Personal Narrative : A Special Gift

One day Grandpa Blakeslee bought Miss Love a record player, or graphophone. “He [Grandpa] had already bought her [Miss Love] a present, a Home Graphophone.” (Burns, 339). This was his way of showing how much he cared for Miss Love. Grandpa never bought anything for Miss Mattie Lou on her birthdays except a coconut and a crate of oranges every Christmas.

Walking away from everything you once knew and starting over is never a picnic. Leaving Iraq, and moving to America has impacted my life more than anything. I was only 4 years old at that time, and the only English I spoke was “excuse me, water please.” My family and I did not know it then, but our lives were going to change; we would become “Americanized”. Learning English was one of the massive changes that occurred, the way I dressed (culture), and even the way I had power to go to school and educate myself.

In 2011, Christine Allen opened Vintage937 with one goal in mind: To transform the idea that old and new do not mix. When you walk into their 10,000 square foot showroom, you will be amazed at the amount of quality items on display. If you need home accessories like candles, collectable plates, antique clocks, and more, you will soon realize that your choices are abundant. And if jewelry is what you’re after, then wait until you see their glittering display of necklaces,

So when I discovered Dolly Parton paper dolls by way of the Googles, I decided to return to my offbeat roots. Rather than supply D with more rhinestones, fringe, and cowgirl boots (she has plenty), I decided to gift her with a silent film star wardrobe.

Dolly Parton, discovered some old rags someplace, she requested for her mother to make a jacket out of it. When her mother finished the jacket Dolly was super thrilled and adored it extremely. When she was teased about it she kept wearing it. This will display that Dolly is thankful for the possessions she has .

In 2025, I will be twenty-nine years old and hopefully married. I will be married to my significant other of ten years Earnest Palmer III, who is a dentist. I would have been recently graduating with a bachelor’s in Culinary Arts and trying to plan to open my own restaurant, BubbaD’s Eateries. Knowing my big headed husband of mine, I probably had a baby then and trying to have another baby. Hopefully, by then Earnest will get rid of the idea naming our son, King. We will be living in the suburbs near New York City but working in the city. Being a woman with great memory, I probably wrote a memoir about my crazy life and trying to sell it to a publisher. If none of the publishers wants to publish my memoir, I will probably sell it the Lifetime

“She can have them, Mama; I can't remember Grandma Dee without the quilts.” (Walker 411). This quote shows Maggie's selflessness and her willingness to give away items of such significant value to her sister, whom she does not get along with. Her connection with memories and heritage goes beyond materials and comes from love and

Over my years of school, one big influence on me has always been sports. Ever since a young age, I have always enjoyed playing and watching sports. In my four years in high school, I have fell in love with the sport of lacrosse.

I woke up and took one bite out of my pop tart but that one bite was all I could eat. My legs were shaking, and my heart was pounding. My dad told me, “It is a true honor to even make it this far so go out there and have some fun.” Once I heard this statement, I knew I was ready to go. I arrived at school and boarded the bus. The car ride was an hour and fifteen minutes of hearing the squeaking of the wheel on the bus. My teammates were getting their heads ready for the big game.

So, I decided to look in the old photo albums that we have in the attic. The entrance is in my room, in my closet. I grabbed a flashlight, eased the door open and climbed up the stairs to the dank, dark, and dusty attic. I turned on my flashlight and looked around.

When a little kid gets a teddy bear, a toy train or a doll from a special time or a special someone, it can become a part of them. Some kids carry a teddy bear or doll until it is falling apart and missing eyes, but no matter what it looks like to others, it’s still beautiful to them. I have things that are important to me, because my Grandfather that passed away gave them to me. These are things that I keep as a memory and no matter how old they get or how old I get, they are always going to be special to me.

The portrait I chose from the museum is The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, 1882 by John Singer Sargent primarily because of the content of the portrait. As I was walking through the museum I noticed many different portraits but this one stuck out a lot because of how the girls in the picture are all in different areas of the portrait and the fact that it has a much more mysterious vibe to it. Sargent depicts four daughters; two of which are standing between two large fancy porcelain vases, one standing alone to the opposite side of the vase and the youngest daughter alone with a single doll. Sargent paints the subjects highlighting their clothing and expression the most – he focusses a lot on the detail of the models in the portrait rather

Growing up with a father in the military, you move around a lot more than you would like to. I was born just east of St. Louis in a city called Shiloh in Illinois. When I was two years old my dad got the assignment to move to Hawaii. We spent seven great years in Hawaii, we had one of the greatest churches I have ever been to name New Hope. New Hope was a lot like Olivet's atmosphere, the people were always friendly and there always something to keep someone busy. I used to dance at church, I did hip-hop and interpretive dance, but you could never tell that from the way I look now.

Following along with my nocturnal routine, I scroll past digital photos people feel important enough to put on display for the rest of us. Strategically placed untouched meals, someone’s face, professional photo of a dog, photo of a physical photo of what appears to be an 80s-teenage bedroom, promotion for the new Shins album I have already preordered, professional photo of a dog. I return to the photo of the 80's teen. The caption reads “OK but look @ my mom’s 1980's bedroom #tbt.” Although I find this use of millennial language to be a bit distasteful, the tenderness behind a daughter presenting her access to her mother’s adolescence strikes me. Introspection comes at the oddest times. What would I, in fifteen years, have to show my children?

We all have objects that gives sentimental meaning to it. Studies have shown "between 2 and 5 percent of the American population suffer from hoarding" (9). As in the case with the Collyer brothers and Irene, it might have been their past lives which drove them to hoarding. The objects they collect helped them preserve their identity and relieve past events. It also allows them to express what they feel and collecting promises releif. Rachel's study of hoarding lead her to discover that many hoarders were "highly perfectionists and indecisive" (10). This complicates hoarders from working and thinking effectively. The uncontrollable desire to virtually collect anything can lead to affliction of the hoarders personal