Last week Mr. Peterson and Ms. O’Neal’s classes reviewed and discussed an excerpt of Joe Brainard’s autobiographical long poem, “I Remember.” Brainard’s litany of memories investigate his childhood, his neighborhood, his family, their holiday gatherings, and a number of other memories which appear much like they do in the mind—associatively and fluidly—but oftentimes unexpectedly. Here is what we remember:
Mr. Peterson
U.S. History
I Remember
Dearl B.
I remember the show “That’s so Raven.”
I remember the show “Proud Family.”
I remember the show “Recess.”
I remember Drake and Josh.
I remember the show “Zack and Cody.”
I remember someone stole my gift on Christmas.
I remember someone broke into our home.
I remember I got five toy cars for Christmas.
I remember the school gave me an itchy sweater.
I remember I ate at Famous Daves.
I remember going to Hooters.
I remember going to the buffet after graduation.
I remember the day I graduated.
I remember waking up at 6 in the morning to watch a TV show.
I remember I couldn’t sleep thinking about wearing my new school clothes.
I remember my little cousin slapped her teacher and got arrested.
I remember going to Six Flags three times in one summer.
I remember Kiddy Land.
I remember pre-school.
I remember my friend in pre-school.
I remember trying to eat a crayon.
I remember my aunt spitting on me with no teeth.
I remember my cousin died.
I remember my dog, China.
I remember the dance Walk-It-Out.
I remember boost chirps.
I remember the old lady pulled down her pants.
I Remember
Kwantina W.
I remember huge birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese
I remember getting whatever I want.
I remember getting a new 7-year old sister.
I remember going to my dad’s funeral.
I remember moving into our new house.
I remember all 3 of us girls in the master’s room.
I remember getting a 5-year old brother.
I remember getting two more brothers and another sister.
I remember it used to be all 6 of us.
I remember my first boyfriend, Vonte.
I remember me and my sister were always in the same class.
I remember November 24, 2009 when my biological mom passed.
I remember graduating out of grammar school.
I remember our trip to Atlanta, Georgia.
I remember every year going to “The Dells.”
I remember almost drowning at Raging Waves.
I remember when my best friend moved to California.
I remember when my sister and brother left for their real family.
I remember riding the bus to my Grandma’s house.
I remember my mom’s funeral.
I remember loving baked beans and mac-n-cheese mixed together.
I remember our snowball stand.
I remember chips with cheese.
I remember my prom night.
I remember me looking for a dress.
I remember walking across the stage and getting my diploma.
I Remember
Stephanie W.
I remember when me and best friend first became best friends. It was in kindergarten.
I remember when we had our first couple fights together.
I remember we jumped this girl.
I remember always going to Johnson Douglas Park.
I remember the red tire swing used to be our favorite.
I remember when swinging on one of the blue top swing and I fell off and cut my arm.
I remember this girl was laughing when I cut my arm.
I remember me and my best friend beat her up the next day for laughing.
I remember her grandmother was right there.
I remember when I always fight my best friend’s cousin
I remember when I used to go to my grandmother’s house, I hated it there, it smelled like things you smoke.
I remember I never used to stay there.
I remember when it was Thanksgiving and I went to my other Grandmother’s house.
I remember she cooked the best food.
I remember I wanted to try everything.
I remember later on that day my aunt had me and all my cousins fighting each other.
I remember I made my cousin cry she was so mad she started to curse.
I remember living on Kedzie.
I remember living across the street from my best friend.
I remember we used to go outside everyday.
I remember being in the backyard.
I remember when we left my brother in the yard by himself to go see a dog fight and he got a nail stuck in his foot.
I remember we had to rush him to the hospital.
I remember when I went trick or treat with my best friend we had so much candy.
I remember coming home teasing my brother and sister with so much candy.
Ms. O’Neal
English
I Remember
Tiese A.
I remember telemundo on Saturdays.
I remember not knowing what they were saying.
I remember being able to hum Mary J. Blige and Jill Scott’s whole albums before I could talk.
I remember recess.
I remember Big Joy whose even bigger now.
I remember eating a whole stick of butter.
I remember singing on a chicken drumstick.
I remember kindergarten.
I remember my old friend Bunny and how I would guess her new eye color everyday.
I remember nanamaw’s mac and cheese.
I remember back seat ride in Mississippi in my cousin’s pick up truck watching the night sky.
I remember not remembering several people at a family reunion.
I remember Joel Olsteen on Sundays.
I remember most songs on V103.
I remember putting the car in the sucky thing on the bus.
I remember taking the bus with my nanamaw and her long hair.
I remember my dreams of being a singer, then dancer, then forensic scientist.
I remember my first year in Louder Than a Bomb and how it changed my life.
I remember meeting Jerlon.
I remember the expression on my dad’s face when he did too.
I remember the time I was called beautiful when I hit rock bottom.
I remember when I thought my voice and my poetry didn’t matter.
I remember my baby brother Tylor being born.
I remember our song but the acoustic version.
I remember that days get better.
I Remember
John C.
I remember watching teletubbies in the morning.
I remember Bob The Builder.
I remember a bad nightmare.
I remember my first girlfriend.
I remember I woke up this morning and showered.
I remember my biological parents.
I remember breaking my knuckles.
I remember eating cereal.
I remember my name.
I remember not talking to strangers.
I remember JJ the airplane.
I remember the sun rising in the morning.
I remember getting a punishment.
I remember going outside naked just for the fun of it.
I remember a bad thunderstorm.
I remember my mom was in a bad car accident in 2000.
I remember graduating from kindergarten.
I remember the person across the table from me saying he ate gum from under the table.
I remember coming here freshmen year.
I remember the things I told you I remembered.
