Jamie Carney
English Composition I Sabintino Magnini So This is Christmas My Christmases as a child goes as follows; As we turn onto the retired community of twin homes we see Babcia and Pop-pop standing on the sidewalk in front of their house. Before we even make it to the driveway my younger brother and I’s grandparents come up to the side window. “Merry Christmas Carney family!” They shout, and continue to sing “We wish you a merry Christmas” completely off key. My father tries and fails to temporarily shoo them off as we try go to park in the driveway. The old timers continue to ramble on as they usher us out of the car and into their large twin home that would make the pope shed a tear. In the foyer alone was crosses, figurines, paintings, quotes, a decorative rug featuring saints and angels. As we are enveloped by the much needed warmth from the winter air some Frank Sinatra Christmas tune can be heard from the dining room. We are greeted a second time with enough hugs and kisses to kill a horse followed by more singing and rambling. All the while one of the three the cuckoo clocks go off on the wall beside the entrance, The perfect symbol for my grandparents crazy character. Despite my grandparents house being where the majority of our Christmas was spent, it was just one of the stops we made on Christmas. My brother and I were always spoiled on this holiday as we essentially had four Christmases: On Christmas eve we went to our Aunt's Christmas party and got a present, on Christmas morning we woke up at our moms and opened our presents. After having our fill of the presents from our mother and grandmother we were off to our dads to receive more, and finally we were off to Babcia's house to receive even more presents from them. Obviously, one can already see why this is my favorite holiday. Still, I did not have a metric crap ton of presents. My father and grandparents were sensible enough though to split our presents between them; One big present from our father (not including candy and stocking stuffers), and two or three small presents from Babcia and Pop pop. I loved sitting under that freaky white tree and opening gifts while my family watched. I specifically remember one year where Babcia and Pop-pop gave me what was probably my favorite Christmas presents ever. One time I remember I found a round gift haphazardly wrapped in red foil under the albino tree with my name on it. At first I thought it was a soccer ball or something of that nature, however upon further inspection I found there was a large round hole at the top. If memory serves, Inside were about one hundred mini medieval soldiers. Fifty of the soldiers wore black and the other fifty wore red. There was a swordsman, a guy on a horse with a spear, archers, a soldier holding a mace catapults two kings and two towers-- All perfect victims for my red toy dragon sitting at home; the villains always prevailed in my games as a child. For the first time since I became a tom-boy, I almost shrieked. My brother and I played until our three cousins arrived and moved the operation to down to the basement where the playroom was located. Jojo was the oldest and really mature for her young age, however that opinion was only held by me. The second youngest is and most rambunctious was Malery. She was three or four years younger than her sister and admittedly could have used a riddlin once and awhile. Last but not least was Stephen, the two year old I had only ever seen twice. Though we only saw each other once a year, there was no awkwardness between us and we immediately began playing and talking as if we saw each other everyday. There wasn't much for us to do so we mostly played with legos, dominos, and played role playing games. Meanwhile the adults talked over coffee and prepared dinner. Despite all the fun we had as children in our own little romper room, dinner was undeniably the main event. The time where the adult and children's party merged together to enjoy the remainder of the holiday as a family. Every year a buffet fit for a king lay on the long dining room table. Turkey, pork, steak, and Bobcia’s famous mash potatoes, are simply a few of the items made for the Carney and Bevelacqua families to enjoy. Considering that there were ten people however, Babcia and pop-pop certainly made sure that everyone had their fill. We all talked and while we stuffed our faces with food. Personally, the desert that followed was always my favorite. The final course was a Christmas birthday cake . My Bobica and Pop pop are very religious people, so in order to keep Christ in Christmas, they made him a cake. Most years it was a round Vanilla cake with butterscotch icing and only occasionally was it chocolate with Vanilla icing. Each year, came with a different design or look making the words “Happy Birthday Jesus” on the top of the cake the only consistency. Us children were able to have two pieces each since the adults seldom had any cake. While enjoying my cake and cups of coffee I had the privilege of listening to my grandparents overly cheesy fart jokes and stories. However they also gave us some insightful words and meaningful chats, at least what I thought was meaningful at that age, looking back on it now it seems like random old timer rants but honestly they could have said literally anything and I would have thought it was the most intelligent thing I had ever heard. something our parents seldom did with us. After the holy cake we were to spend the rest of the evening listening to Pop -pop play the piano. It was at this time that Mallory and Jojo would dance and sing along with the music. Being small children most of their dancing was playful and silly causing the room to erupt in laughter. My father soon joined in on the acoustic guitar if not finding a way to take over completely. It would take long though for Pop-pop to grab a guitar himself and have a musical battle. When the music and dancing stopped we prepared to make our exit with the usual hugs and kisses goodbye our Grandparents could not let us leave without giving us one of their signature marble-balls. Each year they had a different marble-like design with different sizes. It seemed a little strange to have another gift after presents have already been revealed or why they had so many to hand to us in the first place. Yet every time we came over the family received these interesting little marbles of unknown origin. We ushered out the door with enough hugs and kisses to choke a horse. Our loving grandparents tredge out into the cold with us and walk us to our car they continue to talk to us as we pull our and scream goodbye as we drive way. As we were walking out the door, the cuckoo clock sung on the wall. Another quirky yet lovable Christmas evening with Babcia and Pop-pop. About eight years ago, My grandparents moved to from there home of Pennsylvania to Florida. Though they are not deceased it is more than likely that I won't see them in person again, and I certainly will never spend another holiday with them again. My insane father has had a lifetime hate for them, despite all the holidays and good times we had there, that I am sure the poor souls aren't even aware of. We went down to visit them once and my father assured my brother and I that we will never visit again. The only one who was miserable the entire time was my father and honestly there was no reason for it. Of course this also means I won't be seeing my cousins anytime soon, in fact they don't contact our grandparents anymore; they simply disappeared into obscurity. I do not blame them for moving. Due to Bobcia’s arthritis she could not stay in the cold and changing climate and still be able to move. However Babcia and Pop were an influence on our lives; They helped raise us after my mother and father got divorced and they helped my father in financial hardship. They came over at least once a month bearing a box of knew Dr. Seuss, coloring books, and good happiness into a gloomy home. Though the holidays were when I spent the most time with them this hiraeth is not about the holidays but about the family that I grew up with. Not a day goes by that I don't miss them. Despite the odds, I hope to be able to see them once more in my lifetime.
