Family Across Generation
Michelle Aranda
Question 1: What is your full name? Why did your parents select that name for you? Did you have a nickname?
Auntie: "Corey. Unfortunately, my father named me after my cousin. I think he wanted a boy. My nickname was Coco."
Sister: "Vanessa. Watching a Novela and because it means butterfly. My nickname is Nessa."
Question 2: When and where were you born?
Auntie: "1973 in Chicago, IL"
Sister: "1996 in Harvey, IL"
Question 3: How did your family come to live there?
Auntie: "We lived on the west Chicago when I was born and moved south when I was about 8."
Sister: "Was already living there with brothers."
Question 4: Were there other family members in the area? Who?
Auntie: "No"
Sister: "Yes, my auntie, uncle, and grandma."
Question 5: What is your earliest childhood memory?
Auntie: "My mother being hospitalized for a broken neck."
Sister: "Getting my first cast signed when I broke my wrist."
Question 6: How many members did you have in your family growing up? Were you the oldest/youngest, only child, ect?
Auntie: "8 all together. 6 children. I was the oldest."
Sister: "Only two brothers. I was the youngest child at the time."
Question 7: Describe the personalities of your family members.
Auntie: "Me- Outgoing, people pleaser, 2nd mom to my siblings.
Brother 1- Quiet and sneaky, very handsome.
Brother 2- Loud, obnoxious, stayed in trouble.
Brother 3- Born later, typical boy, pretty boy, athletic.
Brother 4- My favorite, cool as a cucumber, typical boy.
Sister- Sneaky, wrapped everyone around her finger."
Sister: "Loving, Loud, Funny."
Question 8: What kind of household chores did you have at your home?
Auntie: "Dishes and my room."
Sister: " Wash dishes and clean room."
Question 9: What age did you get your first job? What did you do for that job?
Auntie: "I was 18 years old. My job was a cashier."
Sister: "I was 16 years old. My job was a hostess."
Question 10: What was school like for you as a child? What were your best and worse subjects? Where did you attend grade school? High school? College?
Best: Reading and Math
Worst: Social Studies and Science.
Grade School: Lincoln
High School: Thornwood."
Auntie: "Easy: Reading, Math, and English.
Worst: Science.
Grade School: Beale St Elementary.
High School: Thornton Township.
College: Hawamba Community College."
Sister: "Best subjects: Math and English.
Worst subjects: Science.
Grade School: Coolidge
High School: Thornridge
College: Fox College-Vet Tech Institute."
Question 11: Do you remember any fads from your youth? Popular hairstyles? Clothes?
Auntie: "There was this hairstyle called Hawaiian Silky, Knickerbockers, white girl tennis shoes.
Hairstyle- short on one side long on the other.
Clothes- used, damaged."
Sister: "Animal shaped bracelets everyone used to trade and collect."
Question 12: What are your thoughts/attitudes on the institution of marriage?
Auntie: "I believe in marriage but in this day and age i think it might be a little bit harder, not enough people willing to go the extra mile to make a relationship work."
Sister: "Good to have marriage equality for everyone now."
Question 13: What does it mean to be a man or a woman when you were going up? Do you think that has changed?
Auntie: "Just that, a man was a man, respectful, loyal, had manners, cared about their appearance. Same thing with the women. Yes it has changed."
Sister: "A lot has changed. Now you can be more equal being either man or woman together. Should both have responsibilities 100%/100% not 50%/50% separately."
Question 14: What do you think of kids today?
Auntie: "I really don't like 65% of them. They have no respect in themselves let alone, their elders."
Sister: "Majority of kids today are going down wrong paths from bad influences and need to be taught how to be leaders instead of following "trends"."
Question 15: What advice would you have for a high school age students today?
Auntie: "65% of them, shut up and listen, you don't know everything. Learn some respect about yourself. The other 35%, keep up the good work."
Sister: "To study hard and keep going because even though it's "boring" now, it really makes a difference when you succeed and go into things that can help you reach your goals/dreams. It does turn into an enjoyment and you can't get there without a little hard work."
Question 16: What was the popular toy?
Auntie: "Cabbage Patch Dolls."
Sister: "Bratz Dolls
Question 17: What was the popular candy? How much did it cost?
Auntie: "Pop Rocks, Fun Dips, Bazooka gum, candy cigarettes, Chico sticks, sugar daddy. Nothing was over a quarter."
Sister: "Frooties. Bag for $1."
Question 18: What was the popular T.V. shows?
Auntie: "Mork and Mindy. The Jetsons, The Flinstones, Welcome Back Kotter, and The Good Times."
Sister: "Roseanne and House."