Childhood Home Project

It's hard to put an exact picture on the place where you grew up. It's full of images and memories that are larger than life. A place full of feelings that are so much bigger than you are. It's strange to imagine it as a place that was planned out. Each lightswitch deliberately placed. The carpet had to be chosen, there were arguments you never saw about what color to paint the kitchen, such a material place that ended up being filled with immaterial things.

A Blueprint of Childhood

Beginning to build.

One of many, many pages of tiny, tiny drawings of my house.

My house, relocated to Duniway park.

Moved into a new neighborhood.

The whole class.

An interview with Tanisha Hough, a very close friend of mine for the entire time I lived in the house on Kuawa rd.

Renee Gerow: What do you think of when you think about the house on Kuawa rd? 

Tanisha Hough: my first memory probably. not actually in your house but when you had that sleepover? with the tents in your yard? I couldn’t breathe at all that night I was laughing so hard.

RG: Do you have a favorite memory?

TH: I liked all the bonfires we had. Your random rave. Your grease cast party. Oh god (both laugh) I remember all the guys sitting on your porch singing bohemian rhapsody. I had never heard that song before. I was like, what is happening?! 

    Lets see there was that night... I remember the night we spent over at your house i cant remember if it was me and Stephanie or me and Brittany. Probably me and Stephanie. When did you start dating Burton? Sophomore year? 

RG: (laughing) Junior year.

TH: Burton was your junior and James was your senior.  And you were lying there sleeping and you said ‘ I don’t know anyone from texas’ and we said ‘ Are you sure you dont know anyone? Are you sure you’re not dating someone from there?’ totally taking advantage of your sleeptalking.

(both laughing)

RG: I actually don't remember that. I don't think I've ever thought about the fact that I kept dating people from Texas. Maybe I should move there. I'd be in heaven.

TH: (laughing) Maybe. Oh, and the "Manapua, I want one" sleepover. Were you awake for that? That was one of my favorites. Outside in the skeleton of your garage. The pirate cake.

RG: Yeah, I was awake. Do you remember all of our projects? The pinata? Our... what were they called? The plastic stuff?

TH: (gasping) That pinata! We named it didn't we? Fred. I want to say Fred.

RG: I think he was a doctor. Dr Fred?

TH: That sounds right. And those plastic things, all full of confetti. We were trying to make jewelry of some kind. We always made things at your house. Always so messy.

RG: You seem to have a lot of memories of the outside of my house. Was that your favorite part? I do have quite the yard.

TH: I liked the outside, yeah. We can talk about the inside if you like.... let's see (gasp) I have a good one. ROOM TWISTER. That was inside. That party.

RG: God, you make it sound like I had so many parties at my house!

TH: Well you did! They were very memorable. Now my life is party-less!

RG: When you think of my house, what do you immediately think of? Was it the parties?

TH: What do I immediately think of? Hmm. (Pausing) It was always very clean. All the time. Like really clean. Except for your room. Which was messy. But it was pretty, your house. I love your house. Cozy too! Your room is my favorite room of the house of course.

RG: Why is that?

TH: Because it's Nei's room and it's awesome! Pfft. No really, you always had really cool stuff. like knicknacks. i was like oooooooh. And I remember we used to use mudmasks a lot. Laying on your bedroom floor feeling like it was raining on our face. (squealing) do you remember that? I miss that ‘it’s raining on my face!”

RG: Wow, yeah I do. Like vividly remember that feeling. Do remember my house well?

TH: Yes. I’m very familiar with your house... in a non creepy way. Because i totally don’t go to your house while your parents aren’t there still. I remember your house.

RG: Do you think you remember it well enough to make a blueprint of it?

TH: A blueprint? Yeah I guess so. I spent so much time there! It was like my second home. Auntie Carroll was like my second mom. Do I have to actually do it?

RG: No you don't. Just wondering.

TH: Okay good because I don't want to. I love your house and all but.

RG: Was there anything you didn't like about my house?

TH: I always thought it was kind of weird that you had carpet in your bathroom.

RG: Yeah, everyone did. Do you have any bad memories from my house?

TH: Hmm (Long pause). Hmm (longer pause). You know, I'm thinking really hard and I can't think of anything. Well... (pause). Being allergic to your cats I guess. I was never sure if I couldn't breathe because I was laughing too hard or because I was having allergy issues.

RG: So aside from my weird bathroom carpet and all the cat hair, you associate my house with good things?

TH: Yeah, I do. I miss you Nei. We need to hang out in your house again someday soon. Feel the rain on our faces.

(both laugh).