I stand here, in the same spot, watching, observing every detail, every color, movement and person. I feel nervous, I have never had so many butterflies in my stomach, everyone keeps telling me no t to worry and they will fix everything. MY head is spinning with emotion and I feel a tear run down my face as I stand there looking at myself in the most beautiful dress getting ready to walk down an isle that will lead me to my future. Everything is swirling around me, the colors and scents of the different perfumes and I notice I am not the only one letting a tear shed.
Then, like clockwork, everyone freezes and stares at me, each person picking out the last details that need to be fixed. Then everyone rushes out of the room leaving me alone, waiting for the moment I have to walk and as I turn I see one of my bridesmaids telling the flower girl what to do. All I can think about is not slipping on the petals she throws to the ground, each one delicate. Then I realized something in her face, confusion maybe but I am not quite sure but before I could figure it out she was taking little steps growing closer and closer to my groom. The next thing I knew I was right behind her, my heart racing and every face on me. As I turn to face my groom, I take a peek at the flower girl and she is staring out into the audience smiling.
People were racing around me as I stood in the same place, my heart beating harder and harder as the moments ticked away. Every face around me was a blur; everyone was tugging on my dress making sure nothing went wrong as I walked down the isle. I didn’t know how to speak or move or even breathe at the moment everything was happening so quickly. Finally, the lasts touches were put in place and it was time to make my entrance. I reached up to my face and felt a faint tear escape and I now understood the emotions I had seen so many years ago. I saw the flower girl being given instructions and remembered my first time as a flower girl and how I didn’t understand the tears and she had the same expression I wore when I saw the tears.
I watched her walk in front of me and everything seemed so familiar, she tossed the petals just as I had and now it was my turn to follow them. I walked down the isle looking straight, feeling a wave of emotion come over me and I knew exactly how the bride had felt when she made the same journey many years ago. I stepped to my groom looked out into the audience and locked eyes with the bride from my child hood and she smiled at me and nodded. I returned the gesture now understanding everything.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
WA5-Draft 1
I stand here, in the same spot, watching, observing every detail, every color, movement and person. The bustling and frantic gestures surround the bride while lets one tear trickle down her face to exemplify her happiness. Everyone in the room freezes, admiring her, their emotions over take their faces as each one places the last touch on her dress. I did not understand why everyone was crying and smiling at the same time, so I remained just as I was, mesmerized by the elegance of the ceremony taking place before the wedding. I am taken away from the glimmering brides face, someone women kneels before me to explain how I am to hold the basket and toss the silky red rose petals but my mind is still on the dressing room.
I hear the music start, I start to walk, all the faces turn and I enter a room full of wondrous colors and exotic flowers. The groom stands in front of me smiling, every detail was precise, every face full of excitement and I stop and turn to see my sister walk down the isle. Her face shining through her veil her dress flowing perfectly and all I hear is silence, almost like the music is nonexistent. Everything is slow motion, not missing a beat, I dare to move or blink because I am afraid something will happen. She arrives and it begins, but I am not interested in the bride or groom, I like around the room and watch every face, none were scared, afraid or worried but for the first time everyone was happy. I was eleven years old and I had never been in a room where every one radiated with passion and happiness and I realized I wanted marriage not because of love but to create a world of flowing colors, dresses and happiness.
People were racing around me as I stood in the same place, my heart beating harder and harder as the moments ticked away. I was frozen as people tugged and worried that everything was perfect. I pictured the groom and his face and realized the flowing, colors and happiness were the perfect image of how I felt. I reached up to touch my face and felt a faint tear and now understood the tears I had seen many years ago.
I turned just in time to see the flower girl being given directions and knelt down in front of her, and saw in her eyes what I had felt when I was standing in her shoes. She looked up and smiled and said “Why is everyone crying?” and all I could say was “it’s the only way to express how I feel.” She smiled started to walk and turned to look at me with a tear on her face. I walked down the isle locking eyes with the groom, and as I froze in front of him I looked around and saw the hundreds of eyes on me waiting, smiling some crying and I realized I did exactly what I had wanted for my wedding, I turned to face my groom and said I do.
I hear the music start, I start to walk, all the faces turn and I enter a room full of wondrous colors and exotic flowers. The groom stands in front of me smiling, every detail was precise, every face full of excitement and I stop and turn to see my sister walk down the isle. Her face shining through her veil her dress flowing perfectly and all I hear is silence, almost like the music is nonexistent. Everything is slow motion, not missing a beat, I dare to move or blink because I am afraid something will happen. She arrives and it begins, but I am not interested in the bride or groom, I like around the room and watch every face, none were scared, afraid or worried but for the first time everyone was happy. I was eleven years old and I had never been in a room where every one radiated with passion and happiness and I realized I wanted marriage not because of love but to create a world of flowing colors, dresses and happiness.
People were racing around me as I stood in the same place, my heart beating harder and harder as the moments ticked away. I was frozen as people tugged and worried that everything was perfect. I pictured the groom and his face and realized the flowing, colors and happiness were the perfect image of how I felt. I reached up to touch my face and felt a faint tear and now understood the tears I had seen many years ago.
