EssayOnChildhoodMemories
Unexpectedactionsarecommonamonganyone'slifetime.Someoftheseactionscanbepleasant, calming,andmayoftenbringjoy.Someofwhichcanbethreateninganddangeroustoyou;even dangerousenoughtopointwhereyouhaveaconstantreminderofiteverymomentofyourlife Manyoftheseactionscanbecausedbyadults.Theseactionscanimpactustremendouslyespecially duringourchildhood.Ourchildhoodisthemostimportantpartofourlives.Ithelpsmoldand createdtobethepeoplewearetoday.Ourchildhoodcontainourmostpreciousmoneystothetime wewereborn,thetimewelearnedtowalk,andthetimethatwelearnedtoread.Childhood memoriescanhavealifelongimpactSomeofmuchchangealifeforeverDuringmyshowmore content...
Acouplehourslater,thedoctorcameintotheroomandlookedintomyeyestoexamineme.He lookedatmeandpanickedNoonetoldmewhatwasgoingonandtheyimmediatelysentmeto surgery.Whenthenurseswererushingthroughtheplaces,Isawflashesofmylife.Allmy childhoodmemoriesandmyfuturememoriesIsawbeforemyeyes.Somethingdidn'tfellrightat all.IwasextremelyfrightenedtopintIfeltlikeIwasgettinghauntedbyFreddyKruger.Finallywe gotintotheoperatingroomandthedoctorimmediatelystuckaneedleintomyback.Myparents wererighttherebymysideIfeltatpeacebecausetheyhaveneverdonethisformebeforeIfelt special.Afterabout15minutes,thedoctorcouldnotdothesurgerybecauseforsomeunknown, strangereasonitwouldn'twork.AtthismomentIdidnotknowwhattheyweregoingtowithmom. Whentheytookmeinbackinmyhospitalroom,Iliedthereinbedjustsimplyhopeless.Ididnot whatwasgoingtohappennext.IfeltlikeEeyorejusthopeless.Itwas3amearlymorningona MondayIheardthedoctorcameintotheroomHehadtoldmyparentsthatIhaveararedisease called"pseudotumorcerebri".Pseudotumorcerebriisaconditionthatoccurswhenpressureinside theskullincreasesfornoobviousreason.Whentheyheardthisnews,Iliterallyheardtheirhearts droptothegroundThedoctorwantedtodothesurgeryagainbutIfeltmyparentsfearbecauseone suddenmoveandI
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MyearliestchildhoodmemoryisofthefirsttimeImetmymotherinpersonwhenIwasfour.A beautifulwomanwhosepersonalityseemedtoglowfromher.Ihadseenapictureofherbeforethen IwastoldbyMummyDada,myaunt,soIknewheronsight.ThewomanIsawwalkintheroomas Iwatchedfrommygrandfather'slapseemedeffervescent.Shefloatedfrompersontopersonatthe familyreunionlikeanangelMymotherisoneofthirteenchildrenmygrandpahasMybrother cousinwantedtoplaytagbutmygrandfatherwantedmetostayput.Letmeclarify,theterm "brothercousin"istodescribemycousinthatIhadthoughtwasmybrotherbecausewewereraised asbrotherandsisterIwasconflictedastowhatIshoulddobuteventuallyIchoosetostayputfora littlewhile.WithinafewminutesIcouldn'thelpmyself,Ihoppedoffgrandpa'slapandwenttoplay tag.Itwasmyfavoritegametoplay,Ijustknewitwas.WhenitwasmyturntogivechaseIran aroundinanunladylikemannertryingtocatchoneofmybrothercousins.Theywerealwaystoo fastandoutofreach.Ididn'tevenattempttocatchanyofmyoldercousinsbecauseIthoughtthat theywouldbetoofastformetocatchBesides,IwasonlyusedtoplayingwiththeboysIranso fastinmyshinywhitepatentleathershoesthatImissedcatchingmytwinbrothercousin,Jerry.The term"twinbrothercousin"referstothe"brothercousin"whohadthesamebirthdayasIdid.The smoothbottomsofmy
