PART III

One time that I recall I was completely stopped in my tracks was the summer of 98. I was just out of eigth grade and the summer just began. It was early June and a hot summer day. My older sister was at my neighbor's pool swimming with her friends. My older sister Lacey is two years older than I am and probably the most pain tollerant person I have ever met. She was playing all kinds of water games with my neighbor's and it was her turn to dive into the pool. She was a great high diver. From what I understand she did a high dive off the diving board and landed straight in the water. However, instead of popping up immediately after her dive, she hit her head with all her body weight on the bottom of the underground pool. After the intense contact she floated to the surface of the pool and was paralyzed for about two minutes and couldn't move.

Face down in the water my neighbor dove in the pool and pulled her to the side. My sister then regained consciousness and walked out of the pool in discomfort. After a few minutes of trying to comprehend what had just happened to her she walked back to our house and told my mom that she hit her head in the pool and she wasn't feeling well. Lacey then asked my mom to rub her neck because she said it was really sore. My mom then began to massage the area's of her neck that she requested to be rubbed. My sister went for two days without telling my mom to the extent of what had happened and the real pain that she was experiencing. She was completely unable to move her head. She sat with her shoulders hunched and said nothing. Finally my mother noticed one day that my sister began to cry just when she thought no one was looking. My mom decided at that moment it was time to take her into the Doctors office for an x-ray.

After the x-ray was evaluated the doctor was shocked at what he found. My sister had crushed two vertebra and fractured another. The doctor told my mom that if she moves her head forward one forth of an inch she will be paralyzed from the neck down permanently. She was rushed to the hospital and scheduled an emergency nerosurgery with a specialist. She had a 50/50 chance of recovery with no pararlysis. I spent two weeks in the hospital with my sister by her side, watching movies, coloring pictures, playing video games, reading her cards to her, and what ever activity I could entertain her with. She had an amazing recovery. No paralysis and she didn't even need a halo, which is a neck brace that the surgen has to screw into her temples in her head. Lacey wore a neck brace for a year after the surgery. She has a long scar on her neck, and a very large scar on her hip. The Surgen took a large chuck of her pelvic bone from her right hip and fused it on to her 4th and 5th vertebra.

I was competely dead in my tracks during this entire experience. The tought of my sister not ever being able to swim, run, walk, or even feed herself again. It was a very difficult experience for our family, but we lived through it and to our fortune came out on top. Truely by the grace of God.

THE DONALD
If I was a ghost I would haunt Donald Trump. I would follow The Donald across the world in his personal jets and stay with him in his countless mansions. I chose The Donald because he has wasted so much money and is so greedy that I would constantly be telling him to give his money away to charity. I would follow The Donald all of his life because I am pretty sure that he wouldn't give any money way until he was on his death bed. But the rest of his life he would be hearing voices and be seeing visions because I wouldn't let him sleep a single day without making him feel guilty for all the money he has wasted on five star hotels, expensive jewlery, and etc... By the end of his life all his money would be donated to people who need it.

CHUCK NORRIS
SIMILE
Chuck Norris is like a burning rash that spreads with every late night info-mercial

METAPHOR
Every time I see Walker Texas Ranger Chuck Norris's face is a circus clown that haunts me in my dreams.

REECE'S
SIMILE
Reece's Peanut Butter Cups are like the Kreb's Cycle, without it life is not worth living

METAPHOR
Reece's Peanut Butter Cups are a golden coins, the value is worth while

Kitties
SIMILE
Kitties are like disguised demons, with premedated intentions already unfolding

METAPHOR
Kitties are house inspectors they know every inch and cranny

I woke up one morning without the faintest idea of what happened to me last night. I couldn't even figure out where I was. It was dark and I couldn't see any windows or lights. I tried to recall my last memory. When suddenly I noticed that my legs were missing. They had been severed just above the knees. I thought to myself, maybe staying out late last night wasn't the best idea. I didn't know what to do at that moment in time, I was in quite a bit of pain and still drowsy. I wasn't even totally sure it was the next day or the next week. I decided to drag my self to one side of the room and try to find a way out. I crawled for what felt like an hour but I couldn't even find a wall. I wasn't sure if I should yell for help because I didn't know if somebody or something was gonna hurt me even more.

Suddenly a light flickered in the corner. It was very dim and I saw a painting on the wall. It was so dark I could hardly see, but it looked like......me. I crawled closer and closer and noticed IT WAS ME. It was a painting of me lying on the ground unconscious with no legs. What have I gotten myself into? I don't remember anything from last night and there is a painting of what happened to me on the wall. So I decided I better get out of this place. Where is there to go? It's so dark I can't see anything then I remembered I had a lighter, a stick, and gas soaked rags in my pocket. So I wrapped the rags around the stick and lit them on fire. Now I could see so I saw a light at the end of the tunnel and ran for it and was now in Tiajuna and decided to start drinking again! And so the story starts again.

Determination
I decided to describe this word in detail according to my life because -Yes I am a third year student in a freshman English course. The reason I am in this is course is because of the determination to get accepted into the MSU Nursing program. I fucked up freshman year I went to class when I felt like it. Its not that I failed out or hopped onto the academic probation list or anything I just had different priorities. I was bouncing back and forth between a couple different majors that I would be able to graduate early and really enjoy. It hit me one day, actually it hit me two nights in the hospital... I was admitted into the hospital with appendicitis and needed to go into emergency surgery because my appendix was about to burst. I had the best care from the nursing staff, they made me feel comfortable and knowledgable on what exactly was going on with my body. From that experience it hit me.... I AM going to be a nurse. I want to care for people and I am fascinated with the medical field. I shocked myself at this decision with the orignal intention of becoming an interior designer and international business major, I took a 180. After coming to the absolute decision that this is what I want to do I met with my advisor and told her my plan. My advisor looked at me with a blank stare and told me that pretty much it was unabtainable to reach this goal of becoming a nurse. She advised me to think of alternative majors, in which some that may be more "reasonable". Not expecting this type of enforcement from her, I decided that its my life and I am going to do it anyway. Determination is something that occurs when you have an end goal in mind and you do whatever it takes to get there. The shortcomings and bullshit don't matter.

