Childhood Memories

I was able to think of several sayings, chants, and a prayer that was recited many times when I was a young girl.

See a penny, pick it up; all day long you’ll have good luck
This saying is still popular today. I remember that not only was it good luck to find the penny, but if it was found with heads up then it was double the good luck.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me
Oh boy do I remember saying this. I remember saying it and feeling powerful. Obviously words do hurt children and adults, but I always felt that if I screamed this chant the hurt would go away, and I swear sometimes it worked.

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen
This was our family mealtime prayer.

Star Light Star bright,
The first star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.
If I saw a shooting star, and recited this poem, I was sure that my wish would come true. I remember looking at the sky many times and reciting it. What a magical experience is was to see a shooting star and believe that my wish was going to come true.

He love me, he loves me not
I think I was still doing this one in high school (hahahahaha). I would pull the pedals from a flower and when the last pedal was pulled I either ended up finding out if the boy loved me or didn't. I recall the more pedals I pulled the louder my voice would get, and if it ended up that he loved me I would skip around the yard excitedly.

Step on a crack, break your mother’s back.
Step on a line break your mother’s spine.
This was another common chant when I was in elementary school. In fact, I remember every walk I took I tried to avoid the cracks.