My first memory is of disappointment.

It was freezing and it was snowing. I was brought out to play (probably 4 years old at the time) without gloves. Finally my mother emerged from the warmth of the house and I ran to her thinking she was letting me inside. Instead she scooped up cups of snow and handed it to each child and then she brought out the thick dark Karo syrup which I hated and poured it on top of the snow as a treat. When she went back inside, I stared at my frozen fingers clutching a frozen cup of snow surrounded by my siblings, my cousins, eating the handout, and I didn't eat it.

My second memory is of love.

...the warmth of an old man's hand clutching mine. My grandfather, Francesco, who spoke only Italian, took me for walks. I helped him in his vegetable garden. He died, and I remember a water fountain in the lobby of the funeral home.

My third memory is of shame.

...kindergarten. The teacher inspected our hygiene each day. I had to stand on a line and she checked each student's hair, ears, teeth, and hands. I didn't own a toothbrush and tried to clean my teeth with my finger as my mother did while I waited on line hoping the teacher didn't notice. I don't remember who gave me one, but I eventually got a toothbrush.

My fourth memory is of interest.

The same teacher went to the Orient and brought back souvenirs. My favorite was a porcelain oriental doll about 6 inches tall. I loved it. Sometime in the future, I got a similar one. It had a soft body and porcelain head and extemities. The skin was bone china white with red lips and black slanted lines for eyes. It wore a mandarin collar shirt red silk and black silk pants with black painted slippers. I think my father bought it for me in Chinatown. It was chipped and I kept it as a treasure until someone cleaned my room and threw it out. I still find Oriental items appealing.