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Weeachhavememories,bothfromlongagoandrecenttimes,thatweholddeartous.Memoriesget usthroughtheharddaysandkeepuschipperinthegoodones.Thepastiswhatmakesuswhowe are.Itshapeshowweact,howwetreatothers,andsimplyjustwhatwedoonadaytodaybasis. Memoriesarethelittlethingsthatkeepthisworldrunningsmoothly.Imaginewhatitwouldbelike tolosethosememoriesWhatifyouweretoforgetthingstothepointyouwerelosingyour functionality?Every67secondsanotherpersonintheUSfallsvictimtothisdisease(www.alz.org). Theymayrememberchildhoodmemories,butforgotwheretheyputthecheesetheybought yesterdayAsthediseasegetsworseandworse,theymaywanderandevenforgetpeopletheycare deeplyaboutandthosetheyinteractwithdaily.Whoarethesepeople,andwhatisthe"it"theyare sufferingfrom?ThesearepeoplesufferingfromAlzheimersDisease,affecting5millionindividuals intheUnitedStatesalone.AlzheimersDiseaseisatypeofdementia,amoregeneraltermmeaninga declineinsomeone'smentalability,tothepointofaffectingtheireverydaylife.Alzheimersis actuallythemostcommonform,afflictingabout80%ofdementiapatientsTherearetreatmentsand medicationsavailabletohelppatientswithsymptomsandslowitsprogressthroughthebrain,but sciencehasnotyetfoundawaytocompletelystopit,orevenslowitsignificantlyformanypatients. Aspatientscontinue
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ChildhoodMemoriesDadsaid,"We'regoingforarideonthebus.""Ridetowhere,"Ithought excitedly.Irememberwaitinginthebusstation;peoplegoingabouttheirbusiness.Thebuswegot onwashuge,withroomforatleastahundredpeople,withplentyofroom.Itwasacold,windy evening.IsatatthefrontsoIcouldseeoutofthewindow.Brightlightswereheadingtowardsus.It seemedasthoughwehadbeentravellingforhoursThebusstoppedafewtimestopickpeopleup, ontheway.Amangotonandsatdownneartous."Hello,young'un,"hesaid.Iwastoofrightened toanswer;hewastallandworeaflatcapandanovercoat.Dadsaid,"Don'tworryson,thisisyour uncleshowmorecontent
"Comeon,I'llshowyoutoyourroom,"shesaid.Iwassoexcited.Dadpickedupthesuitcaseand followedNana.Ifollowedcloselybehind,marchingupthenever–endingstairsthatseemedtogoon forever."Youcansleepinhere,"saidNana.Theroomwashuge.Ithadthreesinglebeds."I'veput theelectricblanketsonforyou,yourbedswillbeniceandwarmwhenyougetinthemtonight." "Electricblanket,"Ithoughttomyself"We'veonlygothotwaterbottlesathome"Wewentintothe kitchenwhereNanahadmadeussomesupper.Thekitchenwashuge.Myeyes,wanderedaround.I noticedthatthereweresometinsonthetopshelf.Buttheyweresotall."Whyarethetinssobig?"I askedmyDad,Hereplied."Theyarefullofpowder,youmixitwithwatertomakesoup.""Yuk powderedsoup,howdisgusting."AsthenightworeonmyNanasaid,"I'mofftobed,I'llseeyouin themorning"WesaidgoodnighttomyNanaandoffshewentSheopenedthelivingroomdoorto gouptobed.Butinsteadofgoingupstairssheopenedthedoorbeneaththestairsandwentin,she musthavegoneunderthestairstolookforsomethingbeforeshewenttobed,butdidn'tcomeout. That'sstrange,whatcouldbesofascinatingintherethatshedidn'tcomebackoutDadsaid,"Come onsonwe'll ...Getmorecontent...
Childhoodisthemostinnocentphaseofman'slife.Withthepassageoftime,itfadesinto adolescenceandadulthood.Yetthesweetmemoriesofchildhoodlingeron.Mychildhood recollectionsarethoseofashelteredandcarefreelife,nurturedwithloveandconcern.AsIwasthe firstchildinthefamily,everybodydotedonme.
