PROMPT: Bring in a photograph of you, your family, your friends and write about that day. What happened before the photo was taken, while it was being taken, and after it was taken? Describe the people, place, emotions of the moment/day.
The photograph I brought in is from Christmas 1998. Most everybody who was there that Christmas is in the picture. We were in my grandparents Gardner house, which they had for many years, where we celebrated every Christmas. I’m sitting on the couch, around six years old, on Uncle Donny’s lap. My brother Paul, who was nine at the time, is next to us. Then there’s Aunt Jen, next to Uncle Tom, upon whose lap is Aunt Janet. Sitting on chairs behind the couch is my sister Caitlin on Grandma’s lap, and next to them is Uncle Buzz. Lastly, there’s Uncle Bill and Papa. The only person not in the picture is my mom, who I believe was taking the picture.
The Gardner house was always one of my favorite places in the world. For me it represented family, warmth, and fun. There was always something to do and there was always someone to do it with. When my grandparents sold it a couple of years ago, I was devastated. My plan is to grow up and buy that house.
This Christmas was one of the last few before all my cousins started popping out. The only kids were Paul, Caitlin, and me. We always got to stay up late with everyone, playing games and having fun. No one had to go to bed early or put their kids to bed, and we could play games without any interruption, which is usually what happens now that I have nine cousins all under the age of eight. That Christmas was one of the best that I can remember.
That day had been a really fun day. We had the picture-perfect White Christmas, and since the house was situated right next to a huge hill, the majority of us had been out sledding all day. That year, as everyone’s gift, my mom had made fleece hats for each person. In the picture we’re all in sweatpants and sweatshirts, wearing those hats. We were having fun, and the only people actually looking at the camera are me, Donny, Jen, Tom, and Bill. We’re all smiling. Not looking is Janet, whose head is turned to look at Paul, who has his hat flopped over the front of his face. Grandma is talking to Buzz in the back, and Caitlin is looking at both of them. I’m not really sure what Papa is looking at, but it’s definitely not the camera.
I’m pretty sure that after this picture was taken, most of us went out sledding again. I’m pretty sure this was the night that my uncles convinced my mom to go sledding, which she never did, calling “Higher! Higher! We’ll catch you!” That was the night that they didn’t catch her, and she and the tube flew right over the mound of snow at the edge of the road created by the plow. She hit her head, nothing too major, but she became adamant about never sledding again. That was the night we mention nearly every Christmas now, longing for snow, the Gardner house, the fun we had. Not that it isn’t fun now, but it was so much better then.
The photograph I brought in is from Christmas 1998. Most everybody who was there that Christmas is in the picture. We were in my grandparents Gardner house, which they had for many years, where we celebrated every Christmas. I’m sitting on the couch, around six years old, on Uncle Donny’s lap. My brother Paul, who was nine at the time, is next to us. Then there’s Aunt Jen, next to Uncle Tom, upon whose lap is Aunt Janet. Sitting on chairs behind the couch is my sister Caitlin on Grandma’s lap, and next to them is Uncle Buzz. Lastly, there’s Uncle Bill and Papa. The only person not in the picture is my mom, who I believe was taking the picture.
The Gardner house was always one of my favorite places in the world. For me it represented family, warmth, and fun. There was always something to do and there was always someone to do it with. When my grandparents sold it a couple of years ago, I was devastated. My plan is to grow up and buy that house.
This Christmas was one of the last few before all my cousins started popping out. The only kids were Paul, Caitlin, and me. We always got to stay up late with everyone, playing games and having fun. No one had to go to bed early or put their kids to bed, and we could play games without any interruption, which is usually what happens now that I have nine cousins all under the age of eight. That Christmas was one of the best that I can remember.
That day had been a really fun day. We had the picture-perfect White Christmas, and since the house was situated right next to a huge hill, the majority of us had been out sledding all day. That year, as everyone’s gift, my mom had made fleece hats for each person. In the picture we’re all in sweatpants and sweatshirts, wearing those hats. We were having fun, and the only people actually looking at the camera are me, Donny, Jen, Tom, and Bill. We’re all smiling. Not looking is Janet, whose head is turned to look at Paul, who has his hat flopped over the front of his face. Grandma is talking to Buzz in the back, and Caitlin is looking at both of them. I’m not really sure what Papa is looking at, but it’s definitely not the camera.
I’m pretty sure that after this picture was taken, most of us went out sledding again. I’m pretty sure this was the night that my uncles convinced my mom to go sledding, which she never did, calling “Higher! Higher! We’ll catch you!” That was the night that they didn’t catch her, and she and the tube flew right over the mound of snow at the edge of the road created by the plow. She hit her head, nothing too major, but she became adamant about never sledding again. That was the night we mention nearly every Christmas now, longing for snow, the Gardner house, the fun we had. Not that it isn’t fun now, but it was so much better then.
