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A perfect day indeed!

Celia D'Amato

My Perfect Day


I believe that my best days are not now, nor in the past, but in the coming years. I do not think that I have yet reached my happiest point (not that I am not happy now). Therefore, I have a difficult time deciding what I would choose to do, should I be given complete freedom to do whatever I please, that would make me happy. But, were I given one day to do, or have, absolutely anything, I wouldn’t have a hard time choosing. As of now, what would make me the happiest would be to see my family at their happiest point.
Let me set the scene: It is a Saturday in late October, during a long weekend, and I have no homework. The temperature is around seventy degrees, and the sky is a bright blue, with a few fluffy clouds. It is a little windy. The trees in Forest Hills are in various stages of losing leaves. Some of the foliage is deep red and bright orange, a few trees are still green and pale yellow. A few brown crunchy leaves, perfect for walking on, are on the sidewalks. The air smells slightly of bonfire smoke. I’ve written letters that are many pages to those who I will not be able to see the next day. I have brought a few people back to life*. I have brought more than a few people to New York**. I also have high quality cameras.
And since this is the day when I can do whatever I want, I’ve booked a free private jet to get everyone to New York, because of bunch of my family lives in DC, or Paris, or Chicago, or Taiwan, so I’d need to pick them up. I know that it looks like I might have too many people on my list, but all of the people make me and my immediate family happy most of the time and a lot of them make each other happy, so I need to invite everyone for maximum happiness.
Since this is an imaginary day, and nothing has to be rational, once I get everyone to my house, (at little before lunchtime) they all immediately take a liking to one another. Any feuds are forgotten and everyone just gets along for one day. There is no stress, no sad tears, no drama, just smiles, laughter, and yummy cake (chocolate, of course) but there is also gluten-free cookies and vanilla cupcakes, because some of my friends and family don’t like chocolate or can’t eat gluten. Each person is able to have exactly what he wants for dinner. After dinner, we take a giant group photo, and it doesn’t take an hour, like most group photos do, but a few seconds.
While the sun is setting, the babies are put to bed, the kids go outside to play Manhunt and Ghost in the Graveyard, and the adults talk and laugh indoors. After hanging out with everyone, maybe watching a movie in the basement on the projector, I say goodnight to everyone, give Plain Mama and Papa Tony my letters, and go to bed, so I do not have to say goodbye and be sad when everyone has to leave. I sleep deeply without any dreams, and, in the morning, am able to remember exactly what the previous day was been like, down to the smallest, most insignificant detail. My parents and siblings do too. I’ve made them happy, which is the only thing that I really wanted during my perfect day.

* I know that my mom misses her dad, and though she’s happy now, and he still lives in her heart and all that, she would probably be pretty ecstatic to have Papa Tony living in her house, and meeting his son-in-law and three grandchildren. My dad’s grandmother passed away around the end of the school last year. She was the perfect, lovely, stereotypical Italian grandmother. When I was younger, we used to meet at her house for Sunday dinner with my dad’s side of the family (she was also one of the best cooks in our family, which is saying something, given my relatives’ affinity for all things food.) My dad misses her a lot still, so I would definitely bring her back.

** I would invite Grandma Noreen and Papa Mike (my mother’s mom and stepdad) from Chicago, as well as my Papa Tommy (my Papa Tony’s partner) from Colorado. I would also have all of my cousins… This is going to be very long so instead, I will make a list: (all cousins or almost-cousins are in blue)

1. Grandma Noreen, Papa Mike, Papa Tommy, Papa Tony (mom’s parents)

2. Uncle Eric, (mom’s brother, his wife Kenah, and my baby cousin if he was born yet)

3. Aunt Kathleen (mom’s cousin-but-basically-sister), Uncle Hunter, Naomi, Finny, and Maisy (and their dog, Brother, because Tali loves Brother)

4. Aunt Beth (one of my mom’s best friends) Hannah, and Henry (her children, two of my siblings’ and my best friends)

5. Aunt Kathleen’s siblings and sibling-in-laws, and all of their kids

a. Aunt Michelle, Uncle Johnny, Brendan, Ryan, and Maggie

b. Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Lo, Dorothy and Emily

c. Uncle Michael, Aunt Emily, BABY HARPER (!!!)

6. Aunt Mo, Uncle Sonjay, and BABY SAM (!!!)

7. Aunt Jessie, Uncle Jason, and Gabe

8. Uncle Brad (mom’s cousin)

9. Uncle Danny (mom’s cousin)

10. Aunt Karen (my mom’s stepsister) Uncle John, and Jacob

11. Aunt Roberta, Uncle Jim, Uncle Jay, and Aunt Geraldine (all my mom’s aunts and uncles)

12. Uncle Danny (dad’s brother), Aunt Kim, and Sienna

13. Aunt Lisa, (dad’s sister) Uncle Jerry, Katie, Alfonse, Bridget, Marilyn, Dennis, Kevin, and Greg

14. Aunt Lorraine, (dad’s sister) Uncle Web, Angela, Blair, and Janice

15. Grandpa Al (my dad’s dad) Luciana, and Alfonso

16. Plain Mama (dad’s grandma)

17. Grandma Penny (dad’s mom)

18. All of my friends, and family’s friends (too many to list individually)

19. All of the fiancés or spouses of my cousins


On 10/30/14, 9:27 AM, "Amy D'Amato" <amydamato@me.com<mailto:amydamato@me.com>> wrote:

Hi Family,

I am attaching Celia's latest English essay. As you are all mentioned, I thought that you would enjoy it. Please pass along to the rest of your households.

Loving you all from Forest Hills!

Amy