For me, I suppose it was the medal I won in figure skating when I was 12 years old. Or maybe all those plaques with drama masks on them from back in high school. They were wonderful, preternaturally golden things, something plated over plastic, no doubt, but it didn't matter. They promised a big, gleaming future in a pearl-filled oyster of a world that I had barely begun to pry open.I'm not sure where all of those things are now. Maybe in my mother's attic or in a taped up box in my garage. Maybe the trophies in this photo are destined for similar uncelebrated storage. No matter. The memories will always sparkle.
20 comments:
We just went through a remodel and I had to sit my three boys down and discuss what we were going to do with the 63 trophies that were sitting in a box in our attic. Please note, this did not include all of the trophies on the bookshelves in their rooms! Needless to say, they chose to donate them. Thanks goodness!
Sparkling memories, yes... but girl, your present and your future are glittering. You will always shine.
LOVE "Glory Days." Yeah, those cheaply made trophies are in everybody's attic and boxes, but at the moment they are received, they are worth their weight in gold. In fact the whole feel of this photo is golden. The window is bathed in gold light and the trophies in the window have their gold coating. The composition is well done too. Nice find.
I'm glad I'm from the age before ubiquitous trophies. I only have 4. Three from high school speech contests, and 1 for actor of the year in high school for Oh Dad, Poor Dad.
I had a lot of tennis trophies, which I didn't really treasure. I recall breaking off the rackets of some so they could fit in my bookcase as bookends.
I am trophyless, with very few exceptions. My husband, having been a well known swimming and diving coach for all of his working years had a room full of spectacular trophies and a life size bronze one hanging in the Univ. of Texas Swim Center. He said, "They still won't buy me a cup of coffee." Nevertheless he was proud of the more noteworthy ones, humble man that he was. Back to me. I won the backstroke medal for parents competing at a swim meet eons ago. I don't know what happened to it but I remember it was kind of plastic and tacky, yet the honor was there. I did win a couple of blue ribbons at art shows, for which I am proud. It's the memory of the winning that stays with us. Not the medal itself. Oh yes, I did win an honorable mention in a writing contest and I just took note on the wall of the honor I received for making up a recipe made with a local ice cream. The funny thing about it was that I came up with the name before I conjured up a recipe. Everyone needs to taste "Preacher's Comin' Sundae."
Dixie Jane - can you email me ... I want to talk to you about swimming!
Sigh. I never had any trophies.
I got the game ball in Little League once. I still have it. It was cool because it was the first year that girls were allowed to play in Little League.
My parents-in-law sent us a box a few years ago with my husband's debate trophies. Most are still in the box.
No trophies for me--just a small medal (made of brass) for winning a spelling bee!
Ms. Saeta - You should have put the trophys back in the attic. You never know when you sons may want them for, say, fishing weights.
My office is adorned with a few ugly golf trophys that I don't dare take home.
Laurie, I still have - and treasure - the newspaper photo of you in your ice skating outfit, triumphantly wearing your gold medal that you had just won! I also have some drawings I drew of you in your outfit.
I guess artists are not exactly awarded trophies. Where is that Pxix de Rome, anyway?
I do have a gold foil wrapped chocolate Easter bunny that Jim gave me, glistening on my kitchen window sill beside some bright yellow daffodils!! A trophy to the survival of my "Inner Child"? Well, maybe, but definitely, a tribute to the endurance of the seasons and to the return of Spring.
I see your trophies and raise you all a Miss America crown. :o)
I buy them at thrift shops. My favorite is business man. He's plastic and plated in gold. With briefcase in hand he strides atop a stylish resin base. I sometimes appreciate other peoples memories over my own.
Pasadena Adjacent - For a bigger than life size version of your favorite trophy, take the Gold Line to the Mission Station and look for the Walking Man statue. He's a business man with a briefcase, just like your trophy but not plated in gold standing on a resin base.
Hey folks,
I've had so much fun reading through all of your memories -- and Pasadena Adjacent's memories of other people!
Dbdubya, I don't think I'll ever look at walking man the same way again. He DOES look like a big trophy. I think I've mentioned before that my little daughter calls him Dog Man because it looks like he was walking a dog that somehow got loose. (My daughter deserves a trophy for amazing creative thinking!)
Judy, thanks for the kind words! This is one of the only photos where I have been tempted to do some serious photoshopping -- it's so plain, and kind of dull, with that flat light that occurs in overcast afternoons. But I decided the plain capture was exactly right to match the truth of the subject -- even though it might not be the most interesting photograph. (Still, I wish I'd been close enough to at least use flash fill so that the trophies would glimmer more!)
Shanna, I cracked up over your Prix de Rome comment. :-)
Ashley -- you won a spelling bee!? That's really cool!
Farmgirl, I can just see you out in the garden with that tiara of yours. Do you ever take it out and polish it? I would! Heck, I'd wear it to the grocery store! (By the way -- I fold to your hand!)
Thanks for all the fun, gang. Until tomorrow...
Oh, and Mister Earl, I was in Oh Dad in high school, too. :-)
Got a few trophies and medals for hockey. A medal to commemorate being my presentation of a poem at a graduation(it's plastic!). And a small statuette for being a bang-up stage manager in the theatre.
Glad to say I've moved on to new accomplishments, leaving those in the top shelf of my closet quietly murmuring their stories to the future.
I'm looking forward to your next round of accomplishments, Oleg! Especially if your poetry is involved.
Waaaw really amazing to see this..great photos..
This is pretty interesting...
Thanks for sharing..
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Andrew
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