Six Word Memoir

I live my life for change.

(Snapshot) My first professional picture

             I’m sitting down with my cousins, patiently waiting like a cat waiting for its prey. My Aunt Carol, who is a professional photographer, is having all three of us girls pose together for a few pictures. All of us are red, like a robin’s breast, from a hot summer day’s play.

            “How about we go over here, near the shaded tree and the beautiful flowers?” She asked while smiling.

            “Okay! I’m so glad you could make it to my home this summer Aunt Carol!” I said while smiling.

            “Me too Emmy, I’ve missed being with you girls and all the rest of the family up here.” She replied. “Okay, on the count of three smile, okay?” We nodded, and all began to try and find a good place to sit and place ourselves. “One, Two, Three, Smile!” She smiled while clicking the button. We all jumped up in excitement, wondering if our smiles will look good. I was worried I wouldn’t look as good as my cousins.

            I am the middle aged one, my cousin Sarah is three years older, while my cousin Alyssa is the littlest one, a year younger than me. I love my cousins, but we never get to see each other since they live in downstate Michigan. I always feel like a baby when they have to leave because I cry so much. I guess getting to see them sometimes is better than never.

            I feel insecure about how I look in the picture, I feel like I look messy after relooking at myself.  I’m waiting so impatiently to see the picture and see how I look. My cousins both have long hair while I have short hair, my hair just won’t grow. I hope you don’t notice it, I think it might look weird in the picture. I wish my hair would grow, and I could see the picture!

           “Aunt Carol, can we please see the picture? PLEASE!” we begged.

            “Okay, I guess. Only this one though, hang on.” She said smiling. We all fought like bees over honey to see who would get to hold the camera.

            “It’s amazing Aunt Carol. You made us all look beautiful without doing anything.” I said excited.

            “You girls are all beautiful on your own, I don’t need to do anything with a camera to make you look the way you do!” she said smiling.

            “Aunt Carol, can you teach me how to take photographs like you when I’m older?” I asked with a smile so big my cheeks were like two big red tomatoes

            “I can teach you everything you want to know Emily.” She said while pinching my big red cheeks.

            I loved my Aunt Carol’s picture when I saw it. I was so excited to have my own picture of me and my cousins. This picture was one of my first professional pictures taken, and will always be my favorite.

(Family Memoir) The day I was born

Me

The day I was born, was a blizzardy day in February of 1995. My mom was ready to pop like an overblown red balloon. I was dancing on her belly trying to make it out. I remember my mom telling me about the day her water broke.

Mom

            I was ready to explode. I asked Jeff to go to the store to get me and the boys some candy bars. It was a horrible blizzard outside, but he agreed.

            “Hunny, what kind of candy bar do you want?” he asked me.

            “You know what I like, just get me one!” I replied while trying to relax.

            “Oh, no. You tell me what kind you want. I’m not coming home with the wrong candy!”

            “Hahaha,” I laughed then all of a sudden “Oh, no! Forget the candy bar, were having a baby!”

He made me laugh so hard, my baby girl was on her way.

Dad

            The day Emily was born was like a gift to me. My first baby was on her way. I was so excited I was running around trying to get everything together and gather up the boys.

            “Come on boys, were leaving!” I said

            “Why are w…” They tried asking me.

I was already gone before they could finish talking. I remember eventually getting in the car and getting the boys candy bars before we left.

Me

            I was making my way into the world. My family was so excited; everyone was waiting for the day to come. I was finally coming out. It would be a few days before I would see the world, like coming out of a tunnel.

Adam

            I was only fifteen years old when my sister came into this world. I remember being downstairs in the basement playing videogames with Nick and Eddy. All of a sudden Jeff ran down to get us.

            “What was that about?” I asked Eddy.

            “I wonder? Who knows, let’s go see.” Eddy replied.

            “I wonder, maybe mom needs to go to the doctors.” Nick pondered.

We saw mom upstairs, so excited and ready to go. She was glowing brighter than the sun. Mom was ready to give birth to our new baby sister.

Nick

            I was the baby, only thirteen years old when Emmy came along. She was so little and beautiful. Mom wanted me to pick her middle name. I got to help choose!

            “Nicky, name off the girls in your class’s names? Mom asked

            “Molly, Sandy, Hannah, Sarah, Allie, Marissa, Tr…” I named.

            “Marissa!” Mom said as she cut me off. “That’s beautiful, Emily Marissa Rakis.”

            “I love it mom.” I said.

My sister was so tiny and fragile. I couldn’t wait until she grew up and I got to be there watching and helping. I was afraid to hold her, she was so little. I thought I might drop her.

Eddy

            I was sixteen years old, and I remember mom having to wait for days before the doctor would give mom a C-section. My grandma called and was upset. She yelled at the doctor.

            “You cannot let her wait any longer! You take the baby out with a C-section today!” She yelled.

            “I am going to wait, she can wait!” The doctor was defensive.

