The year: 1986
The location: Banjul, The Gambia, West Africa
The cast: A family of four: mother (37), father (39), eldest daughter (15), youngest daughter (2).
The scene: Christmas morning, parents wake their daughters and the family is soon gathered around a sparsely decorated tree in the corner of their living room. Holiday music plays in the background.
With a messy head of curls, the littlest daughter squeals with delight upon descending the stairs realizing Santa has visited.
Gifts are distributed and opened. For the teenager with Sun-In bleached hair and nails chewed down to the quick, a necklace, Lady Stetson perfume and a Kodak Disc camera. For the toddler, a remote control puppy that yaps throughout the morning, baby doll clothes, a bright yellow toy camera and a Barbie doll pink starter vanity set.
Biscuits smothered with butter and jam are nibbled, as are Santa’s left over cookies. The familiar sound of a diet Dr. Pepper being cracked open can be heard at one point.
The conversation is faint, but there is laughter and smiles.
A video camera sits across the room on a coffee table and records the entire scene. The quality is fuzzy, but the memory is rich.
I was mesmerized as I watched 43 minutes of one family’s Christmas morning.
My family.
My sister had eight VHS home movies transferred to DVD for me for Christmas this year and the scene described above was one of them. Thank you, Leah for such an incredible and thoughtful gift. I will always treasure these home movies.
Related Posts:
You are very very welcome dear sister! I look forward to watching more of them with you down the road. They are priceless memories that we should treasure. I think hearing mom’s and dad’s voices on those home movies are the best part about them. Just when we think we are forgetting the sounds of their voices, all we have to do is throw on one of these DVDs. 🙂 All my love to you this holiday season. XOXO
What a fantastic and thoughtful gift. It’s also a good reminder to me to take more videos and to be in them!
Such an amazing gift. Your sister is awesome!
This is amazing! I am so happy for you that you have these to watch. I keep trying to remember to bust out our camera more since I know so many people who LOVE home movies now that they are older.
You clearly have an awesome sister 🙂
I never realized there was such a gap in age between your sister and you.
What an awesome present to have those home movies on DVD so you can watch them.
Located 25 miles west of downtown Houston, visitors will find bargain outlets stores including Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance Center, Kenneth Cole Outlet Store, Off 5th Saks 5th Avenue, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and more.