Dallas or Bust: Stroll through Memory Lane - Part 1 (Garland, Tx)

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DAY 2: Memory Lane

Koko Apartments - Moving to America from the Philippines, this was our first home. I remember learning to play marbles here with the other kids that lived there. I remember a few nights when helicopters with lights would swoop around... probably looking for criminals.

My First School

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (O.L.P.H.) Catholic School. Although, I had already been in kindergarten back in the Philippines, they made me take it all over again. I don't think I minded so much because I loved nap time. I remember always being the last kid to wake up from nap time and the other kids would be playing ring-around-the-rosie. I was the rosie.

I remember also picking on the 1st grade boys during recess. I was so innocent looking and all the teachers loved me so if they ever complained to them, they'd assume it'd be their fault. Haha.

School Picture Day - Okay. I admit I did look like a little boy with that haircut, but so do a lot of kids through elementary school days!

The nun's house. My sister and I used to get babysitted by the nuns while my mom played the organ at church all day. I didn't mind. They would always give us cookies and milk, then sit us in front of the tv so we could watch cartoons. They were nice. It's the fathers we were scared of. We used to attend Sunday School (CCD) and if we ran late were too embarassed to attend so my sister and I would hang out the playground on the monkey bars or seesaws. Father Francis would bust us and escort us back to CCD. Couldn't get away with much when your babysitters were nuns or priests.

Here's the interior of the church from the upstairs balcony. I had my first communion here. During one mass, long, long ago... I remember confessing to my mom that I had broke a few dishes that I tried gluing back together to hide the crime. I figured, "She can't get mad at me in church."

Andora Apartments

An upgrade from Koko Apartments. With a creek closeby, us apartment kids would create tadpole cities and runaway from water snakes (we thought were water moccasins). I don't think kids really play as we did back then. Our school friends Pius and Stella would dig in their parent's box of $2 bills and we'd have great times at the arcade and convenience store purchasing candy and chips!

We transitioned from OLPH to a public school at this point. Remember the days when teachers or the principal could enforce their corporal punishment policy? In Catholic school, it was more with a ruler but in this public school they had large wooden paddles.

We lived on the 2nd floor. To entertain ourselves, we learned how to dangle from the 2nd floor and drop ourselves down just to experience that tickle in the stomach from the drop. Gotta love the days when we had better knees to absorb the shocks of a jump. Lol.

St. Monica Catholic School

Morning Mass was every Friday I believe.

My mom gave me $5-$10 when I did the First Reading during one of those masses. The school rotated us kids to participate in the mass. We also had choir practice with a really strict choir conductor. He was scary and stern. I lucked out and never had to do a solo in front of my classmates. That's what happens when you're a wallflower.

The PhyEd (P.E.) coach taught me that the gesture of putting your hands around your waist and standing in one of those pretentious postures (that so many all-about-me girls do these days) is not a habit to start. I stopped standing that way.

I think I started playing soccer around this age.

My favorite childhood playground was across the street because it had a merry-go-round. What ever happened to merry-go-rounds?!

See that field on the left. That was were recess took place. I remember winning a pro-football from a contest at a local Wonder Bread store. It was the first thing I've ever won. I was playing and playing with friends on that field... somehow got distracted and ended up leaving it there. By evening, I asked my parents to take me back to school so I could look for it. It was already gone (sad face).

Does anyone know what type of bird this is? Found this little fella frolicking in a puddle on school grounds.

As we attended Saint Monica Catholic School, we lived at this duplex (left-side). In the back, my dog - Fluffy - had a large roofed plus enclosed with full windows back porch all to himself with screen windows so the temperature was great in the summer time. He'd be sheltered from all storms and could let himself in and out of the greenhouse whenever he'd like. He was the kind of dog you took on walks where you strap on your your rollerskates and he'd pull you.

Bowie Middle School (Irving, Texas)

Where I participated in basketball, track and field and outside of school -- soccer! I took a lot of Art classes here. It was my favorite subject.

Our house was on a quiet cul-de-sac of Irving, Tx. - Cove Hollow.

Bachman Lake Park

The trail is 3.3-mi roundtrip. You'll see and hear Southwest Airlines landing at Love Field Airport. As we drove around, we did see the Dallas Rowing Club’s boathouse who participate in two regattas are held each year.

Bachman Lake with Jennifer back in the 90s.

The vicious, attacking Geese: these geese didn't like paparazzi so much so they went on the attack mode.

Check out all the American Coots: "Medium-sized, chicken-like swimming bird, dark gray to black overall, short, white bill and undertail coverts. Toes are lobed, not webbed. Upper edge of frontal shield is red, but usually only visible at close range. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats, feet protrude past tail." (source)

Highland Park

We enjoyed driving around Highland Park where every home was different and would could get a glimpse of how the rich lived. Highland Park real estate is associated with the most expensive homes in Dallas...Gracious Highland Park homes can be purchased under $1,000,000 and Highland Park homes can be purchased for over $50,000,000... (source)

A Break from Memory Lane to learn about JFK

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