It was the summer between the fourth and fifth grade. I was nine years old, soon to be 10 – a milestone in my mind, of course, an age in double digits!
As usual my father was away flying, but unlike in years to come, he was in various parts of the US and Canada – hence my mother could jump on a plane and spend a few days with him. I accompanied her a couple of times, but more often stayed at home – which was fine, there was lots to do.