by Elliott Shem-Tov

Created on: March 30, 2009   Last Updated: March 31, 2009

I believe there is a certain magic associated with Childhood. I often find my mind wandering and recalling my childhood moments. Some of those moments were great and some were not so great. Often it could be a smell, a song, a tv show, a certain food, a commercial, or just a dream that makes me recall those past moments.

I think what I often miss is my family members that have passed. I can not help but think about my uncle Bernie, my great grandfather papa, my cousin Mitch, my grandfather Frank(who I called grandpa) and of course my most favorite, my grandmother who I called "Grandma". These relatives are long gone and I miss them more than you could believe. I actually miss them so much that I wish I could go back in time just for a day to see them all.

I often fantasize about going back in time to the age of 14 and reliving my life with some knowledge of what I know now. In a way, I almost miss that point in my life. Although I have a great career and a beautiful home, I still would trade it all in to go back to the tender age of 14 and relive life again. My family has become so much smaller over the last 20 years due to many deaths.

I will never forget the times when I was about 6 or 7 years old and my mother would pick me up from school. We would go to McDonalds or Hardy's for a hamburger and then either go to the drug store or Toys R' Us for a small 2 dollar toy that I loved so much. It was kind of a reward for me being good, plus I was an only child and was somewhat spoiled. Afterwards, I would come home and take a nap.

I also will never forget spending weeks at a time at my grandmothers house in the summer. My grandma lived in New Brunswick NJ. I loved going to my grandma's house. On the same street as my grandma was my aunt Sylvia, Uncle Bernie, and cousin Mitchell. They were about 12 houses down from my grandma. I would always keep busy. There were so many kids in the neighborhood that I knew and played with. As a matter of fact, my grade school was on the same street as my grandma and aunt. Our family spent so many holiday's and stop overs and dinners at my grandma's and aunts house. All these relatives are gone now and I can't tell you how much I miss them.

I am a young man at the age of 36 and most of them passed when I was in my teens. Too too early for them to leave. I think this is the reason why I fantasize about going back in time so often. I do not believe I had enough time with them on this planet. Hopefully they will be waiting in the afterlife, but, I have a lot of living in this lifetime to do, so, they are going to have to wait a little bit longer.

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