Myfunnylisping,myinnocentmischiefandmyinanetalk–everythingwasasourceofimmense pleasuretothem.Therewasneverawordofreproachorcensureagainstme.Onceadistantuncle pickedmeupfrommyschooland,withoutinformingmyparents,tookmetoafairWhenIreturned home,itwasquitelate.Ifoundeverybodyworried,anxiousandapprehensiveaboutmysafety.A franticsearchformehadshowmorecontent
Asonegrowsup,onefeelsmoreandmoreattachedwithhischildhood,thebestperiodofaman's life.Achildhasnoworries,anxietiesorworries.Heisfreefromthedirtyandfilthynoiseofworldly tensionsSameisthecasewithmeWhenIrecollectthedaysofmychildhood,Ifeelverymuch delighted;itwasapleasantperiodthatIspentinhighspirits.
CHILDHOODMEMORIES
mychildhood,IwascarefreeandhadnoworriesatallIusedtowanderlikeadeerintheopen fields,enjoyingthenaturalbeautyinthepastures.Therearecertainincidentsthatarestillfreshinmy memory.Onceajugglerwithtwomonkeyscametoourstreet.Heshowedmonkey'strickswhich engagedourattentionThemonkeyfellinlovewiththeshe–monkeyShe–monkeyrefusedtomarry thehe–monkey.He–monkeywenttohisfatherinlaw'shouseafterwearingcolorfuldress.These werethepranksthatattractedme.Ifullyappreciatedthetricksshownbythejuggler.Another incident,whichIstillremember,istheswimmingexperience.ItwasaSundaywhenI,alongwith myfriends,wentforapicnictoOkhla.Someboyswereexpertswimmersbutunluckily,Ididnot knowhowtoswimMyfriendsdivedintotheriverandcompelledmetodothesameSoon,Iwas caughtbythecurrentofwaterandwascarriedawayswiftly.Therewaseverypossibilityofmy losinglifebutduetothevalourofoneofmyfriends,Iwasrescuedfromthe
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MyearliestmemoryIrememberasachildisaroundtheageoftwoyearsold.MyMotherwouldput meintheplaypenbutIrefusedtostay.Iwasabletoclimboutofit.IrememberedmyMother'sface expressionthatletmeknowthatIbetternotclimboutoftheplaypenagain.Thiswasoneofmy earliestmemoriesofhersettingherboundaries.WhenIgotolder,myMothertoldmeaboutthe situationSheneededtocleanand/orcooksoshehadtoputmeintheplaypenAttheageoftwo yearsold,Ijustwantedtoexploreanddidn'twanttostayintheplaypen.Thissetthetonebetween usmovingforward.