He ended up bringing Emmy out that day though. I hated waiting; it was longer than the wait for football season to me.

Me

            I was brought out on February 10^th, 1995. I had been expected for February 14^th, Valentine’s Day. My mom just couldn’t wait though. I’m glad I was brought into this world though; my mom let me grow up, with love like a baby horse to its mom. I’m thankful I was given the life I live today.

(My Name) The name I was given

My name is Emily Rakis,

            In Latin my name means industrious. An old Roman name stolen and remolded. It is that of beauty and strength. It would come to my ears like a sweet sound of an ocean wave. Crashing on the shore and relaxing others.

            My great grandmother shared with me the name I have. I am proud to have her strong empowering name. To carry on her legacy makes me proud like a new mother feels looking at her child. My great grandmother was truly my biggest support. She passed away while I was young but she lives on through me.

            My name is like a smooth shell hidden in the sand. Admired and shared by many but left hidden away. The sound of whispering of the name I behold is like a new needle left in the pin of my soul. The harsh names called, not my own, have made me stronger day by day. Rumors and lies like broken glass on bare feet made me grow stronger and painless the more they are heard.

            The moments of life in grandmother house hearing the squishing of bread and the rolling of dough. Smells that put a smile to the name like grandmother’s bread or fresh peanut butter fudge. Tasting the rich peanut butter like a starved child’s first meal. Enjoying the smile, singing, and whistling while still emerged in the safety of grandmother’s house. The world outside, like in school makes the world dark like the sun goes black and gravity stops working. My name means a lot and love is a part of this. The world might be dark, but my name brings strength with light.

(Candy And Me)This Love of Mine for Sugar

Hershey’s Chocolate Bar

When I was little, my mom gave me a Hershey’s bar and Coca Cola. My brothers talk about how they would laugh when they saw me in my diaper running around with a bottle of Coca Cola and a chocolate bar. I would sit with my mom and watch whatever was on TV, I would watch my mom’s motions and want to copy everything that she did.

            I would wait until after dinner and ask for some chocolate and Coca Cola. My mom would let me have a piece of chocolate and shared some of her two litter of Coca Cola with me, I figured out that to keep the rich taste of chocolate in my mouth longer, you drink some Coke first then you enjoy the chocolate. Sweet, rich, creamy chocolate in my little hands was like a million dollars.

            My house had a basement that was where my brothers’ rooms were. The stairs that led down were like a new kitten’s soft fur to my little feet. I would be sneaky and creep my way down the stairs, but my brothers always knew when I was coming. I always thought I was undetectable to them though. My brothers always would bring me home a Hershey’s bar, and I knew they had them in their rooms. I would always slowly open the door and poke my head in with a smile.

“Heyyy, are you awake yet?”

“Emmy, what do you want?” as they wiped their eyes. “It’s still early. Go back to bed!”

I would still creep in and ask for my chocolate. I would always have to wait though, which felt like a million years for me. Before I knew it I was moving on from Hershey’s and looking at a new candy.

Reese’s

            I was onto the Reese’s stage of my life. Kindergarten to fifth grade I was addicted to these things. I would throw in a different candy or snack every now and then, but Reese’s were my true love. I would eat them melted, frozen, or more likely as soon as they were bought. My family didn’t even have to ask what I wanted from the store.

            Chocolate with smooth creamy peanut butter in the middle was my addiction. I would eat them before anyone could even ask for a bite. Reese’s took over my life, I would bring them everywhere. I would eat more than three small Reese’s a day! I would eat one in the morning, one for my lunch, and one when I finished my dinner. I would eat them whenever I was able to. I was greedy with them, but I would share with people so no one thought I was being a hog or had a problem. I would try to eat those two peanut butter cups slowly and enjoy the rich taste of them.

            Every year around Easter I enjoyed getting the giant peanut butter chocolate eggs that came from Reese’s. I would love biting into the chocolate and tasting the sweet creamy peanut butter. I loved to eat my Reese’s. They could make or break my days! When the chocolate was gone I felt like a broken phone. My mom and dad would be amazed by how many I could eat in a day. “Emmy, we just bought you three Reese’s last night! How can they all be gone? We told you to space them out and enjoy them!” My dad would always tell me. I couldn’t resist the taste though, the rich peanut butter would overwhelm my mouth and two at a time just wasn’t enough. Then the taste became old to me, I had eaten too many and ruined the taste in my mouth.

Peppermint Patty’s (mints)

            I remember seeing my mom enjoying a mint when I was little. “Can I have some mom?” I would ask with a smile. “Okay, here you go Emmy.” My mom would pass me the chocolate. My first bite into the strong cool mint hooked me in forever. Chocolate is a major key to my taste buds. I loved the taste of the rich chocolate with a smooth minty center. I was trapped inside the taste of the mint. I wanted to hide away in a pile of mints.

