't waterproof. She tried putting two or three more sack over that, but it still didn't work well enough for me to actually go swimming. I remember pouting on the edge of the pool, holding my dumb cast in my arm while my feet dangled in the water, being very put out about the whole thing. Stupid cast.
I always enjoyed my birthday, twice as much as other people, because Mom's birthday was the day before and we began celebrating then, but she always made sure my birthday was a bigger deal than hers, so the excitement lasted two days! On top of that, my cousin Johnny's birthday was on the same day as mine, so it made me feel extra, extra special. Johnny was Aunt Amy and Uncle Joe's oldest son, and he was four years older than me. I thought he was so cool!
This year Aunt Amy had a big birthday party for Johnny, he was turning eleven, and of course we were invited. For us, every occasion meant a family get together, and sometimes we would invite other friends too. Aunt Amy was very sweet, and she made sure that I thought this birthday party was meant for me, even if I was only seven years old and all of the rest of the guests were much older.
I remember driving down to Aunt Amy's house, holding my cast on my lap, excited for my birthday party but nervous about being around all those other kids who I didn't know. I was really shy, I mean, REALLY shy, and my stomach felt icky whenever I was in a large group of people. Aunt Amy had told Mom there would be about 12 kids at the party, as well as our family. Even though half of them would be my cousins, the rest were kids I didn't know, and I was scared.
It was one of those days in the middle of an Arizona summer when thunderheads were building up quickly to the East, promising an afternoon thunderstorm. It was the middle of the monsoon season, muggy, hot, and exciting. If the rain came, and it looked like it would this day, everything would be cooled off by evening, but for now it was oppressing and uncomfortable.
We got out of the car and walked up to Aunt Amy's front door, me lagging behind Mom, trying to hide. Keith ran ahead and burst into her front room, looking for Richard and David, the cousins he always hung out with. Phillip and Linda also ran on into the house, excited for the fun to begin. Mom walked in the front door and sang out, "Happy Birthday, Johnny," then crossed the room to give him our gift. I stood in the doorway, looked at all the people, feeling sick.
Aunt Amy smiled and hurried over to me. "Here's our birthday girl," she announced, giving me a big hug. "We've been waiting for you to start the party." Then she escorted me to a special chair and settled me in next to Johnny, and I felt a little better, for a moment.
Once all the guests were there, Aunt Amy explained to them about the game we were going to play. She divided us up into three groups, gave each group a list of items they were to find, and told us we were going to go on a scavenger hunt in her neighborhood. Everyone was so excited, except for me. I didn't want to have to be in a group with people I didn't know, out on the street away from the safety of Mom and Aunt Amy. I was almost in tears.
"What if it starts raining?" I asked mom, hoping it would so I would have an excuse not to go outside. Thank goodness Aunt Amy understood my anxiety.
"You know what, Gale," she suggested quickly. "Why don't you stay here with me while your mom goes with Linda and Phillip?" (They were too little to go with the other kids, but they still wanted to be part of the party.) "I need someone to help me get ready for the cake and ice cream."
And so my birthday was a happy day after all, and I was very thankful for my non-waterproof cast.
