Dad, Becky, Mom in Lexington, MA

What are your earliest memories? My sister Annie can remember being a baby, being held by mom as they visited my dad in the hospital. I can do no such thing.

My earliest memories, Lexington, MA

Age 2: Crying after climbing up on a shelving unit that collapsed upon me (I was not hurt). I remember my mom rushing in and then laughing, me getting pissed at that and ramping up the screaming.

Age 2: Being obsessed with my clothes hamper that had detailed circus illustrations on it. I would stare at it forever, entranced. I actually saw the same style hamper at a flea market not that long ago. I felt sledgehammered with memories.

Age 3: Reading a pop-up book with my mom (there was a picture of a boy blowing a bugle on the cover), then ripping apart the book after mom left the room. I wanted to see inside the book, I guess.

Age 3: Walking into the dining room and there was singing and a cake with a candle! Presumably, my 3rd birthday.

Age 3: My brother Paul chasing me around cackling as I shrieked “witch! witch!” I think it was connected to our housekeeper, who also cackled.

Age 4: Being the hopeless daddy’s girl, that I was, I ran up to my dad when he was watching TV, kicked off my little sneaker, and declared “Oh! I’ve lost my glass slipper!” He did the right thing and chased me.

Age 4: My sister Lisa’s wedding (she was 16 years older than me) — a big elaborate Boston affair in a church. I was an uncommonly rambunctious flower girl; I had just recovered from the Chicken Pox and was feel better for the first time in weeks. I wanted to stand next to Lisa during the vows. My brother Paul yanked me away, and I screeched.

Apparently I also stood on my head during the reception.

Age 4: I remember this scene —

My teenage brothers are babysitting me. They are throwing a football in the house, and swearing for fun. I ask them what the word “fuck” means.

They freak out and tell me never, ever to use that word, ever.

I close myself in a closet so that I can practice saying the work “fuck.”

I then get stuck inside the closet and scream until my brothers release me.