I turned just in time to see the flower girl being given directions and knelt down in front of her, and saw in her eyes what I had felt when I was standing in her shoes. She looked up and smiled and said “Why is everyone crying?” and all I could say was “it’s the only way to express how I feel.” She smiled started to walk and turned to look at me with a tear on her face. I walked down the isle locking eyes with the groom, and as I froze in front of him I looked around and saw the hundreds of eyes on me waiting, smiling some crying and I realized I did exactly what I had wanted for my wedding, I turned to face my groom and said I do.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
WA2- Final Draft
“Where are we going Claire?” said Josie, “You will have to wait and see, it won’t be a surprise if I tell you,” replied Claire. Claire guided her best friend through the trees; they were surrounded by the sweet smell of maple and the quiet sounds of the forest. The wind seemed to carry the unspoken words from tree to tree, like they were concealing secrets from the two mysterious creatures that walked the paths beneath them. The soft hum of animals scurrying across the cold hard ground and the feeling of unpredictable adventures happening everywhere, made the forest gleam with intrigue. Finally, after walking for what seemed like forever, the two girls arrived at the perfect spot to rebuild their friendship; the ground was just soft and muddy enough to dig up, while the perfect amount of green grass was gentle and smooth enough to hide their memories that would soon be lost in the forest floor.
Claire and Josie have been best friends since the moment they were born and although Josie did not remember the promise they had made many years ago, Claire had never forgotten that night and counted down the days until graduation. It was their senior year in high school; both girls had gone their own ways. Claire was the editor of the school newspaper and the Josie was the star of the girls’ soccer team, but they were able to keep their bond strong, even when things didn’t go according to plan.
As Claire guided Josie through the forests, she couldn’t help but go through every memory shared with her and wondered, had Josie really forgotten the one thing that would keep their friendship strong, the one thing that they could come back to year after year and be reminded that their friendship was on that people only wished for? Well, there was one way to find out and it was the perfect way to test their loyalty as friends.
“Okay, will you at least tell me why I had to bring a picture of us and why you are carrying a box?” asked Josie, but Claire did not reply and only smiled her big toothed grin. She handed Josie the box and pulled out a shovel and started to dig, not saying a word to Josie hoping she would figure out what was going on. Josie stood their dumbfounded and concerned that her friend wasn’t saying anything and then it hit her like a bolt of lightening, the promise, and she too started to dig. The two girls dug and dug until they felt that they had gone far enough into that ground that not even a bulldozer could find their box. It didn’t matter that the cold continued to prick their skin and obstruct them from breathing with ease; they had finally read each others mind and knew what came next.
Claire had already purchased the silver charm bracelet and placed the first two charms on the tiny silver ringlets; hers was a tiny silver pen and Josie’s was a soccer ball. When they were freshman they had decided that for their senior year they would buy a charm bracelet and place it in a box with a picture of the two of them and each year they would meet back at the place it was buried to place a new charm on it as a symbol for what their life has become. Josie felt so dumb that she had not remembered their promise and she now knew why Claire had asked to measure her hand and wrists to make sure they wore the same size. The final part about their friendship promise was that if one of them did not show up one year, the other had to take the charm bracelet and wear it forever. They placed the box in the hole with the bracelet and turned to walk away counting their steps so they would always know where to find their memories.
They walked back to their house with the trees still whispering the secrets and the animals still watching in the distance as they saw their two mysterious creatures leaking wet droplets. The sun gave off a pink light trying to fight off the dark sky which was slowly encroaching on its wondrous colors. Soon the girls went their own ways, each listening to the leaves crunch under their feet as they left the security of the well groomed forest behind. They both felt that the trees were surrounding the box, protecting it, not letting anything harm the precious friendship they were able to keep for so long. Then like clockwork they turned towards each other and blew one another a kiss with tears in their eyes and the sun finally taken by the moon, they parted from each other.
As soon as Claire got home she flopped down no her bed and wanted the New Year to come, to see if Josie kept the promise, but then she wondered if she would even be able to keep it herself. Only time would tell, and with those thoughts lingering in her head, she fell asleep on her cozy bed surrounding with pillows just like her box was surrounded with trees. Josie entered her house and sat at her kitchen table, thinking that maybe making such a final promise might not have been such a good idea. She stood up to go to her room, the table creaked like it always did and she went to bed, and closed her eyes wanting sleep to take over but was once again disappointed.
Claire and Josie have been best friends since the moment they were born and although Josie did not remember the promise they had made many years ago, Claire had never forgotten that night and counted down the days until graduation. It was their senior year in high school; both girls had gone their own ways. Claire was the editor of the school newspaper and the Josie was the star of the girls’ soccer team, but they were able to keep their bond strong, even when things didn’t go according to plan.
As Claire guided Josie through the forests, she couldn’t help but go through every memory shared with her and wondered, had Josie really forgotten the one thing that would keep their friendship strong, the one thing that they could come back to year after year and be reminded that their friendship was on that people only wished for? Well, there was one way to find out and it was the perfect way to test their loyalty as friends.
“Okay, will you at least tell me why I had to bring a picture of us and why you are carrying a box?” asked Josie, but Claire did not reply and only smiled her big toothed grin. She handed Josie the box and pulled out a shovel and started to dig, not saying a word to Josie hoping she would figure out what was going on. Josie stood their dumbfounded and concerned that her friend wasn’t saying anything and then it hit her like a bolt of lightening, the promise, and she too started to dig. The two girls dug and dug until they felt that they had gone far enough into that ground that not even a bulldozer could find their box. It didn’t matter that the cold continued to prick their skin and obstruct them from breathing with ease; they had finally read each others mind and knew what came next.
