The Box

I have a box.

It's not very intimidating like Davey Jone's Chest. It's not sparkely or even colorful. It's just a box. A plain old, normal, so-dark-blue-almost-black, cardboard shoebox. And that's it. No one would argue that it is a very boring box.

Then you open it.

And you realize that this unordinary box is extraordinary because of the ridiculous amount of junk it holds. I'll agree that this boring box of mine holds junk, and only junk.

Unless you happen to be me. And if you're me, suddenly the bits of scrap paper and other items hold alot more value.

In my box, I have birthday cards from when I was 12 years old, maybe younger. I have funny cards, beautiful cards, handmade cards, and so many other types of cards bearing good wishes and the names of my friends and family.

In my box, I have letters. Letters from a friend I met when I was probably around 9 or 10 and haven't heard from in years. Notes from people I've met in 4-H that I hardly see or will ever see again. Get well letters from a baby sister who couldn't be more than 5.

Inside my box, I store away ideas. Written on and drawn out on scraps of paper, stories I didn't feel were bad enough to throw away and dreams that were worth saving. Childish schemes and teenaged musing, all jumbled together.

My box holds dozens of the cheap "buy one box, get eighteen cards" Valentines from my club members.

My box keeps art done by my family and friends safe from being lost or misplaced.

This humble box holds my room key from my first State 4-H Conference.

It carries ribbons from fairs and contests long gone.

There's a page of Halloween stickers in there, sent to me by a friend.

A message in a bottle, inviting me to my very first school dance, stays stowed away safe inside plain cardboard.

Maps from trips to Disneyland find a home in this box.

My name tag from my first event as a State Ambassador.

A note from my dad that I will never grow tired of reading.

So many things, with so many memories attatched like poststamps.

I have a box.
There is nothing special about my box.
It's worthless.
It's what's inside that is priceless.

Cheese!

I don't really enjoy taking pictures. I don't really like being filmed or recorded. If someone asks me to be in a picture, I'll do it. If people want me in their photos, it's cool. It's just that I normally won't volunteer to step in front of a camera.

I'm not camera-shy or anything. It's just that I manage to look ridiculous in every photo I take. No matter the pose, the setting, the clothes, hairstyle, whatever! I always look a little crazy, but that's just the way it is.

I don't nessesarily like taking group pictures, because they take so long to get set up in. And you always end up wedged so tightly together in order for everybody to make it in. Everybody's smiling just so they can stop pretending they're sardines.

I like group pictures when they come together on their own. When everybody is grouped so tightly together because of what you can't see. When you can't help but smile because of who you're standing shoulder to shoulder with.

My least favorite pictures: Pictures where you don't pose for a minute and a half before the flash even gets turned on. Pictures where you don't try so hard to make a good impression on the film.

My favorite pictures are honest ones. I don't know how you can tell an honest picture apart from the others. But you know when you look at one, you know? It's not something some one can say for you, but something you just see.