In Chalmette, Louisiana, there sat a small house on 3117 Maureen
Lane. That house was my first home. My parents purchased the house
in March of 1996. I was only three years old, and my sister was
only months away from being born. Before that, we lived with my
grandparents, Ramona and Renato Ramos. My parents were very young
and needed time to gain enough money to buy their own house. That
house owns a certain importance as my first home. The amazing
memories, humble looks, and importance to me make the house on
Maureen Lane my favorite childhood home. |
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This is
a photo of me in my grandmaw's house. I spent alot of time
in that house. I even lived there for a good amount of time
when I was young.
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My
house was not a very beautiful house. It did not have a huge
pool in the backyard or a big tree house standing outside. My
house had three small bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a
living room, and a dining room in the front. The house was made
of brick with a black roof. In the front yard, we made a pond
with some fish swimming in it. My mom also attempted to grow
her own garden, but the attempt failed. The backyard occupied
about a fourth of an acre with a small swing set on the side.
My grandpa also built a small dollhouse type of building no
bigger than my bedroom that we put in the backyard. We used
that house as a fun house where we put the pool table and a
television. The living room was located in the center of the
house. Most of my time was spent in the living room where my
dad and I played video games and watched movies. My house, though
it was not huge or glamorous, was very beautiful in the sense
that it was home to so many memories in my life. I would not
have traded that house for anything in the world. |
This was
my first home. We lived on 3117 Maureen Lane in Chalmette,
Louisiana. I lived here until the fifth grade.
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That
house served as not only a living space for my family and me,
but it was also a space where memories were born. The most vivid
memory I have of that house is the party that took place there
for my fourth birthday. At the time, Mighty Morphing Power Rangers
was my favorite show. I loved the show to the point that my whole
room had pictures and posters of power rangers on the walls. My
mom hired a person to dress up as the blue power ranger and to
come to my party. The first time I saw him I was so excited. I
became the happiest boy alive. He stayed and performed different
balloon tricks for the kids for about two hours. When it was time
for him to leave, he asked where the birthday boy was. I walked
up, and I started to cry. I cannot remember why I cried, but I
think I might have been scared to see him up close. If the walls
of that house could talk, they would speak of a family who had
its difficulties through life. I lived in that house when my parents
divorced. On some nights, I could hear them fighting in their
room. Memories of them fighting are not memories that I like to
remember, but they are memories that are important to who I am
today. The memories of that house make it a very special place
to me. |
This is
another picture of me in front of my first house. The pond
behind me lasted about two weeks until it started to get dirty,
so we got rid of it. Also, my mom accidentally killed the
fish by not putting in the right water.
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I spent alot of time at
my Maw Maw Mona's house. Here, I'm in the room with no name.
I'm riding a little toy I used to love as a kid. I probably
wouldn't fit on it today.
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The
reason why that house is so important is because of the roles
it played in my life. It was my first home, my get-away place
where I could go to be alone. It held the atmosphere of so many
fights; fights that tore a family apart and caused so many tears.
I lived in there when my parents divorced each other. When I would
hear my parents fight, I would go in my room, and I would feel
safe. The house was also the party house. We would have parties
and family get-togethers there all the time. It was where I had
my first pets, a cat named Lucy and a dog named CoCo. A family
was selling kittens a few houses down, and we decided to buy one.
That house was the location of many things that have influenced
me to be who I am today. That makes the house a very important
part of my life. |
The
house on 3117 Maureen Lane did not only put a roof over my head,
but it also brings certain happiness to me when I think about
the events that have happened there. It served as my first home
as well as a house that everyone went to. It was where I had my
first Christmas, and it was where I met the blue power ranger
making balloon animals. That house contributed to who I am today,
and it symbolizes a past that will always be remembered. |
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This is
the house I lived in before I moved to Tennessee. This is a
picture of it after Hurricane Katrina took it apart. You can
see that the boards are still there over the windows, but the
grass and the side of the house are torn apart. |
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This is
a picture of what was the kitchen. The ceiling is ripped apart,
and everything is covered with mud from the flooding.
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This is
a picture of what was the living room. The sofa was not in that
position when we evacuated. The ceiling fan is pretty much gone
and the television was nowhere to be found. We did find a boat
in our pool though. |
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