            I was hooked on mints for a while; I would bring them everywhere and even eat them in class. My teachers didn’t care as long as eating them didn’t get in the way of my class work. I remember when I went to B&B with my mom and her friend Angie. I didn’t have any shoes on though, so Angie smiled “I’ll carry you in!” I giggled and said “Okay, cool!” So she picked me up on her back and carried me out of the jeep and into the store. I got a mint and was so happy that she carried me in to get my mint. “Thank you Angie” I giggled. I felt as if I was on top of Mt. Everest when she did that.

Three musketeers

            I tried my brother’s three musketeers not knowing what to expect. I instantly fell in love with its rich chocolate on the inside and out. I loved the fluffy inside. Three musketeers was a new taste to my mouth, and it satisfied my taste buds. They were like a cloud in my mouth. I loved three musketeers and like all the other candy I over indulged myself with, I soon moved on to something new.

(Change) My New Home

            I moved home during my sophomore year of high school. I left behind the sun shining like a diamond. I came home to the snow falling like a thick blanket. It was so cold I froze instantly. I felt like a bird flying the wrong way, lost in the thick fluffy snow. I felt like this had been a mistake that I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I missed the sun shining bright and the life of the city as you walked out the door. California was what I was used to, the place I had been brought up. I didn’t know what to expect from my new life.

            “Hey Emmy!” My brother Adam grinned. “How have you been?! I’ve missed you!”

            “Hey Adam. I’m good. The flight was long, and the layover took forever. Otherwise, I’m good. How are you? I’ve missed you so much; I can’t believe it’s almost been a year since I’ve seen you!” I replied while giving him a huge hug.

            “Are you ready to be back here? In all this snow! It’s been a long time since you’ve seen snow hasn’t it?” he asked.

            “Yeah, I don’t think I’ve seen real snow since I was little and we lived here.” I replied while looking outside smiling.

            Michigan was my true home, but it was a drastic change for me. I moved from the sun shining while riding around in my friend’s Jeep with the top off, to wearing winter clothes and boots. I felt lost and like I didn’t belong. I knew I had to start school that next Monday, and I felt like a bird migrating in the wrong direction. I left the city behind me and looked toward the country life. It was a real cultural shock, when we finally made it to Grayling. The town was dead, and there was limited shopping. I looked up distinguished an unusual bird perched on the light post; I wondered what it was doing sitting there. Granted the snow had stopped falling but it was still freezing outside, it should have been flying south with all of its friends and family. I couldn’t help but think that it was out of place and lost, like I felt. I wanted to try and save the bird and help it through the winter, but when I looked up again the bird was gone. I felt confused and slightly sad to think of the poor bird, but I knew if it had stayed it would fight and make it through. We got to my grandma’s shortly after we left town and I felt home, like I was in the right place and moving home was the right decision.

            That bird chose to stay even though it was in the wrong place. It stayed to try and make it where it felt safe, it was the birds’ home. I felt like I could make it through this change, and everything would work out. I felt like this change was going to be the best decision, we had made in a long time.

            “Emmy, are you glad your home now? It must be weird but it must feel nice.” Grandma asked me.

            “You know what grams, it’s nice to be home, it feels weird being here but yet it feels right. I’m glad to be home and with my family again.” I replied with an optimistic smile.

(Boundaries) My First Home

            My true home, doesn’t belong to me anymore. The home I was brought to, and spent my first seven years of life in, now belongs to someone else. I remember making a home of leafs, imagining my own house. I remember riding my bike, playing with my cats, and jumping on my trampoline. It was my home. The place I felt the safest. I loved my years going around the huge yard that went all around the house. Building my snowmen, looking at leafs fall with my mom, and watching as my family grew older with me. I moved at seven to California, but nothing ever felt like home. I had so many family memories, I just had to go back one last time.

            “Hi, my names Emily. I don’t think you remember me, but this used to be my, well my home.” I said while looking down.

            “Hi! Of course I remember you being so little last time I saw you!” She smiled “How can I help you?”

            “Would you mind if I walked around, just to get my memories back? To remember all the good and sad times spent here.”

            “Sure, go right ahead.”

As I walked around, I felt my heart beat fast like it was a plane ready to take off and fly out of my chest. There were so many memories that hit me like a door just opened in front of me. I remembered jumping off the deck into the snow with my cousins, and mowing the yard with my dad. The saddest memory that hit me was when my family buried my dog Rowdy in the ground. I remembered walking out there talking to the grave like the dog could really hear me.

            “Would you mind, if I walked out to the field?” I asked while holding back the tears.

            “Sure , but can I ask you why?” She gave me a smile while that look of curiosity was on her face.

            “My dog is buried out there, in that field. The dog I was raised with and could never replace.” I said as a tear fell off my face and hit the ground like a bomb exploded.

            I walked out to the field, and felt the memories just flowing through my head. Still to this date, going home was something I am still thankful for. The house, will always have our family’s life in it. The house will always be my home.