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Jamie Carney
English Composition I Mr. Mangini 9:35 2/6/17 Prior to learning what this meant in english class, I had no idea what a Hiraeth was, nor have I ever heard anyone even coin the term before. What I learned is that a hiraeth is a homesickness for a home to which you cannot return; a home that maybe never was. Meaning this home could have been the way someone made you feel, the memories you had with a person, a place, a particular event, or perhaps even a fond dream that you will with all your heart to be real. Hiraeth is prophylactic in this sense. It is the one place your heart cries out to this place, yet it’s longing that can never be fulfilled because that home is forever gone to you. Personally, I have had a plethora of hiraeth in my lifetime, however there are few I long to have again even just for a few moments. Just to see it again, to relive those memories, see the people I have missed. To feel at home again. One specific home I long for most is Holidays with my Babcia and Pop-pop. Every thanksgiving and christmas was spent with them until I was about eleven. Every Christmas and Thanksgiving we were welcome with loving arms, presents, and enough food to feed a small country in our stomach on both holidays. My favorite place on earth when I was younger was their house. Every room in that house is has significant meaning to me or holds an item that created beautiful memories with family. Their house was very spacious considering It was a twin home. Though I was there every year, I haven't been there for about eight years now so capturing everything in detail will prove difficult. Upon walking in I was greeted by a large foyer. The white walls and the faded orange tile floors fave the room a warm feeling. The ceiling reached cathedral proportions as it surpassed two floors of her three story house. A massive chandelier suited for such a large room hung down from the ceiling, however the roof was so high that you had to look up to see it. A balcony about the height of the chandelier with wooden guard rail overlooked the foyer. For the holidays the guardrail was decorated with lights and reefs. On the right side of the wall was a aztec-looking brown and orange rug fashioned on the wall in a diamond shape. On the left side of the wall opposite from the rug was three of Pop-pop’s beloved cuckoo clocks, which lead me to call him pop-pop cuckoo, the name was a more than perfect name for him. A large cuckoo clock was placed in the center completely with the cuckoo bird, little people who came out when the clock sounded and did a certain action, usually churning butter or cutting a log of wood since they were made to be amish. It was made entirely out of metal, save for the miniature people and the bird. It was accompanied by two smaller matching clocks that only contained the bird. Beneath the clocks were two perfectly symmetrical wooden benches on either side of the room complete with one Ficus tree placed to the right of them. In the middle of the floor was a long vertical green aztec rug; similar to the large one on the wall. Opposite of the entrance was the door which lead down to the basement, which was turned into the playroom.This is the room I spent countless hours in playing legos and watching movies with my brother and three baby cousins.The walls were bright white and the carpet equally so. The only part that deviated from the extreme white in that room besides the furniture and was the square cut out in the rug that revealed stone tile that led to the fireplace which was covered in the same colored stone. There was a rocking chair, religious paintings, a toy box, and a slide in glass door that led to the woods outside. Back up the steps and right to the basement door was the living room. On the right side of the door was a miniature hallway with three steps leading up to the living room. The living room consisted of a large black leather couch, neon lighted palm tree, Pop-pop’s piano, and an enormous rug with a picture of the saint mary crushing the snake on the wall; As you can tell by now my grandparents are very religious people. There was also slide in door that lead to the balcony out side which overlooked the woods. You could see the other side of the balcony which held the dining room. Going up another three steps on the side of the wall led to the kitchen and the dining room, where the magic happened. Going straight would lead you to the other side of the balcony that looked over the foyer. To the right was the kitchen and the dining room. In the dining room was a long table with ten or more chairs and a white tablecloth. Two greek bust stood proudly on a greek column on either end of the table, not sure who they were though. behind the table was a huge wall mirror was a wall mirror that people too often hit while pushing themselves out of the chair. On the opposite side was a broua that held religious figures and a radio that always played holiday music (on thanksgiving we were forced to sit through Jimmy Buffett). Finally there was the upstairs that was reached by a spiral staircase. Of course it was nothing special however. Just a bunch of rooms we weren't allowed in. Other than the upstairs, every room held memories I long to relive. I had some of the best memories of my life so far there. Ever since my last christmas there, the holidays have never been the same. Christmas was my favorite holiday; whose isn't? Especially as a child. My brother and I were always spoiled as on christmas as we essentially had three christmases. On christmas morning we woke up at our moms and open our presents. After having our fill of the presents from our mother and grandmother we were off to our dads to receive more presents. After having our fill on my father's gifts we were off to Babcia's house to receive even more presents from them. Obviously, one can already see