Every Friday night growing up at the Pearson household was movie night. If it was your week, it meant you got to choose the movie we watched. My mom would pull out the futon and we would grab all the pillows in the house and set up a movie theater. My sister and I would make tickets for each family member and my dad would make the popcorn. Everyone would get into pajamas and gather in the family room. It was a grand narrative of how a family of five spends their fridays together; a fixed idea of family-togetherness. It was almost as if we were following this cliche family ideology and we found comfort in the fact that this was how it was supposed to be. One of the movies we could always agree on was Homeward bound (a typical, predictable family flick) We would compare each other to the characters of that movie. This friday night ritual impacted the person I became. I have a different idea of a family night than do others. My narration of what a family does growing up will be subjective to the fact that I spent this time with them in this way. It will read as a story to others that I basically have created with my bias put into it.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Homeward Bound
Every Friday night growing up at the Pearson household was movie night. If it was your week, it meant you got to choose the movie we watched. My mom would pull out the futon and we would grab all the pillows in the house and set up a movie theater. My sister and I would make tickets for each family member and my dad would make the popcorn. Everyone would get into pajamas and gather in the family room. It was a grand narrative of how a family of five spends their fridays together; a fixed idea of family-togetherness. It was almost as if we were following this cliche family ideology and we found comfort in the fact that this was how it was supposed to be. One of the movies we could always agree on was Homeward bound (a typical, predictable family flick) We would compare each other to the characters of that movie. This friday night ritual impacted the person I became. I have a different idea of a family night than do others. My narration of what a family does growing up will be subjective to the fact that I spent this time with them in this way. It will read as a story to others that I basically have created with my bias put into it.
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This is my family. Exactly.
ReplyDeleteBaths, zip-up PJs, popcorn, and 'one TV show' -- & a book, then bed. Thinking back on it... it sounds soooo... parent-how-to-raise-a-family book. But it was truly comforting. & enjoyable!? :)