Recently, I found myself looking through the old artifacts of my childhood, including notebooks and drawings that my parents set aside to remind me of a time when I was cute and irrational. Along with the usual findings, such as my lack of transition sentences and artistic originality, I also found that over the past 14 years or so, I have forgotten my young outlook on life, knowledge, and life of the early 2000s.

First, I have forgotten how lambs in the early 2000s were often used as a symbol of handsomeness, and the act of comparing your father to one could be seen as a sign of great respect and love.

Next, I seem to have a hard time remembering how similar I looked to rap artist and all around thug, Gucci Mane.

It’s easy to believe that all children (including myself as a child) have little to no knowledge pertaining to literature or pop culture, but my early writings seem to prove that I had a deep understanding and connection to the famous Ecclesiastes 3, which speaks of how “to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven”. You may recognize this passage from the court scene in “Footloose” or from the 60’s song, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by the Byrds.

I like school beacuse (because) there’s a time to play.

I like school beacuse (because) there’s a time to be silly.

There’s a time to eat candy at April.

I like school because I like to learn.

Like we’re whales.

A lot has changed since 2004. Most notably: the release of Netflix, the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the stock market crash of 2008, and the release of Sufjan Steven’s “Illinois” album. However a large change that I have overlooked, is how the word “vacation” was once spelled.

Animal related art has had a long streak of appearing realistic. However, it seems that in my youth animals were often depicted as much more round and human-like than the animal art of the past hundreds of years. Below is a drawing that I created in 2006 portraying “Business Bunny and Construction Beaver.” Contrast this with the picture below it, showing the 1889 depiction of rabbits and beavers by Schubert.

Along with forgetting my involvement in the round drawing style revolution, I carry no recollection of my photographic savvy, including my ability to masterfully capture obscure shadow people.

Lastly, I had forgotten how little I knew of my parents’ lives outside of their care for me. This is revealed in how the only skill I seem to remember them having is the ability to make dinner. I suppose young children just don’t notice the hobbies, skills, or master degrees of their parents.