Duringmyearlychildhood,Ihadbothofmyparentsandgrewupwiththreeothersiblingsfroma differentFather.BothofmyparentswereborninBelizeinCentralAmerica.IwasborninNew York.Theyinstilledmanythoughts,ideasandtraditionsoftheBelizeanculture.Mymotherhadan authoritarianstyleofparentingmeanwhilemyFatherhadanauthoritativestyleofparenting. Lookingbackatit,itmadesensebecauseIwasclosertomyFatherthanmyMother.MyMother wastheonetoalwayssaying"No"toeverythingandmyFatherwassternbutwehadagreat relationship.MyFatherandIusedtohaveourFather–Daughterdaysthatwewouldgoout.We wouldtalkaboutavarietyoftopicsthatIwantedtotalkabout.Iwasabletobeopenwithmy Father.Hechallengedmetothinkwithourdeepconversationsaboutlifeandhisexpectationshe hadforme.Ilovedthetime
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Backintheday,whenIrememberofmebeingachildanditwasoneofthebestmomentIcould thinkofmychildhoodthathappenedinthesummer,wheregoodtimestartitandnottoofaroffthat itsounditlikethatweplayedinthewaterandwefiguredsinceitisabithotoutsideiwasgoingto sixflagsandhavingsomefunwithourfamilyandfriendhavinganenjoyabletime.FewthingsI wouldsayaboutmychildhoodwasalsothesummertime,whenthesunwashittingmybodymy momusedtoworryaboutmealotsoIwouldnotgetdarksoshewouldtellmetoputsunscreenon allthetimeevenonmyfaceandinfrontofmyfriendsbutbackwhenIwaslittleIdidnotgetwhat orwhyshewassayingthatbutnowIgetitonwhySometimewhenIdidn'tweartheslippersmy feetwouldburnlikeIwaswalkinginafriedpanbutIweretojustwalkingrasswithmywetfeet andthenafewsecondslatersamethinghappensagainsoitwasnotpointofwalkinginthegrassbut Istillwalked.Iclosedmyeyesonetimebecausemymomusedtosurprisemewithfriendscoming over,goingtoswimmingandhavingapicnicandplayingwiththeparkdogs,itwouldbesomuch funbutwehadthiscurfewtimetogetbackhomeandtheonlyannoyingthingwasthebugsand beesaroundusthatwerebitingoutskinsoffandmakingusscratchandthedirtweuseinorthemud thatweusetomakesandcastlesoutofatthebeach.ItriedtolookupandseeifIwouldbegetting someshadeanytime
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MostlythethingsIrememberaboutbeingsixhadtodowithsimplesuburbanlife:thedriveway,the frontyard,thefielddownthesideyard,thewoodsbehindthehouse.MybrothersandIwerealways told"gooutsideandplay,"andwedid.Webiked,trikedandscootedupanddownthedriveway. Thentherewasabasketballtobounce.Lotsandlotsofrunningaroundandaversionoftaginthe backyardwecalled"monster"MyworldwasprettyclearandcontainedBrotherstokeepupwith, yellowdandelionsalongattheendofthedriveway,thefieldfullofprickerbushes,milkweedpods, uglysumactreeshere,agroveofpinetreesinthewoodsnearthecreek.AllIrememberwasplay, exceptforchurchonSundaysExceptfortimesIremembershowmorecontent Insteadofanorgan,wehadarockbandwithadrumset.Ourhymnalwascalled"HymnsHotand CarolsCool."Potluckdinneralwaysincludedlumpycasserolesmadewithtexturedvegetable protein.Eventuallymenstartedshowinguptochurchwithgo–teesandponytails.Ourswasahippy church.
AndIguesstheEasterIgotarrestedwassomekindofhippy–churchfield–tripItwasEaster weekend1965,Ithink.TocelebrateGoodFriday,thedayChristiansrememberJesus'scrucifixion, mydadhadcollaboratedwithsomeoftheblackchurchesinthe"innercity"todrivearoundMonroe countyandpray.There'sanoldCatholictraditionofpraying"thestationsofthecross"to commemorateJesus'scondemnation,hiswalkofshametothehillofGolgothaandhisgettingnailed tothecross,andhislastwordsCatholicsprayinchurchWehippyprotestants,itturnedoutwould gathertogether,black/white,old/young,city–folkandsuburb–folkandwanderaroundthecounty pickingplacesofinequality,poverty,andinjusticetoprayupon.
