Family is one of the most important things to me. I grew up in a huge family; I have 20 cousins who are 2 feet from my reach, 5 whom are about an hour drive, a sister, a brother in law, my parents, grandparents, nephew and all of my Aunts and Uncles. A lot of people aren't close with their cousins because they are usually extended family who live in other areas; my cousins are my neighbors and my best friends. Every single one of them is basically a brother or sister to me and I love them all with all of my heart. We all spend every single holiday together, every birthday together, every graduation together and basically every day together.
If you read my first blog entry, you will know what I am about to talk about in this section of my blog. When my moms situation erupted, I felt like I had no one with me, like I was going to be alone. But this is why my cousins feel like my brothers and sisters; every single one of them were there with me for the whole 4 years of struggling. Some of them would come over and just come into my room and sit there with me, talk with me, and help me through the most difficult time of my life. Others invited me to go anywhere they went; the mall, the race track, to get lunch, or even just to go to Shoprite to get me out of my drought. I wouldn't be where I am without my cousins because they honestly helped me through those 4 years and continue to support me through anything in my life.
Now, I will admit, our family as fights just like the rest of them. The thing that makes our family fights more difficult is the fact that we all live so close together so interaction is unavoidable. But, living close together is also a good thing. Though we have these fights, we always find a way to work it out. I remember once, our family had a fight over who was going to hold Easter celebration (stupid, I know). Any whom, there was a huge argument and Easter was in a week, we had to figure something out. All of the aunts came together and sat around a table and just talked. They talked about the issues, why the fight started and how to resolve it. I was astonished at how they all sat around the glass table and talked and ended up resolving the issue, that is something I admire about this family.
My extended family isn't extended, they are one of the biggest parts of my life. They support me, protect me, make me smile, make me laugh, and they helped make me into, well, me. I love my family and you can bet that even when I go away to college, they will all be right by my side.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
Secrets, Safety, Success, Freedom.
As soon as I heard that we were to write about our "comfortable spot," I knew exactly what to write about; my car.
My car is my comfortable spot for so many reasons. My car is like a chamber of secrets; whenever I am with my friends or family in my car, I tend to spill my emotions and tell secrets that need to come out. Those secrets will never find their way out of my car, my car is like a safe spot to talk about what ever one needs to talk about. My car is also a place of safety; when I feel sad or mad or bored, I hop into my car and just drive until my head is clear. If I feel uncomfortable or scared, I can just go into my car and escape the madness. I'm not sure what it is about my car; the smell of bath and body works "Caribbean escape," the seat adjusted just for me, the radio blasting playing the music that I love, there is just something about my car that makes me feel, free.
I remember the day I bought my car; I bought my car a month before my road test because I did not want to parallel park my moms Lincoln Mercury; it is the size of a cruise ship. My dad and I found my car on craigslist the morning I bought it. We drove to this used car dealership an hour from my home. We pull into the dealership to find my silver beauty sitting in the front lawn with a "For Sale" sign in the windshield. My dad and I took it for a test drive; my dad pulled into this abandoned parking lot, got out of the drivers seat and told me to take it for a spin around the lot. I got into the drivers seat and my favorite band started playing on the radio, 5 Seconds of Summer. I put my hands on the wheel and instantly knew that this was the car I have been saving up for for so long. I told my dad "Yes." We drove back to the dealership and signed a bunch of papers. I handed the lady the money for my car and she handed me the keys..."She's all yours." I was ecstatic, finally all of my hard work paid off.
My car is a symbol of success, of hard work paid off. I bought my car with my own money; a whole summer working at a camp, 6 paychecks and sweet 16 money all raveled into one silver car. I pay for my gas, for car washes, for whatever needs to be done to my car. And, no, I don't care that my parents make me pay, because I work hard every day and being able to use my own money to put half a tank of gas into my car is a feeling I never want to lose.
My car; secrets, safety, success, freedom. My car is my comfortable spot, what is yours?
My car is my comfortable spot for so many reasons. My car is like a chamber of secrets; whenever I am with my friends or family in my car, I tend to spill my emotions and tell secrets that need to come out. Those secrets will never find their way out of my car, my car is like a safe spot to talk about what ever one needs to talk about. My car is also a place of safety; when I feel sad or mad or bored, I hop into my car and just drive until my head is clear. If I feel uncomfortable or scared, I can just go into my car and escape the madness. I'm not sure what it is about my car; the smell of bath and body works "Caribbean escape," the seat adjusted just for me, the radio blasting playing the music that I love, there is just something about my car that makes me feel, free.
