I met my first one in first grade. We met in guitar class, which I was so nervous about. I came home and told my parents about her—my first hyperfixation. This isn’t going where you think it is. My first hyperfixation wasn’t a person, but odes—more specifically, the “Ode to Joy,” aka Symphony No. 9 by Mr. Ludwig van Beethoven. Now, I’m not a classical music geek either, but something about that symphony really tickled the right parts of my brain at that age. I memorized the notes almost instantly and recited them to anyone who would listen. My grandmother, a piano player, was particularly impressed and would sing along with me: “mi mi fa sol sol fa mi re do do re mi mi, re re.” Look it up! I still sing the notes to “Ode to Joy” in the shower to this day—that’s actually how I came up with this blog series idea.
I’m not sure if this hyperfixation was a meaningful turning point in my childhood or just an early sign of undiagnosed ADHD, but I’m sure I’m going to milk it for this blog post.
I’ve always liked the idea of an ode. If you Google it, an ode is described as something that shows respect for or celebrates the worth or influence of another. I’ve always thought of it as a kind of love letter, but maybe that’s just because I’m a hopeless romantic. Although I didn’t grow up religious—and I’m okay with that—I do wish I’d placed more value on gratitude over the last few years. So here I am, extreme as ever, dedicating an entire blog series to gratitude, to odes, and to spotlighting and romanticizing the minute parts of my life. Over the next few months, you’ll get to know me in a way even my friends don’t, because like most people, I don’t speak in odes. I thought I’d speak a little more on the role of gratitude in my life.
Debi Tirar Mas Fotos
I know I said I’m not a music geek, but let’s be honest: who in their right mind can resist Bad Bunny? As you may know, he recently released a new album titled Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, which translates to I Should Have Taken More Pictures. But the album is about so much more than pictures. The title track embodies the idea of gratitude and not taking people, places, or moments for granted. To some, it might just be a TikTok trend, but to me, it perfectly captures the bittersweet reality of living away from family and missing out on important moments while living a parallel life elsewhere.
Context: when I was 10, I moved from Brazil to the UK with my parents, and when I was 14, we moved again, to D.C. I’m an only child, so my parents are the only family I’ve grown up with since, which I’m obviously grateful for. I’ve been indescribably lucky to experience what I have during my travels—not many people can say they’ve lived on three continents before turning 18. On the other hand, it’s impossible not to feel like I missed out when my friends go to buttf*ck North Carolina to see their MeeMaws and Papas on Thanksgiving.
Like most Latino families, mine is huge. During my childhood, I attended the stereotypical churrascos—or barbecues—weekly to see 30 of my 40 cousins (the remaining 10 were probably shunned for some telenovela-level drama). Since moving, though, I only really see them once every two years; I don’t even know the gossip about what the hell happened to Tia Marcia’s third husband. Weirdly enough, this distance didn’t bother me much until last year, when my grandma passed away. That’s where Bad Bunny comes in with his nostalgia and reggaeton. And he’s completely right: I should have taken more pictures of her, y debi darte más besos y abrazos las veces que pude.
I’m grateful to Bad Bunny for holding me accountable and for forcing me to reconnect with my past life, which I realized isn’t in the past at all. I’m also grateful for my grandmother—for all that she taught me, for all the cakes she baked, all the love she showed me, and all the cheek squeezes she couldn’t help but give. Last but not least, although it’s painful, I’m grateful to resonate with Benito’s song because it means I am rich in memories.
To sum it up: this blog series is intended to be my ode to gratitude and to the parts of life we don’t always stop to appreciate. Being a last semester Senior really makes you wish life would slow down, let you tirar mas fotos, and practice the hell out of gratitude. I’m grateful for gratitude!!! Whether it’s Beethoven, Bad Bunny, or the memory of a grandmother’s wonky smile, we should be singing about these moments, taking pictures of them and whatever else we can handle. So here’s to the odes we carry with us—the ones that remind us to take more pictures, give more hugs, and find joy in the small notes of life’s symphony.