Childhood reflections with a touch of grace

Mickey Starling reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com In my previous column, there were a few references to the beloved merry-go-round, an apparatus known for creating plenty of nausea in the bellies of children everywhere. Since I couldn’t resist this abomination, I discovered a way to manage its effects on me. I rode in the center of it. Though I still felt lousy occasionally, at least I didn’t fall off. The center became my happy place. Summers gave me many opportunities to find multiple happy places, especially when food was involved. My dad shared my love of watermelons, which we would often partake of in our kitchen if my mother wasn’t home. She turned a strange color and uttered