why this is my favorite holiday. Still, I did not have have a million presents. My father and grandparents were sensible enough decided to split our presents between them; One big present from our father (not including candy and stocking stuffers), and two or three small presents from them. I loved sitting under that freaky white tree and opening my gifts. I specifically remember one year where Babcia and Pop-pop gave me what was probably my favorite christmas presents ever. On what I believe was my ninth christmas I found a round gift haphazardly wrapped in red foil under the albino tree with my name on it. At first I thought it was a soccer ball or something of that nature, however upon further inspection I found there was a large round hole at the top. I cannot tell you what the container looked like when I ripped off all the wrapping because of how excited I was by its continents. If memory serves, Inside were one hundred mini medieval soldiers. Fifty of the soldiers wore black and the other fifty wore red. There was a swordsman, a guy on a horse with a spear, archers, a soldier holding a mace catapults two kings and two towers. For the first time since I lost interest in ‘girly’ things, I shrieked. I spent the remainder of that christmas (and that the next month) playing with my army men. There was also a unique thing my grandparents did for christmas that made it my favorite. Other than gingerbread had a birthday cake for dessert. My Bobica and pop pop are very religious people so they made sure they kept Christ in Christmas, so to keep the spirit alive they made him a cake. Since this was my favorite dessert, I obviously enjoyed this most. Alos because it was something only they did; never had I ever heard anyone else do this, oddly, that means something to me. Christmas may have taken the cake (literally) but Thanksgiving was also an important holiday with my Babcia and Pop-pop. Every Thanksgiving we would be greeted by the smell food coming from my grandparents kitchen. Immediately, my father rushed into the kitchen to help cook the turkey and other foods we would later gorge on. While my dad did most of the cooking, My brother and I watched the mummers parade with our grandparents while we waited for our cousins. This was probably my favorite part of the holiday. While I hated the mummers, I loved spending time with them. They made funny jokes and had meaningful conversation, at least what I thought was meaningful really they just ranted about things they thought we should know however they could have said anything and I would have thought it was the most intelligent thing I ever heard. Then our My brother and I just as quickly rushed into the basement to play with our cousins. Jojo, Marley, and Stephen. Though we only saw each other once a year, there was no awkwardness between us and we immediately began playing and talking as if we saw eachother everyday. There wasn't much for us to do so we mostly played with legos, dominos, and played role playing games. Usually we just combined the three. Still we made the best of it. About eight years ago, My grandparents moved to florida. Not dead of course, I call and skype them every now and then. However it is likely I won't see them in person again, and I certainly will never spend another holiday with them again. Nor will I see my cousins again, in fact they don't contact our grandparents anymore. I miss the house I had so many good memories in. This is not an especially tragic hiraeth nor is it full of despair and sadness. It is a longing for the past. To be able to see my Babcia and Pop-pop again in person, to go to their old house. No holiday has ever been the same since. Just to see it again. to relive those memories, see the people I have missed. To feel at home again would be bliss. Before my parents divorced and my mom moved into a house in Springfield I lived in a small cul de sac in the small town of Orland PA. (which to my surprise no one knows about in springfield as it is only thirty minute drive away if not less). My family lived in an apartment, was very small, as all the houses were. When you walked in you would be greeted by a medium sized living room to your left and the dining room to your right. Taking a few steps further would lead you to see a very small hallway consisting of two bedrooms (one of which my brother and I shared), a bathroom, and a closet. You could also could just barely see the entryway to the kitchen. This is where I created my first happy memories. I lived there for a little under six years but since we moved when I was seven (I lived in a different town for a the first year of my life) I only can recall about four, give or take. Since I was a small child recalling it is difficult because memories are choppy and disorganized. However I have a handful of vivid memories. A great deal of events happened there that shaped who I am today and a first for many things. It is where I learned to ride a bike, made my first friends, figured out I was allergic to peanut butter by turning into a blowfish, seeing my little brother for the first time when he came home from the hospital and many more. This house also marked the end of just as many things, however all were not so good. Things went downhill when we moved to springfield, my parents began fighting more and more and my mom's side of the family became involved, which only made everything much worse (especially when they are a bunch of triggered Italians... watch the family moments in any Godfather movie and you’ll know what I mean). To keep it short and sweet and leave out certain personal events their divorce began a chain of many other unfortunate events that would last for years. The apartment in Orleand was the last place where my parents, my brother, and I were really all together and the last time I had any good memories of them as a couple.
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