I have always been fascinated by science and scientific toys. Luckily, my parents felt it important to always feed that fascination. I remember one year, one of my main requests for a Christmas or birthday present was petri dishes filled with agar agar. My parents had signed me up to get a science kit each month for a year. Each month had a different scientific theme. The first kit taught me how to build an alcohol lamp from a baby food jar. Using this heat source, I then learned how to heat glass tubing and make pipettes and to make other scientific tools to do my experiments. I made invisible ink, and other fun recipes. This one month was on micro-organisms and I needed the agar agar to grow bacteria cultures. My parents had no idea what agar agar was, but they searched the stores of Stockton and found a scientific supply store that carried it. They were pleased that I was so excited to receive agar agar as a gift, even though they had no idea what it was.
One year, I received a crystal radio set. I had to put it together, which included using a soldering iron. My dad helped me string a wire across the roof for an antenna. There was no amplifier, so I listened to the radio with a set of headphones. I could pick up a Texas radio station at night. I would fall asleep with my headphones on, listening to Marty Robbins singing about his gal in El Paso.
The experience of putting together that crystal radio set gave me the confidence later on to build a radio receiver from a Heathkit. I really appreciate that my parents saw my interest in science and helped feed me great scientific experiences.
Swagerty-Aldrich Family Web Site 