Claire had already purchased the silver charm bracelet and placed the first two charms on the tiny silver ringlets; hers was a tiny silver pen and Josie’s was a soccer ball. When they were freshman they had decided that for their senior year they would buy a charm bracelet and place it in a box with a picture of the two of them and each year they would meet back at the place it was buried to place a new charm on it as a symbol for what their life has become. Josie felt so dumb that she had not remembered their promise and she now knew why Claire had asked to measure her hand and wrists to make sure they wore the same size. The final part about their friendship promise was that if one of them did not show up one year, the other had to take the charm bracelet and wear it forever. They placed the box in the hole with the bracelet and turned to walk away counting their steps so they would always know where to find their memories.
They walked back to their house with the trees still whispering the secrets and the animals still watching in the distance as they saw their two mysterious creatures leaking wet droplets. The sun gave off a pink light trying to fight off the dark sky which was slowly encroaching on its wondrous colors. Soon the girls went their own ways, each listening to the leaves crunch under their feet as they left the security of the well groomed forest behind. They both felt that the trees were surrounding the box, protecting it, not letting anything harm the precious friendship they were able to keep for so long. Then like clockwork they turned towards each other and blew one another a kiss with tears in their eyes and the sun finally taken by the moon, they parted from each other.
As soon as Claire got home she flopped down no her bed and wanted the New Year to come, to see if Josie kept the promise, but then she wondered if she would even be able to keep it herself. Only time would tell, and with those thoughts lingering in her head, she fell asleep on her cozy bed surrounding with pillows just like her box was surrounded with trees. Josie entered her house and sat at her kitchen table, thinking that maybe making such a final promise might not have been such a good idea. She stood up to go to her room, the table creaked like it always did and she went to bed, and closed her eyes wanting sleep to take over but was once again disappointed.
Monday, October 20, 2008
WA2~Draft 2
“Where are we going Claire?” said Josie, “You will have to wait and see, it won’t be a surprise if I tell you,” replied Claire. Claire guided her best friend through the trees; they were surrounded by the sweet smell of maple and the sounds of the forests. The wind seemed to carry the unspoken words from tree to tree, like they were concealing secrets from the two mysterious creatures that walked the paths beneath them. The soft hum of animals scurrying across the cold hard ground and the feeling of unpredictable adventures happening everywhere, made the forest gleam with intrigue. Finally the two girls arrived at the perfect spot to begin their adventure; the ground was just soft and muddy enough to dig up, while the perfect amount of green grass was gentle and smooth enough to hide their memories that would soon be buried.
Claire and Josie have been best friends since the moment they were born and although Josie did not remember the promise they had made many years ago, Claire had never forgotten that night and waited for that day to come when it was finally going to be kept. It was their senior year in high school; both girls had gone their own ways. Claire was the editor of the school newspaper and the Josie was the star of the girls’ soccer team, but they were able to keep their bond strong, even when things didn’t go according to plan.
As Claire guided Josie through the forests, she couldn’t help but go through every memory shared with her and wondered, had Josie really forgotten the one thing that would keep their friendship strong, the one thing that they could come back to year after year and have no doubts that their friendship would never end? Well, there was one way to find out and it was the perfect way to test their loyalty as friends.
“Okay, will you at least tell me why I had to bring a picture of us and why you are carrying a box?” asked Josie, but Claire did not reply and only smiled her big toothed grin. She handed Josie the box and pulled out a shovel and started to dig, not saying a word to Josie hoping she would figure out what was going on. Josie stood their dumbfounded and concerned that her friend wasn’t saying anything and they it hit her like a bolt of lightening, the promise, and she too started to dig. The two girls dug and dug until they felt that they had gone far enough into that ground that not even a bulldozer could find their box. It didn’t matter that the cold continued to prick their skin and obstruct them from breathing with ease; they had finally read each others mind and knew what came next.
Claire had already purchased the silver charm bracelet and placed the first two charms on the tiny silver ringlets; hers was a tiny silver pen and Josie’s was a soccer ball. When they were freshman they had decided that for their senior year they would buy a charm bracelet and place it in a box with a picture of the two of them and each year they would meet back at the place it was buried to place a new charm on it as a symbol for what their life has become. Josie felt so dumb that she had not remembered their promise and she now knew why Claire had asked to measure her hand and wrists to make sure they wore the same size. The final part about their friendship promise was that if one of them did not show up one year, the other had to take the charm bracelet and wear it forever. They placed the box in the hole with the bracelet and turned to walk away counting their steps so they would always know where to find their memories.
They walked back to their house with the trees still whispering the secrets and the animals still watching in the distance. The sun gave off a pink light with a dark sky slowly encroaching on its wondrous colors and soon the girls went their on ways, each listening to the leaves crunch under their feet as they left the security of the well groomed forest behind. They both felt that the trees were surrounding the box, protecting it, not letting anything harm the precious friendship they were able to keep for so long. Then like clockwork they turned towards each other and blew one another a kiss with tears in their eyes and the sun finally taken by the moon, they parted from each other.
