week 20

I have some very faded, but wonderful memories from holidays that I've spent in California. I was born there, lived there for a few years (bay area), and then after we moved away to Washington, would return there by plane, or sometimes by awful 12 hour car ride, just about every year.


It was tradition for our family to have a huge Christmas Eve party. All of the aunts, uncles, cousins, everybody, would be in attendance. It would be hosted by a different relative each year. My favorite years, were when it was hosted at my Grams and Papa's house, since I knew it so well, but I still remember the peace and love felt even when in a unfamiliar location.

The tables would be filled with the same types of food every year. A meat and cheese platter, veggie platters (with so much dip you'd never be able to taste the actual vegetable), every kind of cracker ever made, there were always meatballs, nachos with at least a gallon of Costco bought cheese sauce, and those itty bitty little baby hot dogs that you can poke with a toothpick (you know the ones I'm talking about) in the most delicious sauce. Food, food, and more food. My family likes to eat.

Those are the strongest holiday memory. The parties, and the food.

Something else that I remember, in a blurry sort of excited way, is going and looking at Christmas lights with my Aunt Laurie (my Dad's sister). She would take me and my cousin down in her car, and I think we'd park it and walk along the street. I want to say that my parents might have come a time or two, but I don't remember any year specifically, other than the one photographed.

There was a particular street in Hayward that she took us to, where every house had lights and yard displays. I remember my cousin and I fighting earlier in the day, which we always did- being only 6 months apart in age, we were more like brother and sister, and my aunt threatening "I won't take you!", if we didn't drop it (so of course we listened). Somebody passed out mini candy canes that night, a neighborhood resident I think (?). It was the first time (that I remember at least), ever having a miniature one.

Lets just zoom in on the picture, shall we?


This photo brings to life every bit of recollection that I have from that night. It was the first time I had ever met my cousin's sister (she is the wee one waving, on the other side of the snow man). My cousin had an attitude, can you tell? Look at him, thinking hes all that. I hate to break it to you guy, but you're wearing a looney tunes shirt, sweat pants, and a Santa hat, haha! How cool can you be? And then theres me (ahem), wanting nothing more than to run and hide behind the giant cardboard statues that we were posing with. I hated having my picture taken, and I think I had refused to smile (most of that was due to my train wreck teeth that were later fixed, but not all the way, with some serious head gear), but of course let a smile slip out as soon as my aunt said "Oh smile Tia!". Its hard to refuse those words.

Wait.

Maybe we should zoom in a little bit more, to check out my awesome outfit.


...wow. Where should I start? I guess at the leggings.

When I was a kid, I didn't wear jeans. Ever. I didn't buy my first pair of jeans until I was in the 7th grade (really), and they were a size 20. My mom did everything to try to get me to wear them, but what she didn't understand was, there just wasn't a pair in the world that fit me right, which meant that zipping them up was more than just uncomfortable, it was painful. Enough about that, now how about that sweater that I've got on? I think that was actually my aunts sweater, that she had let me borrow for the occasion. I thought I looked hot. Did anybody else ever wear those thick puffy headbands? I must have had one in every color of the rainbow. I couldn't wear jeans, but by God I could wear headbands! And lets just leave the socks alone, ok? I don't feel like I need to explain why I'm wearing indigo on my feet, I think its pretty self explanatory, haha.

Buried underneath my insecurities though, are very happy memories of spending time with my aunt and cousin, surrounded by beautiful lights and decorations, celebrating peace and joy.

and I just have to say it again. Merry Christmas, everyone!

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Do you have a flashback that you'd like to share with us? Post an old photograph on your blog, website, flickr, facebook, twitter- wherever, and then post your link on the list below. Make sure to link back to this post, so that more people can join in on the fun! If you want to stick with this weeks theme (which isn't mandatory, you can post whatever you want), feel free to dig around in your picture box for something "Christmas decoration" related. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!