The Mickey Mouse Watch

The kindergarten layout that Jay posted yesterday sparked a very vivid memory for me. We went to the same kindergarten but we went 3 years apart. Upon seeing Jay's class picture, my own kindergarten class picture filled my mind. I was then immediately transported back to my kindergarten graduation. I can remember it all so clearly. I know what I was wearing, I can see my parents in the audience and most of all I can remember the awful, sinking feeling in my stomach. I was so sad to be leaving Mrs. Coyle that I cried the whole way through. I'm sure most parents thought I was just upset because of the people. In reality, I was devastated to be leaving her. I can even remember Mrs Coyle whispering in my ear when she came over to give me a hug to make me feel better. I can remember Natalie and Amanda sitting beside me.

The thoughts of my kindergarten graduation and being so upset actually bring forth an even stronger and deeper memory for me. When I think of that day, I immediately picture the watch on my arm.

Before I go any further, there are two things you need to know about me 1) as a child I was obssessed with Mickey Mouse 2) I was extremely close with my grandparents and they were everything to me. I say were because they have since passed away - that's a story for another day.

Like I said, I loved Mickey Mouse as a child and I has always wanted a Mickey Mouse watch. I remember asking for one over and over again. Keep in mind this all take place when I was no more than 5 years old. I distinctly remember telling my grandfather how much I wanted a Mickey Mouse watch. One Saturday morning, he and my Nana came to town to visit. I was standing in the kitchen and Grampy said he had something for me. He handed me a watch and told me it was a Mickey Mouse watch. Looking back now, this watch was not pretty nor was it really a Mikey Mouse watch. It had a black strap, a white face with black numbers and a wide plastic rim around the face. But I was beside myself with glee. Grampy told me that it was a Mickey Mouse watch but that this kind didn't have a picture of Mickey on it. That was good enough for me. If my Grampy said it was a Mickey Mouse watch, I believed him whole- heartedly.

Fast forward to the morning of my kindergarten graduation, I remember begging my mom to wear the watch. It was huge on my wrist and certainly didn't match my blue dress. But I couldn't possibly go to my graduation without my Mickey Mouse watch. It was my most important possession I even remember fiddling with it during the ceremony and how heavy it was on my arm.

I no longer have the watch. I know it was thrown away when I was still small. The watch memory is one of my favourite memories. I called my mom earlier and asked her to take a look for one of my kindergarten photos so I can scrapbook this story. I wish I still had the watch.