As soon as Claire got home she flopped down no her bed and wanted the New Year to come, to see if Josie kept the promise, but then she wondered if she would even be able to keep it herself. Only time would tell, and with those thoughts lingering in her head, she fell asleep on her cozy bed surrounding with pillows just like her box was surrounded with trees. Josie entered her house and sat at her kitchen table, thinking that maybe making such a final promise might not have been such a good idea. She stood up to go to her room, the table creaked like it always did and she went to bed, but never fell asleep.
Claire and Josie have been best friends since the moment they were born and although Josie did not remember the promise they had made many years ago, Claire had never forgotten that night and waited for that day to come when it was finally going to be kept. It was their senior year in high school; both girls had gone their own ways. Claire was the editor of the school newspaper and the Josie was the star of the girls’ soccer team, but they were able to keep their bond strong, even when things didn’t go according to plan.
As Claire guided Josie through the forests, she couldn’t help but go through every memory shared with her and wondered, had Josie really forgotten the one thing that would keep their friendship strong, the one thing that they could come back to year after year and have no doubts that their friendship would never end? Well, there was one way to find out and it was the perfect way to test their loyalty as friends.
“Okay, will you at least tell me why I had to bring a picture of us and why you are carrying a box?” asked Josie, but Claire did not reply and only smiled her big toothed grin. She handed Josie the box and pulled out a shovel and started to dig, not saying a word to Josie hoping she would figure out what was going on. Josie stood their dumbfounded and concerned that her friend wasn’t saying anything and they it hit her like a bolt of lightening, the promise, and she too started to dig. The two girls dug and dug until they felt that they had gone far enough into that ground that not even a bulldozer could find their box. It didn’t matter that the cold continued to prick their skin and obstruct them from breathing with ease; they had finally read each others mind and knew what came next.
Claire had already purchased the silver charm bracelet and placed the first two charms on the tiny silver ringlets; hers was a tiny silver pen and Josie’s was a soccer ball. When they were freshman they had decided that for their senior year they would buy a charm bracelet and place it in a box with a picture of the two of them and each year they would meet back at the place it was buried to place a new charm on it as a symbol for what their life has become. Josie felt so dumb that she had not remembered their promise and she now knew why Claire had asked to measure her hand and wrists to make sure they wore the same size. The final part about their friendship promise was that if one of them did not show up one year, the other had to take the charm bracelet and wear it forever. They placed the box in the hole with the bracelet and turned to walk away counting their steps so they would always know where to find their memories.
They walked back to their house with the trees still whispering the secrets and the animals still watching in the distance. The sun gave off a pink light with a dark sky slowly encroaching on its wondrous colors and soon the girls went their on ways, each listening to the leaves crunch under their feet as they left the security of the well groomed forest behind. They both felt that the trees were surrounding the box, protecting it, not letting anything harm the precious friendship they were able to keep for so long. Then like clockwork they turned towards each other and blew one another a kiss with tears in their eyes and the sun finally taken by the moon, they parted from each other.
As soon as Claire got home she flopped down no her bed and wanted the New Year to come, to see if Josie kept the promise, but then she wondered if she would even be able to keep it herself. Only time would tell, and with those thoughts lingering in her head, she fell asleep on her cozy bed surrounding with pillows just like her box was surrounded with trees. Josie entered her house and sat at her kitchen table, thinking that maybe making such a final promise might not have been such a good idea. She stood up to go to her room, the table creaked like it always did and she went to bed, but never fell asleep.
Monday, October 13, 2008
WA2~Draft 1
“Where are we going Claire?” said Josie, “You will have to wait and see, it won’t be a surprise if I tell you,” replied Claire. Claire guided her best friend through the trees; they were surrounded by the sweet smell of maple and the sounds of the forests. The wind seemed to carry the unspoken words from tree to tree, like they were concealing secrets from the two mysterious creatures that walked the paths beneath them. The soft hum of animals scurrying across the cold hard ground and the feeling of unpredictable adventures happening everywhere, made the forest gleam with intrigue. Finally the two girls arrived at the perfect spot to begin their adventure; the ground was just soft and muddy enough to dig up, while the perfect amount of green grass was gentle and smooth enough to hide their secrets that would soon be buried.
Claire and Josie have been best friends since the moment they were born and although Josie did not remember the promise they had made many years ago, Claire was fully aware that it was finally going to be kept. It was their senior year in high school, both girls had gone their own ways, Claire was the editor of the school newspaper and the Josie was the star of the girls soccer team, but they kept their bond strong, even when things didn’t go according to plan. As Claire guided Josie through the forests, she couldn’t help but go through every memory shared with her and wondered, had Josie really forgotten the one thing that would keep their friendship strong, the one thing that they could come back to year after year and have no doubts that their friendship would never end? Well, there was one way to find out and it was the perfect way to test their loyalty as friends.
“Okay, will you at least tell me why I had to bring a picture of us and why you are carrying a box?” asked Josie, but Claire did not reply and only smiled her big toothed grin. She handed Josie the box and pulled out a shovel and started to dig, not saying a word to Josie hoping she would figure out what was going on. Josie stood their dumbfounded and concerned that her friend wasn’t saying anything and they it hit her like a bolt of lightening during a thunder storm, the promise, and she too started to dig. The two girls dug and dug until they felt that they had gone far enough into that ground that not even a bulldozer could find their box. It didn’t matter that the cold continued to prick their skin or take their breath away in sharp pains, they had finally read each others mind and knew what came next.
