07/ 04/ 2012
The Fourth of July always makes me nostalgic and slightly homesick. In my mind, it represents child-like freedom. It was a day not like any other, where my family and I managed to do something unworldly.
Dad, usually the night before, brought home a massive package of fireworks. Its arrival prompted my older sister, three younger brothers and I to fight over whom would light the totally awesome “tank” that was always included in the package. Mom and dad appeased us, listening to our arguments, eventually concluding that dad would do the honors. It was, after all, the most fair.
Typically, July 4th is an unbearably hot and humid day in Florida, but that didn’t stop us from spending it outdoors—this felt like home. My parents organized a family cookout giving each of us a contributing task like folding napkins or setting out plates. Dad taught my brothers how to light up the grill while my sister, mom and I sliced-and-baked Pillsbury cookies bearing an image of Old Glory. We’d prepare salad, baked beans and open bags of chips while the guys grilled hamburgers, hot-dogs and veggie burgers.
04/ 09/ 2012
Even though I grew up in Central Florida my Southern roots run deep. I’m old fashioned and I’m ok with that. I think dudes should always make the first move, consistently pursuing the girl. One should always be polite saying “yes ma’am, no sir, please and thank you.” Doors should be held; diplomacy should be used when speaking and, in any event, be it celebratory or catastrophic, food should always be brought to the person directly affected by the situation. Just call me a modern day Scarlett O’Hara minus the self-righteousness and assertiveness.
My grandparents have highly influenced my Southern values. We lived in opposing states — me in Florida, them in Georgia. The little I remember of them from childhood is fragmented. My grandmother’s cooking, specifically a yellow cake with chocolate-butter-cream frosting studded with pecans, is permanently ingrained in my mind. She also had this Southern Belle doll collection, which as a little girl I loved, now I find them pretty creepy. I have recollections of my brother’s and I fishing with grandpa on his pontoon boat and me being so proud when I caught my very first fish. My siblings and I also took turns driving their golf-cart around with my dad—we thought this was just so cool. I also remember this funny refrigerator magnet. It was an oddly disfigured cutlery set: a spoon with holes large enough for food to slip through, a fork that looked like a descending staircase and an unserrated knife, making it impossible to cut anything. Grandma told me a friend bought it for her as a reminder to lose weight. I remember not completely understanding why a friend would do something so mean. Such funny memories.
02/ 14/ 2012
One of the perks of not having a normal job is getting to make your own schedule. With this comes the freedom to do other things and last week I got to take a trip back to FSU with my professor.
Oh yay, and we drove from NYC to Tallahassee, FL. I haven’t ridden in a car for that many hours (20 to be exact) since my last choir trip in high school. I thought it would be excruciatingly tedious. On the contrary, the many hours were spent talking, snacking, belting out Taylor Swift and reflecting.
Sometimes you have to go back so you can remember where you started, where you’ve been and where you’re going. When I walked through the doors of the dance building, I realized that this is where I grew up. So many memories popped into my head. That’s where I cried about not getting cast; here’s where I stood in ballet class; that’s the office where I defended my comp exams. Upon entering it’s doors I realized that this place, as taxing and intense as it could be, is what made me.
12/ 02/ 2011
I stayed in town for Thanksgiving this year and it surprisingly turned out to be one of my most memorable ones. Like thousands of suburban American children, I grew up watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. I can still see picture it. My mom would be slaving away in the kitchen, my dad would be outside smoking the turkey and us kids would gather around to see the show. What’s not to love? Macy’s has thought of everything to ensure that their viewers enjoy the event. On this past Turkey Day, I saw dancing pieces of bread and butter, giant bobble headed presidents, a pirate ship and sky scraping massive balloons. Seeing the parade on television does not do it justice!
Turkey Tom was incredible. Does anyone remember the show Reading Rainbow? In one episode, the host LeVar Burton took us behind the scenes, and we saw how Tom came to life. It was so nostalgic to see his head bobbing, his eyes blinking and his feathers beating. Then there were my favorite floating characters. Poor Snoopy, dressed in his Red Barron costume, looked under the weather. He was falling apart in places and had several patches, but he was still so charming. Hello Kitty was adorable. Surprisingly, Spider-man was the most impressive. He was a giant, spanning almost a block, and looked like he was crawling across the sky.
