Juliette Vasquez
Seminar
9/02/16

Memory

Visualizing things is the easiest way for memories to come racing back into my head. You can look at one thing and hundreds of memories, or other images can come to your head all at once. Visual things can evoke many emotions into someone through one simple glance at something. New York is a busy place with a lot to see. So I’m not surprised that hundreds of different memories and emotions come to me everyday as I walk through the streets of Manhattan. Memories of joy, sadness, and the feeling of absence.
As I walked down 14th St, right by Union Square, I saw a group of people sitting in a circle. Each of them had a cat of their own and immediately reminded me of my cat Philip. As soon as I saw those cats I began to wonder what my cat was doing. Whether he was exploring outside, or sleeping on my bed like I would always see him doing. This reminded me of the time my cat slept with me all night through a thunderstorm. As I fell asleep, the last things I saw was the way his body moved up and down as he breathed, seeing the rain hit my window, and the trees rustling in the wind. Compared to back home, there is a lot less space for pets to have freedom here. Every pet has to stay at home in an apartment, or be leashed up when they’re outside. Back home I remember seeing pets run free all over their backyards or at the beach. They seemed so free and happy compared to many pets here.
Now as I walk through Central Park, I get a wave of familiarity. Seeing all these different kinds of people playing sports on the Great Lawn, or just laying out in the sun with friends. This reminds me of when me and my friends would go to the beach together. We would spend days on end laying in the sun or having fun in the waves. It was a break from our school or work life back at home. Just like its a break from the dirty, loud, fast paced city. I see the sense of relaxation on peoples face as they lay in the sun. I see this same relaxation in Central park, just as I did back home at the beaches. The absence of my friends from back home immediately hits me when I look around Washington Square park. I see groups of new friends and old friends coming together in one area. Laughing together and having endless conversations. These images fill me with the endless memories of my friends. We would spend everyday together outside exploring, talking, and laughing. Seeing all these people spending time together immediately brought me back to my home. My friends are a big part of my life especially back at home. There were very few days back at home when I wouldn’t see one of my friends. They felt like family to me, always willing to help me when I needed it. Seeing all these friends together, Id like to think they would be there for each other just like my friends were for me and vice versa.
An important part that comes with living in New York City is all the different means of transportation. When I’m walking through the Upper West Side, I see many family cars or sports cars. Recently while walking on 79th and Amsterdam, I saw a light blue Volvo park on the corner. As soon as I saw this car, memories of my father, and family trips raced to my mind. I have the same car sitting at home right now. I have hundreds of memories of driving back from the beach in that car. All the windows down and the warm air blowing all over my face. I would look at the water pass by us, and suddenly be behind us as we drove farther away from it. I would see my Dad’s hands on My dad would always blast the music extra loud on these car rides. As well as the long car rides home from our family gatherings. The car would always feel extra quiet during these drives. I would see the outline of my dads faced illuminated by the brake lights in front of him. I would look to my left and see my sister sleeping right next to me. When I saw that car parked on 79th and Amsterdam, I also remembered the first time I learned how to drive. I had a clear vision of the road ahead of me. My dad looked nervous sitting in the passenger seat next to me. I will never forget the drives I would have with my friends as we drove down long roads, singing to our favorite songs.
It feels crazy to me how one image can bring back so many emotions and memories. Since moving to New York city was the first time out of my house alone, being here has been pretty emotional. Memories and feelings coming to me everyday feels pretty normal for the first few weeks here. I feel the absence of my home town. I feel the absence of my family, but I am happy I am still able to see small parts of them everyday.