Claire had already purchased the silver charm bracelet and placed the first two charms on the tiny silver ringlets; hers was a tiny silver pen and Josie’s was a soccer ball. When they were freshman they had decided that for their senior year they would buy a charm bracelet and place it in a box with a picture of the two of them and each year they would meet back at the place it was buried to place a new charm on it as a symbol for what their life has become. Josie felt so dumb that she had not remembered their promise and she now knew why Claire had asked to measure her hand and wrists to make sure they wore the same size. The final part about their friendship promise was that if one of them did not show up one year, the other had to take the charm bracelet and wear it forever.
They walked back to their house with the trees still whispering the secrets and the animals still watching in the distance. The sun gave off a pink light with a dark sky slowly encroaching on its wondrous colors and soon the girls went their on ways, each listening to the leaves crunch under their feet as they left the security of the well groomed forest behind. They both felt that the trees were surrounding the box, protecting it, not letting anything harm the precious friendship they were able to keep for so long. Then like clockwork they turned towards each other and blew one another a kiss and placed their hands on their hearts, a handshake they came up with as little girls, with tears in their eyes and the sun finally taken by the moon, they parted from each other.
As soon as Claire got home she flopped down no her bed and wanted the New Year to come, to see if Josie kept the promise, but then she wondered if she would even be able to keep it herself. Only time would tell, and with those thoughts lingering in her head, she fell asleep on her cozy bed surrounding with pillows just like her box was surrounded with trees. Josie entered her house and sat at her kitchen table, thinking that maybe making such a final promise might not have been such a good idea. She stood up to go to her room, the table creaked like it always did and she went to bed, but never fell asleep.
Claire and Josie have been best friends since the moment they were born and although Josie did not remember the promise they had made many years ago, Claire was fully aware that it was finally going to be kept. It was their senior year in high school, both girls had gone their own ways, Claire was the editor of the school newspaper and the Josie was the star of the girls soccer team, but they kept their bond strong, even when things didn’t go according to plan. As Claire guided Josie through the forests, she couldn’t help but go through every memory shared with her and wondered, had Josie really forgotten the one thing that would keep their friendship strong, the one thing that they could come back to year after year and have no doubts that their friendship would never end? Well, there was one way to find out and it was the perfect way to test their loyalty as friends.
“Okay, will you at least tell me why I had to bring a picture of us and why you are carrying a box?” asked Josie, but Claire did not reply and only smiled her big toothed grin. She handed Josie the box and pulled out a shovel and started to dig, not saying a word to Josie hoping she would figure out what was going on. Josie stood their dumbfounded and concerned that her friend wasn’t saying anything and they it hit her like a bolt of lightening during a thunder storm, the promise, and she too started to dig. The two girls dug and dug until they felt that they had gone far enough into that ground that not even a bulldozer could find their box. It didn’t matter that the cold continued to prick their skin or take their breath away in sharp pains, they had finally read each others mind and knew what came next.
Claire had already purchased the silver charm bracelet and placed the first two charms on the tiny silver ringlets; hers was a tiny silver pen and Josie’s was a soccer ball. When they were freshman they had decided that for their senior year they would buy a charm bracelet and place it in a box with a picture of the two of them and each year they would meet back at the place it was buried to place a new charm on it as a symbol for what their life has become. Josie felt so dumb that she had not remembered their promise and she now knew why Claire had asked to measure her hand and wrists to make sure they wore the same size. The final part about their friendship promise was that if one of them did not show up one year, the other had to take the charm bracelet and wear it forever.
They walked back to their house with the trees still whispering the secrets and the animals still watching in the distance. The sun gave off a pink light with a dark sky slowly encroaching on its wondrous colors and soon the girls went their on ways, each listening to the leaves crunch under their feet as they left the security of the well groomed forest behind. They both felt that the trees were surrounding the box, protecting it, not letting anything harm the precious friendship they were able to keep for so long. Then like clockwork they turned towards each other and blew one another a kiss and placed their hands on their hearts, a handshake they came up with as little girls, with tears in their eyes and the sun finally taken by the moon, they parted from each other.
As soon as Claire got home she flopped down no her bed and wanted the New Year to come, to see if Josie kept the promise, but then she wondered if she would even be able to keep it herself. Only time would tell, and with those thoughts lingering in her head, she fell asleep on her cozy bed surrounding with pillows just like her box was surrounded with trees. Josie entered her house and sat at her kitchen table, thinking that maybe making such a final promise might not have been such a good idea. She stood up to go to her room, the table creaked like it always did and she went to bed, but never fell asleep.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
WA1 - Final Draft
Every family has that one person, that when they walk into a room you can just feel their presence; my grandmother was that one person. When she would enter a room I would smile because it felt like anything bad that happened that day had been washed away by her presence. She was able to convince any body that she was right and most of the time she was. Her independence and composure was astounding, it almost seemed as if she had no fears and could take down anything that came at her except the one thing that no one has been able to defeat. When I was about 11, I found out my grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer and she had to undergo chemo therapy. My grandmother having cancer was like going through a 3 step process which led up to one of the worst days a person has to endure. Each step made it harder to go an visit her, because each step led me closer to believing that her life was going to end a lot sooner than any of us imagined.