DRAFTEssay#6familystory
Hughes2
ItallstartedearlyFridaymorning.WewhitePresbyterianstookouryellowbusdowntowntomeeta churchfullofblackBaptistsandthereyellowbus,wemixedeverybodyupandthenwestartedthe prayer–a–thon.Asmyfathertellsit,weprayedforfairwagesataplasticsfactory,forcleanairand wateratawastedump,forbetterschoolsatacrummylookinghighschoolontheeastside
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Rememberingthedetailsofeverythingthathappenedinsomeone'slifeisdifficult,especiallywhen thememoryisfromtheperson'schildhood.Ifthechildwasunderthreeyearsoldthentheywill havechildamnesiaalsoknownasinfantileamnesia.Converselyattheagefouryearsoldand youngerthechildrenwillnotbeabletoholdthememories,makingallofthemforgotten.Jimhas justlearnedthathismemoryofhisparentswinningthelotterywaswrong,andtherearemany differentreasonsastowhyhisperceptionofthememoryiswrong.ForJim,hecouldhavebeen undertheageoffourwhenhisparentswonthelottery,thereforehecanonlymakeuphisownstory ofhowhisparentsreactedwhenheisolderinagetoperceiveasanshowmorecontent Ifhewaswearinghisfavoriteredtennisshoesandthenlooksathistennisshoesnow,thismaycuea memoryofthedayhisparentswonthelotterywhenhewaswearingtheshoes.Acertainitemor phraseswithhelpcluepartsofmemoriesontoberemembered.Thiscouldaffectothersmentallyif theyhavetwodifferentmentalstates.Resultinginunfortunateeventsifthepersonhadmultiple personalitydisorderthentheywillnotrememberanythingfromonestateofmindfromanotherThe onlywaytheywillbeabletorememberisiftheyreachintothepreviousstateofmind.
However,Jimcouldhaverememberedwrongbybothofhisparentstellinghimthestoryaboutthat dayseparately.Bothhisparentscouldhavetwistedthestoryslightly,makingroomforJimthefillin thegapsinhisownway.Thiscreatessourcemonitoringconfusion;whensomeonetellsastoryina misleadingwayIfhismotherdescribedcomingbackfromthechurchbeforefindingoutabout winningthelottery,Jimcouldassumehewaswearingformalclothes.Inanotherway,hisfather couldhavesaidthattheywerecomingbackfromlunch,whichhappenedtobeafterchurchandhis fathermaynothavesaidanythingaboutthechurchbeforelunchTherefore,Jimwascomingback fromeating,thenhecouldrefertohisclothingascasualwear.Manywayspeopledescribethestory theinterpretercaninferthestoryindifferentways. Nevertheless,whenpeopletell
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Itisobviousthatourchildhoodmemoriesarenotaccidental.Whenyouareachildeveryscent, everysound,everymove,everytoy,thefirstdayofschool,thefirstkiss,thefirststep.Everything togethermakeswhatisthepersonalityofaman.Allthesearepiecesofonewholeentity.My childhoodwasfilledwithmemoriesfilledwithemotionandmeaning.ButwhichofthememoriesI haveisthebrightestandmostemotionalforme?Ithenrealizedthatthebestchildhoodmemory doesnotalwayshavetobethebesttimeofyourlife.Itshouldbethemomentthataffectedand madeyouthepersonthatyouaretoday.IquicklylepttoatimewhenIwastooyoungandinnocent tounderstandmuchabouttheworld,IthoughtthatIwouldliveshowmorecontent MyparentsseemedmoreemotionalthanIcouldhaveimagined.IwastoldthatIwashitbyalarge pieceofmetal,mostlikelytheedgeofastair,andpassedoutoncontact.Thedrivetothehospital wasquickandhalfwaytherewegotapoliceescorttospeeduptheprocess.Iguesstheschoolwas takingnochancesofgettingblamed.OncewereachedthehospitalIwasputinabedandstrapped downheavilyIwasgivenadinosaurtoytosqueezeifIfeltanypressureandIstillhaveittothis day.InallIgot20stitchesontheinsideand20ontheoutside,andthescarisstillvisible.Butthe partofthisstorythattrulyleftitsmarkonmylifeisthefactthatthoselawyersreactedsoquickly withoutanybodytellingthemabouttheincident.Itstunnedmeforyearsastohowtheyfoundout aboutmyconditionandwhytheywantedtotalktomyparents.Iknowseethattheyhavenumerous sourcesweremainlylookingintheirowninterestForweeksaftermysurgery,myfamilygot dozensofphonecallsbeggingforustosuetheschool,butmyparentskeptrefusing.Sincethis experience,Ihavealwayswantedtobealawyer.Iseethisprofessionasawaytohelpthe communitywhilealsocontinuouslychallengingmyselfandmakingapositiveimpactontheworld welivein.IfIhadatimemachine,Iprobablywouldnotstopmyselffromfallingthatday,because itisthatscarthatservesasaconstantreminderofagoalthatIsomeday
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Itisobviousthatallofourchildhoodmemoriesarenotaccidental.Whenyouareachildevery scent,everysound,everymove,everytoy,thefirstdayofschool,thefirstkiss,thefirststep. Everythingtogethermakeswhatisthepersonalityofaman.Allthesearepiecesofonewholeentity.