I remember the day I bought my car; I bought my car a month before my road test because I did not want to parallel park my moms Lincoln Mercury; it is the size of a cruise ship. My dad and I found my car on craigslist the morning I bought it. We drove to this used car dealership an hour from my home. We pull into the dealership to find my silver beauty sitting in the front lawn with a "For Sale" sign in the windshield. My dad and I took it for a test drive; my dad pulled into this abandoned parking lot, got out of the drivers seat and told me to take it for a spin around the lot. I got into the drivers seat and my favorite band started playing on the radio, 5 Seconds of Summer. I put my hands on the wheel and instantly knew that this was the car I have been saving up for for so long. I told my dad "Yes." We drove back to the dealership and signed a bunch of papers. I handed the lady the money for my car and she handed me the keys..."She's all yours." I was ecstatic, finally all of my hard work paid off.
My car is a symbol of success, of hard work paid off. I bought my car with my own money; a whole summer working at a camp, 6 paychecks and sweet 16 money all raveled into one silver car. I pay for my gas, for car washes, for whatever needs to be done to my car. And, no, I don't care that my parents make me pay, because I work hard every day and being able to use my own money to put half a tank of gas into my car is a feeling I never want to lose.
My car; secrets, safety, success, freedom. My car is my comfortable spot, what is yours?
Friday, May 15, 2015
Four years of me.
January, 2010. The day that would change my life forever. It was sixth grade, I was called down to the guidance office to "talk." Figuring I was simply making a schedule, I walked down with joy. I walked into the room and saw my sister. She was on the new, blue fabric office chair, her shiny blonde hair facing me. Weird. She turned around and the sorrow hit me. She was crying, mascara down her face and on her tissues. I was so confused. Mrs. Magarity got straight to the point; your mother is incarcerated. I was so confused. Why? How? When? Where? All of my thoughts spread as I rode home with my sisters tears.
I got home and was told to say good-bye. I gave my mom the biggest hug, her tears rolling down my shirt, and said "I love you," then she walked out the door. Later that day I heard my dad talking on the phone; "She has a 4-13 year sentence." 13. Years. That is when I officially broke down. I cried and screamed and threw myself on my bed. I didn't go to school for weeks, and I hoped that everyone wouldn't know why I didn't go, but they did.
I returned to school, terrified. Everyone was...looking at me. I spent my lunches in the guidance office and after school sitting by myself on the bus. All of middle school was the hardest time of my life. Luckily I had a lot of people to support me and keep me strong, but life wasn't the same without my mom.
Four years of fear, sadness, 6 hour trips to visit her, four years without my mom, and finally, the day came. January 13th, 2014, we got the call. "Come get me, I am officially out." We got up and ran to the car filled with gifts and love. It was the best day ever. My sister came over, my brother in law came over, everyone was together, as a family once again. I still remember the first thing my mom said when she got in the car; "Phones are flat now?" Life was finally falling back into place.
Now I know what some of you may be thinking, and no, my mother is not a criminal. My mother is the nicest, sweetest, most wonderful person on this planet, who just happened to get into a bad situation. This post may make you look at me differently, you may be shocked, but this is what makes me, me. This also may answer some questions about myself, and it is important to share. I love my mother, I love my family, and I love my life. Although this situation may be terrible, I wouldn't change anything because I wouldn't be "me" without it
.
I got home and was told to say good-bye. I gave my mom the biggest hug, her tears rolling down my shirt, and said "I love you," then she walked out the door. Later that day I heard my dad talking on the phone; "She has a 4-13 year sentence." 13. Years. That is when I officially broke down. I cried and screamed and threw myself on my bed. I didn't go to school for weeks, and I hoped that everyone wouldn't know why I didn't go, but they did.
I returned to school, terrified. Everyone was...looking at me. I spent my lunches in the guidance office and after school sitting by myself on the bus. All of middle school was the hardest time of my life. Luckily I had a lot of people to support me and keep me strong, but life wasn't the same without my mom.
Four years of fear, sadness, 6 hour trips to visit her, four years without my mom, and finally, the day came. January 13th, 2014, we got the call. "Come get me, I am officially out." We got up and ran to the car filled with gifts and love. It was the best day ever. My sister came over, my brother in law came over, everyone was together, as a family once again. I still remember the first thing my mom said when she got in the car; "Phones are flat now?" Life was finally falling back into place.
Now I know what some of you may be thinking, and no, my mother is not a criminal. My mother is the nicest, sweetest, most wonderful person on this planet, who just happened to get into a bad situation. This post may make you look at me differently, you may be shocked, but this is what makes me, me. This also may answer some questions about myself, and it is important to share. I love my mother, I love my family, and I love my life. Although this situation may be terrible, I wouldn't change anything because I wouldn't be "me" without it
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
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