One weekend I went to visit my grandmother with my mom and sister, and as we entered the house, the smell of molasses cookies filled the room just as it did every time we went to see her. She had the sales ads out on the table, because she knew that we would want to do a little shopping when we were there, it seemed as if everything was normal and we all forgot that she had cancer. That’s when I had to take the first step, which was accepting the fact that she was sick, however I didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. No one seemed too worried and we all stood around laughing and having a good time the same as always and it gave us all hope that maybe everything just might turn out the way we want. On our next visit I noticed that when we arrived there were no cookies to greet us and the sales ads were no where to be seen. It took her a tremendous amount of effort to climb up and down stairs; I knew she had started chemo but I never thought it would make her so weak. However I was still in the stage that where I thought that it would eventually pass and I didn’t stop to consider that she may be getting worse. She had started to loose hair and had to wear a wrap around her head whenever we went out but she was still the same grandmother that she had been before she was diagnosed. Soon after, I noticed that she became exhausted easily and sometimes would have to pass on going out to shop and going to see movies and it not only began to make me nervous but it made me upset to know that she was becoming weaker everyday. I didn’t want to believe the fact that she was sick and I might loose her, so I just kept acting like everything was okay, when in reality it was getting worse.
As time passed, and I noticed that my grandmother was getting worse and worse I realized that I didn’t know how she got lung cancer; I never saw her smoke a cigarette or anything of the sort and I became confused. When I was 9 my grandfather had died because of smoking and I assumed since my grandmother saw it kill her husband she would never think to do the same thing. It wasn’t until she became sick that my mom told me my grandmother smoked at most one cigarette a day maybe not even that and it shocked me. When I heard that she was willing to put herself through this kind of thing even after having lost her husband to a similar cause made me angry with her. I never expressed that I was upset around her because she looked so fragile, but to know that she could have prevented her cancer and lived a little while longer was unnerving and frustrating because besides the smoking she was in excellent health. I wanted to yell at her and ask her why she did it, knowing full well it could kill her but I had to contain myself and savoir what little time was left. It was a painful stage to go through and it still upsets me and at times I feel bad for being mad at her for her own death and I have to remember her as my grandmother before I found out about her bad habit, although sometimes it is a little difficult.
As I entered the house that day, I could feel the tears welling in my eyes and even though no one told me, it was obvious why we had come to visit, my mom was crying harder than usual. I remember the day perfectly, she was lying in a hospital bed down in her basement and it was almost as if the woman lying there wasn’t my grandmother almost as if I was meeting a whole new person.. My grandmother had always been a strong independent woman and seeing her lying their unable to do anything for herself made it even harder to look at her. My mom, my sister and I sat beside her bed talking to her for a long time and I didn’t want to leave because I knew the minute I was gone I had officially said goodbye. The worst part came when I had to lean in and give her a big hug and she looked at me and said “I love you,” and I as I was saying it back I was trying so hard not to cry in front of her. We walked up the stairs and I immediately started to cry and I remember getting in the car and driving away with the worst feeling a person could have in the pit of my stomach. The only thing I could ever regret about going to see her that day, was having my last memory of her being her lying in a hospital bed looking almost breakable but it was worth it to see her again. All of my emotions rushed through me, anger, sadness, love, it all came out and I didn’t know how to handle it, let alone control it, the pain she felt mixed with the pain I felt from knowing I had lost her.
Most people have gone through the pain of loosing someone close to them and it is never an easy process. The truth is though, that they never leave you and that it’s a way of life and there is nothing you can do about it. When my grandmother finally passed, I remember my mom telling me that she would want me to smile and not to cry over her because she would want me to continue being happy. Furthermore, as long as you never forget the memories you shared, you will never forget them. I know that I was afraid I would stop thinking about her and forget her completely. Luckily, I remember all of the entertaining and fun things we did with her like staying up late watching movies and laughing. Those are the memories that matter and the ones that you will never forget.
One weekend I went to visit my grandmother with my mom and sister, and as we entered the house, the smell of molasses cookies filled the room just as it did every time we went to see her. She had the sales ads out on the table, because she knew that we would want to do a little shopping when we were there, it seemed as if everything was normal and we all forgot that she had cancer. That’s when I had to take the first step, which was accepting the fact that she was sick, however I didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. No one seemed too worried and we all stood around laughing and having a good time the same as always and it gave us all hope that maybe everything just might turn out the way we want. On our next visit I noticed that when we arrived there were no cookies to greet us and the sales ads were no where to be seen. It took her a tremendous amount of effort to climb up and down stairs; I knew she had started chemo but I never thought it would make her so weak. However I was still in the stage that where I thought that it would eventually pass and I didn’t stop to consider that she may be getting worse. She had started to loose hair and had to wear a wrap around her head whenever we went out but she was still the same grandmother that she had been before she was diagnosed. Soon after, I noticed that she became exhausted easily and sometimes would have to pass on going out to shop and going to see movies and it not only began to make me nervous but it made me upset to know that she was becoming weaker everyday. I didn’t want to believe the fact that she was sick and I might loose her, so I just kept acting like everything was okay, when in reality it was getting worse.