IwassittingandthinkingwhichofthememoriesIhaveisthebrightestandmostemotionalformeis itthedaywhenIstayedhomealoneforthefirsttime?IsitthedaywhenIwassodisappointedwith theChristmasgiftIgot?OrmaybewhenIbrokegrandma'sfavouritevaseandputitbacktogether withglue?Iwasthinkingaboutgoodmemoriesandbadmemoriesmomentsoftearsandmoments ofinnocentjoy.FromonememorytoanothermyheartstartedtofeelstrangeandIfeltreally strangelikeIwasinacompletelyanotherdimensionwhichexistsonlyinmyhead.Andthen BANG!IgotitsoclearthatIstartedshivering.
Iwasabout6yearsoldMymum'sbestfriendlefttoanothertownandaskedmymumtostayather placewithmefortwodaysinordertolookafterhertwosons.OnewasalittleolderthanIwas,and thesecondboyappearedtobesupergrownupforhewasalreadyfourteen.Ialwaysenjoyedstaying attheirplacebecausetheyhadlotsoftoys,alotofspaceandvideogames,everythingachildneeds tofreethemostsinceresmile.Iremembertheseconddayweweresupposedtohavethewelcome backpartyformymum'sfriendathereplace
Iwokeup,mumwent
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I'veoftenwonderedifmyearliestchildhoodmemoriesreallyhappenedasIrememberedthemor havetheybeentaintedbythetellingandretellingofstoriesbymyparentsandgrandparents. Someoneseemstoalwaysclaim,"IcanrememberwhenIwasinthenursery."Nottobeoutdone, someoneelsegoesonebetter,"IrememberwhenIwasborn."Really?Canonerememberthose earlyeventsoraretheyfigmentsoftheirimaginationI'mspeakingoftheaverageJoeorJane,not thosewhopossessspecialmental"gifts"thattheaveragepersonisn'tblessedwith.Takemefor instanceastheaverageJoe,theaverageJack,actually.
OneofmyearliestmemorieswasridingmynewtricycleintotheChristmastreeIvividlyremember thetree...showmorecontent...
Here'sanotherexample:Asthe"story"goes,IinsertedoneofMom'smetalbobbypinsintoan electricalplugandblewthe"wholebuilding'scircuit."Atthetime,welivedinarowoftwo–story apartments,maybesixoreighttoarow.SoundsplausiblebutevenIdon'tbelievemymemoriesof thisstoryanymoreIdoubtthattheentirebuildingwasfedoffasinglecircuit,butitwaspost–WWII,cheaphousing,soanything'spossible.
I'msure,however,thatIdidputabobbypininawallplug,receivedanastyshock,andlikelyblew thatparticularcircuit,butthe"wholebuilding?"Ican'tbuythat"embellishment"anymore.I'mglad thestorywasn'tretoldtoomanymoretimes–IwouldhavecausedablackoutofthewholeNiagara Fallspowergrid
Mytruerecollectionsoftheincidentaresketchyatbest–afewsparks,ajoltofelectricity,andpain. Therestoftheeventsandthecommotionthatfollowedwerenotmymemoriesbutthoseofthe storytellersimprintedonmecreatingacohesivememoryofmyfirstencounterwithelectricityI wasabout30monthsoldwhenIdiscoveredthepowerandloveofelectricity.
