On Wednesday, May 16, 2012, I asked members of the "Teens Write!" group at the Tompkins County Public Library to spend a few minutes writing down memories, as a warm-up before the writing workshop began. Young writers between the ages of 11 and 17 contributed to this list.
I remember the day I left Korea to come to America.
I remember reading Tom Sawyer.
I remember going to the circus.
I remember building a Lego pirate ship.
I remember when the mural in the library was being painted.
I remember peeling off nail polish I had just put on.
I remember all the chickens in my backyard.
I remember hiking the trails in and around the Grand Canyon.
I remember my first dream — about newts and dandelions; it's a long story.
I remember the first time I cut my hair (and the second time, and the third time).
I remember a few words of Flemish but the language I used to know so well is just out of my grasp.
I remember singing in the chorus, when everyone else had already stopped.
I remember my quilt.
I remember my trip to Spain, Italy, France and Germany — the looming monuments and tiny shrines — and all the different kinds of food.
I remember how to say "I remember" in five languages.
I remember watching flowers grow in the garden, then die in a blue vase on the kitchen table.
I remember infinite numbers of stars and finite numbers of irises.
I remember the definition of vestigial, which is probably a vestigial thing to remember.
I remember taking my toy monkey baby everywhere I went.
I remember eating a raw onion like an apple.
I remember my best imaginary friends.
I remember seeing glowing plankton washing in on the waves at night.
I remember seeing baby foxes on a hill.
I remember buying a cheap rain slicker on the top of the Eiffel Tower.
I remember the sound snow makes on snow.
I remember seeing my first movie in a theater — a film about Andy Goldsworthy.
I remember swimming at night, when the water and sky were the same thing.
I remember trying to get everything right.
I remember holding my breath as I waited for the thunder.
I remember laughing without knowing why.
I remember making a "soup" out of things in my yard.
I remember being struck by lightning (in a dream).
I remember when I loved you.
I remember the English countryside, all green and lush and rolling hills.
I remember being embarrassed about getting glasses, but when I learned that it was normal I relaxed.
I remember when I lost my first tooth and my tongue wouldn't stop exploring that empty place.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Amanda, Ana, Caroline, Ellie, Evvie, Joseph, Josh, Julia, Logan,
Phoebe L, Phoebe S, Rachel, Rose, Seraphina, Sophia, Sungmin
