My Clara Rival

A fun childhood memory was when I was picked to be Clara in our ballet's performance of the Nutcracker.  Wait, no I TIED with someone else.  Immediately she became my rival as I was brown-haired, brown-eyed, and she was blonde and blue-eyed.  For some reason I developed a deep sense of competition with my equally talented ballet classmate.  Not only did we compete to be Clara and tied, but then we had to draw to see who would perform on the big stage in a theater and who would perform next to Orange Julius in the South Towne Mall Food Court.  

We each drew a paper out of a top hat, and low - it wasn't meant to be.

Thus, me and my horrendous teeth performed in front of many Christmas shopping strangers, with the aroma of Hot Dog on a Stick in the air.

Why is this a happy memory you ask?  Because ten years later that particular ballet rival became my best friend, and we are still like sisters today.  Love you Deb.

- Lisa Marie Trent, Salt Lake City, UT

Line-Free Boy

Secondly, my favorite childhood memory of my son Jack (so far) is when he became line-free.  Jack spent the first month of his life in Primary Children's Hospital and was attached to multiple lines (IV, Central Venus Pressure, O2 Saturations, Feeding Tubes...) after he had open heart surgery.  In March of 2006 (so three years ago and three months after he was born) they took the last line off, which was oxygen.  We could finally carry Jack about our house without having to drag his O2 tank or feeding tower with him.  It was amazing.  What a simple freedom.

- Lisa Marie Trent, Salt Lake City, UT