As time passed, and I noticed that my grandmother was getting worse and worse I realized that I didn’t know how she got lung cancer; I never saw her smoke a cigarette or anything of the sort and I became confused. When I was 9 my grandfather had died because of smoking and I assumed since my grandmother saw it kill her husband she would never think to do the same thing. It wasn’t until she became sick that my mom told me my grandmother smoked at most one cigarette a day maybe not even that and it shocked me. When I heard that she was willing to put herself through this kind of thing even after having lost her husband to a similar cause made me angry with her. I never expressed that I was upset around her because she looked so fragile, but to know that she could have prevented her cancer and lived a little while longer was unnerving and frustrating because besides the smoking she was in excellent health. I wanted to yell at her and ask her why she did it, knowing full well it could kill her but I had to contain myself and savoir what little time was left. It was a painful stage to go through and it still upsets me and at times I feel bad for being mad at her for her own death and I have to remember her as my grandmother before I found out about her bad habit, although sometimes it is a little difficult.
As I entered the house that day, I could feel the tears welling in my eyes and even though no one told me, it was obvious why we had come to visit, my mom was crying harder than usual. I remember the day perfectly, she was lying in a hospital bed down in her basement and it was almost as if the woman lying there wasn’t my grandmother almost as if I was meeting a whole new person.. My grandmother had always been a strong independent woman and seeing her lying their unable to do anything for herself made it even harder to look at her. My mom, my sister and I sat beside her bed talking to her for a long time and I didn’t want to leave because I knew the minute I was gone I had officially said goodbye. The worst part came when I had to lean in and give her a big hug and she looked at me and said “I love you,” and I as I was saying it back I was trying so hard not to cry in front of her. We walked up the stairs and I immediately started to cry and I remember getting in the car and driving away with the worst feeling a person could have in the pit of my stomach. The only thing I could ever regret about going to see her that day, was having my last memory of her being her lying in a hospital bed looking almost breakable but it was worth it to see her again. All of my emotions rushed through me, anger, sadness, love, it all came out and I didn’t know how to handle it, let alone control it, the pain she felt mixed with the pain I felt from knowing I had lost her.
Most people have gone through the pain of loosing someone close to them and it is never an easy process. The truth is though, that they never leave you and that it’s a way of life and there is nothing you can do about it. When my grandmother finally passed, I remember my mom telling me that she would want me to smile and not to cry over her because she would want me to continue being happy. Furthermore, as long as you never forget the memories you shared, you will never forget them. I know that I was afraid I would stop thinking about her and forget her completely. Luckily, I remember all of the entertaining and fun things we did with her like staying up late watching movies and laughing. Those are the memories that matter and the ones that you will never forget.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
WA - 2
Every family has that one person, that when they walk into a room you can just feel their presence; my grandmother was that one person. She was able to convince any body that she was right and most of the time she was. Her independence and composure was astounding, it almost seemed as if she had no fears and could take down anything that came at her except the one thing that no on can defeat. When I was about 10 or 11, I found out my grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer and she had to undergo chemo therapy. My grandmother having cancer was like going through a 3 step process which led up to one of the worst days ever. Each step made it harder to go an visit her, because each step led me closer to believing that her life was going to end a lot sooner than any of us imagined.
One weekend I went to visit my grandmother with my mom and sister, and as we entered the house, the smell of molasses cookies filled the room just as it did every time we went to see her. She had the sales ads out on the table, because she knew that we would want to do a little shopping when we were there, it seemed as if everything was normal and we all forgot that she has cancer. That’s when I had to take the first step, which was accepting the fact that she was sick, however I didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. No one was too worried and we all stood around laughing and having a good time the same as always and it gave us all hope that maybe everything just might turn out the way we want. On our next visit I noticed that when we arrived there were no cookies to greet us and my grandmother looked extremely tired. I knew she had started chemo but I never thought it would make her so weak. However I was still in the stage that where I thought that it would eventually pass and I didn’t stop to consider that she maybe getting worse. She had started to loose hair and had to wear a wrap around her head whenever we went out but she was still the same grandmother that she had been before she was diagnosed, which gave everyone hope. Soon after, I noticed that she became tired very easily and sometimes would have to pass on going out to shop and going to see movies and it not only began to make me nervous but it made me upset to know that she was becoming weaker everyday. I didn’t want to believe the fact that she was sick and I might loose her, so I just kept acting like everything was okay, when in reality it was getting worse.
As time passed, and I noticed that my grandmother was getting worse and worse and I realized that I didn’t know how she got lung cancer; I never saw her smoke a cigarette or anything of the sort and I became confused. When I was 9 my grandfather had died because of smoking and I assumed since my grandmother saw it kill her husband she would never think to do the same thing. It wasn’t until she became sick that my mom told me my grandmother smoked at most one cigarette a day maybe not even that and it shocked me. When I heard that she was willing to put herself through this kind of thing even after having lost her husband to a similar cause made me angry with her. I never expressed that I was upset around her because she looked so fragile, but to know that she could have prevented her cancer and lived a little while longer was unnerving and frustrating because besides the smoking she was in excellent health. I wanted to yell at her and ask her why she did it, knowing full well it could kill her but I had to contain myself and savoir what little time was left. It was a painful stage to go through and it still upsets me and at times I feel bad for being mad at her for her own death and I have to remember her as my grandmother before I found out about her bad habit, although sometimes it is a little difficult.
