As the year comes to an end, many reminisce on the most memorable moments. Join Harker Aquila editors as they reflect on some of their own bittersweet traditions and memories in these tiny love stories.
Roads traveled together
by Lily Shi, News Editor
A low hum from the car engine filled the air as my sister and I leaned over the glowing screen of the iPad, nestled between us in the back seat. Outside, the highway stretched endlessly, but we were lost in the world of our favorite TV show, Miraculous Ladybug. We shared a single pair of headphones our dad lent to us and pushed against each other as we struggled to get comfortable. A half-empty bag of chips rested between us, forgotten in the excitement of a plot twist. I don’t remember when our little road trip tradition ended, but if I’d known it was the last time we watched our show in the back seat, I might have paid more attention to our journey as we watched episode after episode. In those moments, it felt like we’d always have these stories to share and roads to travel together.
Trick-or-Treat traditions
by Tiffany Zhu, Sports Editor
We skipped from one house to the next, me in my Monsters Inc. Sully costume and my best friend in her devil outfit, red horns atop her head. “Trick-or-treat!” we exclaimed at each door, watching as we steadily filled our jack-o’-lantern buckets with candy. As the night grew colder, we layered on jackets until our costumes were barely recognizable. Tiptoeing through yards decorated with gravestones and witchy decorations, we burst into laughter when they jumped out at us. The night grew late and our parents said it was too dangerous to continue, so we sat by the front door of my house, handing out candy to older teenagers. We whispered about how that would be us one day—staying out past 9 p.m., still trick-or-treating in the dark. But that day never came, and it never quite felt the same. Each Halloween, we still dress up and celebrate, but in a different way, settling in on the couch with a bag of Costco candy, a horror movie and cozy blankets.
Christmas trees and memories
by Suhani Gupta, A&E/Lifestyle Editor
I painstakingly placed the final ornament on the tree, making sure to cover every last empty spot. Stepping back, I admired my work and watched the tinsel on the tree glimmering in the light. The ornaments I hung carried the memories of every past Christmas I celebrated, from the childish crafts I made when I was five to the more elaborate glass spheres filled with snow that I made later on. Little did I know that this would be the last Christmas tree I would ever decorate, as my parents whisked me away to travel during each following winter break. Even though new traditions of seeing family during the holidays replaced celebrating Christmas at home, I still treasure the memories of cozy winter magic in my own house.
Remnants of holiday spirit
by Disha Gupta, A&E/Lifestyle Editor
As the last string of lights came down, signaling the official end of the holiday season, we heaved a collective sigh. Yesterday, our house glowed with warmth; today, it felt empty. The tree, once sparkling with ornaments and memories, was folded into a box ready to gather dust in the garage. My sister and I tried making a warm mug of hot chocolate, but even marshmallows lost their allure in the absence of holiday spirit. “Something feels like it’s missing,” she said, and I nodded. The cozy chaos of the holidays had slipped away overnight. But as I folded the stockings and packed away ornaments, I smiled. Next year, the magic would return, bright as ever.