Here'sanearlyeventthatIalwayssworeisatruememory,butnowdecadeslater,Iwonderhow muchistrulymineandhowmuchismyDad'stellingofthestory.Hewasagreatstoryteller,andI heardhisretellingofthisstoryoften.Dad's
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ChildhoodmemoriescanhavealifelastingimpactoneveryAmericaninsociety.Thesememories aretheonesthathelpustobecomeabetteradultlaterinlife.Preciousmemoriesfrommychildhood areessentialtothepersonIamtodayduetothelifelessonsIwastaught,whileIwasgrowingupas akid.Christmas,acelebrationofjoyinDecember,isaholidaythatholdsvariouschildhood memoriesAlthoughchildhoodmemoriescreatedthroughthecelebrationsofChristmasvaryfor eachfamily.
OnChristmasEve,everyyearmymomhasaboxthatshewrapsup.Insidethatboxtherearealways pajamastoweartobedbeforewehitthedayofChristmasWhilemysiblingsandIareupstairsina room,BrittanyandStephanie(mycousins)startedmakingcluesup,tohaveusfindwherethe hiddenboxis.Thereisroughlytenclues,theyhaveusgoinginandoutofthehousejusttofindthe box.Whenwefoundthebox,wedidallsortsofcheerstocelebrate.Thepajamasthatwasinthebox hadasmelllikepumpkinspice,ithadawonderfulsmell.Thenightwasgettinglateanditwastime togetsomesleepbeforethenextdayarrivedWhenmycousinsleft,myparentsgavemysiblings andIpermissiontoopenoneothergiftbeforewewenttobed.Onewaywedeterminedwhogotto pickthegiftfirstwaswhoeverfoundtheChristmaspicklewhichwashiddenintheChristmastree. Wehadtorepeatitthreedifferenttimessoitwouldbefairfortherestofus.Oncewehadopened ourlast
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WhenIwasayoungchildIwouldlovetohearmyparentstellmethatweweregoingonatrip.I wouldbefullofexcitement,becauseIknewthatwewouldbegoingtoaplacethatIhadneverseen before.Myparents,mybrother,andIwouldpackourluggageandventureoutinoursmallgray minivan.ThreeofmymostcherishedmemoriesinourminivanarewhenwewenttoDisneyWorld, thebeach,andthemountains
WhenIheardmyparentstalkingaboutgoingtoDisneyWorldIwassoexcited.Itwasalongtrip downtoFloridaandIcouldnotsitstill,becauseIwassoexcitedWefinallyarrivedthatevening anddecidedtostayinahotelnearthethemepark.WhenitwastimeforbedIcouldnotgotosleep foralongtime,becauseIshowmorecontent
Goingtothebeachwasnothinglikegoingtothelakeorswimmingpool.Theoceanhadlargewaves thatwouldcomecrashingintothebeach.Iwassosmallthatthewaveswouldjustthrowmearound. Ialsogottowalkdownthebeachandfinddifferentobjectsthatthewaveshadwasheduponshore Ifoundseashellsthathadbrilliantcolorsliketherainbow.Ievenfoundacreaturethatlookedlike pinkjelly.Ipickedthecreatureupwithastickandtookittoshowmydad.Mydadtoldmethatit wasajellyfishthatcouldstingme,sohemademeburyitinthesand.Isawanothercreaturethat wasglidinginshallowwater.Itwasdarkbrownwithalongtailandlookedlikeithadwings.Itwas ahorriblelookingcreaturethatIhadneverseenbeforeMydadcamedowntothewatertoseewhat Iwaslookingat.Hetoldmethattheywerecalledskates,andtheywouldnothurtme.Thatwasthe firsttimeIsawsomethinglivingintheoceanbesidesafish.Mydadthenshowedmethattherewere littlecreaturescalled,sandfiddlers,whichwouldwashupwhenthewavescrashedintotheshore Wesatdownonthesandsohecouldshowmehowtocatchthem.Thesandfiddlerswoulddig downinthesandfastaslightning,sowehadtodigforthemfastaswecould.WhenIcaughtoneit feltlikeitwastryingtodigintoyourhandwithwhatseemedlikeamillionlegs.Afteraboutfour hoursIwasexhaustedandstarving.I
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