As I entered the house, I could feel the tears welling in my eyes and even though no one told me, it was obvious just by how everyone in the house was acting, my mom was crying harder than usual. I remember the day perfectly, she was lying in a hospital bed down in her basement and it was almost as if the woman lying there wasn’t my grandmother. My grandmother had always been a strong independent woman and seeing her lying their unable to do anything for herself made it even harder to look at her. My mom, my sister and I sat beside her bed talking to her for a long time and I didn’t want to leave because I knew the minute I was gone I had officially said goodbye. The worst part came when I had to lean in and give her a big hug and she looked at me and said “I love you,” and I as I was saying it back I was trying so hard not to cry in front of her. We walked up the stairs and I immediately started to cry and I remember getting in the car and driving away with the worst feeling a person could have in the pit of my stomach. The only thing I could ever regret about going to see her that day, was having my last memory of her being her lying in a hospital bed looking almost breakable but it was worth it to see her again. All of my emotions rushed through me, anger, sadness, love, it all came out and I didn’t know how to handle it, let alone control it, the pain she felt mixed with the pain I felt from knowing I had lost her.
Most people have gone through the pain of loosing someone close to them and it is never a hard process. The truth is though, that they never leave you and that it’s a way of life and there is nothing you can do about it. When my grandmother finally passed, I remember my mom telling me that she would want me to smile and not to cry over her because she would want me to continue being happy. Furthermore, as long as you never forget the memories you shared its ok to be happy when they are gone. I know that I was afraid I would get in trouble if I laughed even a little at a joke but my mom reassured me and now I no longer have that sad memory of my grandmother lying in a bed, instead I only remember all of the entertaining and fun things we did with her. The hardest part was just letting go and it eventually became better although I never actually stop thinking about her, which in my mind is a good thing.
One weekend I went to visit my grandmother with my mom and sister, and as we entered the house, the smell of molasses cookies filled the room just as it did every time we went to see her. She had the sales ads out on the table, because she knew that we would want to do a little shopping when we were there, it seemed as if everything was normal and we all forgot that she has cancer. That’s when I had to take the first step, which was accepting the fact that she was sick, however I didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. No one was too worried and we all stood around laughing and having a good time the same as always and it gave us all hope that maybe everything just might turn out the way we want. On our next visit I noticed that when we arrived there were no cookies to greet us and my grandmother looked extremely tired. I knew she had started chemo but I never thought it would make her so weak. However I was still in the stage that where I thought that it would eventually pass and I didn’t stop to consider that she maybe getting worse. She had started to loose hair and had to wear a wrap around her head whenever we went out but she was still the same grandmother that she had been before she was diagnosed, which gave everyone hope. Soon after, I noticed that she became tired very easily and sometimes would have to pass on going out to shop and going to see movies and it not only began to make me nervous but it made me upset to know that she was becoming weaker everyday. I didn’t want to believe the fact that she was sick and I might loose her, so I just kept acting like everything was okay, when in reality it was getting worse.
As time passed, and I noticed that my grandmother was getting worse and worse and I realized that I didn’t know how she got lung cancer; I never saw her smoke a cigarette or anything of the sort and I became confused. When I was 9 my grandfather had died because of smoking and I assumed since my grandmother saw it kill her husband she would never think to do the same thing. It wasn’t until she became sick that my mom told me my grandmother smoked at most one cigarette a day maybe not even that and it shocked me. When I heard that she was willing to put herself through this kind of thing even after having lost her husband to a similar cause made me angry with her. I never expressed that I was upset around her because she looked so fragile, but to know that she could have prevented her cancer and lived a little while longer was unnerving and frustrating because besides the smoking she was in excellent health. I wanted to yell at her and ask her why she did it, knowing full well it could kill her but I had to contain myself and savoir what little time was left. It was a painful stage to go through and it still upsets me and at times I feel bad for being mad at her for her own death and I have to remember her as my grandmother before I found out about her bad habit, although sometimes it is a little difficult.
As I entered the house, I could feel the tears welling in my eyes and even though no one told me, it was obvious just by how everyone in the house was acting, my mom was crying harder than usual. I remember the day perfectly, she was lying in a hospital bed down in her basement and it was almost as if the woman lying there wasn’t my grandmother. My grandmother had always been a strong independent woman and seeing her lying their unable to do anything for herself made it even harder to look at her. My mom, my sister and I sat beside her bed talking to her for a long time and I didn’t want to leave because I knew the minute I was gone I had officially said goodbye. The worst part came when I had to lean in and give her a big hug and she looked at me and said “I love you,” and I as I was saying it back I was trying so hard not to cry in front of her. We walked up the stairs and I immediately started to cry and I remember getting in the car and driving away with the worst feeling a person could have in the pit of my stomach. The only thing I could ever regret about going to see her that day, was having my last memory of her being her lying in a hospital bed looking almost breakable but it was worth it to see her again. All of my emotions rushed through me, anger, sadness, love, it all came out and I didn’t know how to handle it, let alone control it, the pain she felt mixed with the pain I felt from knowing I had lost her.
Most people have gone through the pain of loosing someone close to them and it is never a hard process. The truth is though, that they never leave you and that it’s a way of life and there is nothing you can do about it. When my grandmother finally passed, I remember my mom telling me that she would want me to smile and not to cry over her because she would want me to continue being happy. Furthermore, as long as you never forget the memories you shared its ok to be happy when they are gone. I know that I was afraid I would get in trouble if I laughed even a little at a joke but my mom reassured me and now I no longer have that sad memory of my grandmother lying in a bed, instead I only remember all of the entertaining and fun things we did with her. The hardest part was just letting go and it eventually became better although I never actually stop thinking about her, which in my mind is a good thing.
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