This is, for me, an amazing experience. People are being so honest in this challenge, sharing so many important memories--poverty and death and abuse and racism side by side with the happiness and innocence and beauty of life and love and childhood. I'm humbled to think I had a small hand in these stories coming out. Thank you for your honesty, your courage, your openness. I've cried with you, and laughed with you, listened to your stories and poems, enjoyed your photos, music, and research, and marveled at your creativity. And we're only into the first third! I had no idea it would be this great. Thank you all.


What a cliche! I'm 8 years old and I'm in dancing lessons - tap and ballet. It figures my costume would be a turkey; sad to say I dance like one and only last 2 years in lessons. Long enough to learn "shuffle-tap-shuffle-tap" and not much more.

The costume, on the other hand, has lasted for years. I wore it for Hallowe'en and dress-up, my daughters wore it for Hallowe'en and dress-up games, and pretty soon my granddaughters will, too. That stupid turkey costume may well outlive me!

And take a look at the cool old stand-up box radio in the photo. My Dad and uncle made that; my brother still has it in his home.

I look at a picture like this, and I remember that room, those walls, the furniture, and I'm back there in that time, in that place (not in that costume, thank you!). That will always be home to me, even though I've lived in my current house for 20 years--longer than it took to grow up in that one.

This isn't a picture of me taking tap-dancing lessons--it's a picture of living in a family where an eight-year-old in a turkey outfit is worth preserving in a photo, where a first recital is worth commemorating.
It's a picture of home.


 


Comments

10/09/2012 4:44pm

What a fabulous turkey costume! Did someone make it for you or was it purchased from some magical turkey costume store?

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10/09/2012 5:08pm

I love your enthusiasm throughout the challenge so far, and everyone's wonderful posts! I'm looking forward to the rest of it...
Also, awesome costume!

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10/09/2012 6:53pm

The turkey costume was for the dance recital - all the kids in my 8-yr-olds tap dance class wore the same costume. They were made for us - guess our parents had to pay for them, as I did when my kids were in dancing classes. I can't imaging anyone but a dance teacher thinking turkeys are a great costume idea!

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10/09/2012 8:03pm

I honed straight into the radiio in the background! I have a thing for classic items like that!! I'll try to sell the Turkey costume idea to my boys this Hallowe'en!

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10/10/2012 1:29pm

Love the turkey costume! You are so right, it has been an emotional ride. Even just trying to come up with the words; words meaningful enough to express something so very personal and precious. Thank you for this challenge. I know I'm not playing by your rules, but really appreciate being able to participate in the way I can.

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10/11/2012 1:42am

The turkey costume is great!

It's been a terrific challenge -- especially the shared community aspect of doing it with others. Thanks so much for bringing hosting it!

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