PLACE~
A place that has a lot of meaning to me is Lake Koronis. For the past couple summers this has been my getway location. I have been dating Milan for the past two -maybe three years. He lives on a beautiful huge lake. It is so enjoyable all year around, but in the summer it comes alive! It is a touristy town in which many homes around the lake are only occupied in the summer with families who venture out for a break from corporate life.

I have many fun memories of Lake Koronis. I learned how to wakeboard there, it is the first time that I was apart of a five person tubing wars. Each summer I can't think of a better way to spend the few but goregous hot summer days in Minnesota. There are always friends around on a typical weekend. We usually spend the entire day on the lake doing a variety of watersports and sun bathing. The night cap consists of grilling food, and drinking beers then starting the all over again the next afternoon. Serenity....


SOUNDS~
I love sounds of faint activity. For example in the summer at Lake Koronis listening to boats drive by and people laughing. Or waking up to chipmunks chasing each other through the leaves in the tree just outside of my window. It could even be the sound of someone making breakfast or coffee in the morning while I lay awake in my bed. I enjoy sounds that I can sit and relax too, its very calming to me. I don't necessarily want to engage in conversation just listen in while my imagination drifts onto other things of a different nature. Maybe it is music on the boat playing while someone wakeboards, tubes, or swims.

One of my favorite things is laying in the hamock on a warm summer day with a light blanket wrapped around me listening to the sounds of the active lake. For example the sound of the waves crashing on shore will put me to sleep instantaneously. Another example is if I am layin out on the dock in the sun and I hear faint foot steps grow louder as they hustle towards me on the pier. I guess that it is the sounds of summer that I really enjoy. Its the sound of fun, relaxation, a care free lifestyle, and it comes around every year when you need it most. The sounds of summer is very comforting to me.

I skipped class in order to...
Extreme regret for not coming to class...

It was a Friday afternoon and I skipped class in order to meet a blind date that I met over the internet. This was no ordinary blind date, we met each other in a chat room conversing our feeling towards George Lucas's directing skills in the Revenge of the Sith. I was instantly captured by this mystery man's ability to evoke such emotion in me regarding my favorite films. We have been talking to each other at 9pm every night for the last two weeks. Finally we came to the decision to meet for lunch this Friday afternoon. I remembered that I had a fascinating English course at that time, but it seemed to meaningless to go, especially since I was about to meet the man of my dreams. I thought Jared would understand.

He called me this morning and confirmed our lunch plans to meet at Panera at noon. I had gotten up early and readied myself to the best I could and headed out the door to meet my tantlizing Tyrone or whatever his name is. I arrived a bit late so I could make my entrance and there he was sitting a a table with a white rose and a DVD. I knew that was him. I strolled over to the table and looked at the nervous man who wouldn't even look up to see if I was his lunch date. I coughed. Nothing. Then I cleared my throat. Still no glance in my direction. I finally said something and introduced myself. He was wearing a teal sports coat and black loafers. He looked so sexy. I wondered if he remembered that teal was my favorite color, and loafers are so classic. I ordered my lunch, and paid for myself. First strike I thought. We began to talk a bit about the weather, and not much else. I was growing board by the minute.

Then suddenly a load abnoxious sound came from his sports coat. The sound was a cell phone ring of Jessica Simpson. Weird, Strike Two. He actually excused himself from the table to take the phone call. Unfortunately however, he didn't go far enough and I over heard his entire conversation with his mother. The volume of his cell couldn't have been any louder. She was very upset with him. His mother was yelling and explaining that the school attendance office called and reported that his absense. She demanded his where about and said that she was on her way. Ok just how old is this guy, I thought.

He nervously approached me at the table and told me that he had to be back at the office. I laughed for a moment. I explained to him that he didn't look a day over 22 and I over heard his conversation with his mother. Then I finally grew some balls, and asked him just exactly how old he was. He told me that yes indeed it was his mother on the phone and he did skip school to meet me. Also he had borrowed his dad's sport coat, and loafers. He also admitted that he is 15, and bummed a ride from a friend this morning on his way to school and he had been there since 8:30 am. Also, to make matters worse his mom is coming to pick him up right now.

I turned bright red, I could feel the heat of embarassment run through my veins. I didn't say a single word to this kid, I picked up my purse and pulled my car keys out and walked as fast as I could to toward the restaurant exit then to my car. I looked over my shoulder and saw a middle aged woman park her car. Then she and ran to the entrance into Panera. I got into my car and locked the doors and tried to escape the humilation of the situation. I looked into my rear mirrow and saw the woman leave with her son aka my date with his ear in her hand. She was pulling his ear like a child. Oh My God get me outta here, I thought.

I went home a took a long shower. After leaving the bathroom I sat on my bed and decided reflected on the last hour of my life. I will never skipp class for a blind date again.

ASS 5
For assignment number five I am going to use a previous flash fiction. I'm going to add to the story to make it fit the length requirements. It should make it very interesting to have it peer reviewed. I wrote a few FF in creative writing class last semester. Writing FF is fun and allows you to express yourself creatively. The stories are from events that have occured in my life but elaborated. So the story that I chose will be partially true but a tad elaborated. I am debating between a couple different stories. The first story is written in narrative format and is based on a college prank that my dad pulled on his friend. Its hilarious! The other story that I am looking into is about my first job in a hardware store and a very embarassing moment in my life, which is also a bit ridiculous.