Eating breakfast this morning
Returning to campus after winter break
Waking up on New Year’s Day
When you're done, please post your paragraph here as a comment. As a class, we'll read through a few of these together and use them to generate a clearer sense of how to write vivid narratives.
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ReplyDeleteI just got off of the plane. I hate traveling. I feel like I am cattle being directed through all of these lines and mazes. Today is a stressful day I have so much on my mind. I should write down everything I have to do: get my luggage, find my ride back to campus, unpack, get some school supplies, get my books, make sure I know where all my new classes are located, get a new school ID and find some food. I do not understand why our winter break is so long; I just got comfortable and now I am back here with less than twenty four hours before I start classes again. I feel nervous and worried. I have a more difficult schedule than last quarter and I want better grades. I also am worried about being away for so long: I am not going home again until the summer. Six months. Six months is a long time to be away from your family, friends, home. I hope I can continue to be happy, but there is no certainty, no guarantee. Well, I am back on campus. Goodbye vacation, goodbye home. I will see you again in twenty one weeks.
ReplyDeleteAs I made my way through the seemingly endless countryside of Nebraska, the negative six degree weather was the least of my concerns. Thoughts were running rampant in my head. Could I live up to the same expectations for this quarter as I did last quarter? How will I balance my time? How will I transition back into my friends and many commitments on campus after being dormant for 6 weeks connecting with old friends in the comfort of my own town. Will I be able to handle the same rigor as last quarter without the promise for a lengthy break afterwards, just another quarter to come? How will it be readjusting to the dorm life after the comforts of home and the sweet taste of real food? How will it be dropping my mom off at the airport, having to say goodbye not knowing when I will see her again? These were all questions I was going through as we made our trek across the vast state of Nebraska and into Colorado.
ReplyDeleteFor the first few days, the feeling of loneliness was overwhelming. I even opened my internet browser Loyola University Chicago's homepage, questioning the appropriateness of DU and its distance from home, wondering whether I should transfer to a school closer to home. And then I remembered the satisfaction a small school has brought and the advantages it has had academically, the warmth of the professors and their never-ending encouragement - the focus on life after college, not just hoping to create a class of students dependent on academia for all their needs, and most of all, the friends I have made, one in particular who has become a brother - the one who was thrilled to see me when I arrived at the airport to pick him up on Sunday. Then I remembered that this place is for me, and what seemed questions that could never be answered suddenly had a simple response: I'm here to stay (with a few visits home, of course).
After six long weeks full of antsy anticipation and excitement I think about what it will be like to finally be back at school while waiting for the plane to land. I had the comfort of not having to fly alone, with my best friend from home sitting next to me just as ready to be back as I am. We step out of the plane and immediately feel the rush of cold that Arizona climate has once again made us unprepared for and I begin to wish I had brought that extra jacket. Once out of the plane we make our way onto the tram and sit down. Colleen immediately begins rummaging through her bag complaining about her wallet. I write it off because if you know Colleen you know that she cannot keep track of anything, but she insists on going back to the plane to get her wallet. Trying to be a considerate friend I go with her and trudge up the broken escalator that I had noted coming down while enjoying the feeling of having the one I was using working…karma sucks. I wait for her by the terminal and since she has to wait for everyone to board I offer to go and try to get our bags. I immediately regret this when I get to the baggage claim and I see two huge bags that are hers and my overloaded suitcase that of course was over the weight limit. Thankfully Colleen’s roommate who picked us up comes and helps locate and lug the bags to her car and we sit and wait for Colleen to come with her recently located wallet that was in the front pocket of her seat. As we ride back to campus I reminisce on the hectic arrival, hoping that this is not a foreshadowing of the year to come. I step onto campus and immediately see some of my friends who are moving back in. In that instant of hugging and catching up I know that despite the minor glitch in coming back to Denver that this will be a good year.
ReplyDeleteThe drive back from Crested Butte was pretty interesting. A good 4 hour drive through the mountains that had moments of continuos talking and periods of silence. I'm driving, Jessie's in the front seat, with Claire and Amaury in the back seat. The car is packed, I can't see out the back window nor over my right shoulder. We're cruising along, music playing, sun is out, but as we left the high flats and approached Bailey, we could see clouds hanging above us. It began to snow, not just a nice calm snow fall, but a big dumping of snow that made visibility about 20 feet and the road extremely slick. The road turned right and 6%+ grade downhill road lay before us and we started sliding. We're sliding at roughly 50 miles per hour, in traffic. Needless to say, I am terrified. Plus this was no screaming matter and of course, we all were screaming. I did not dare touch the brake, did not dare. My mom, every time she slid, always told me, "when you slide, don't touch the brake and barely adjust the steering wheel to keep straight." Sliding for more than 10 seconds, in traffic, in snow, and in the dark, is worse than almost any roller coaster you can ride of. Finally, after what seemed like five minutes rather than ten seconds, the jeep regained traction and we drove away unharmed. I think I need to buy new tires.
ReplyDeleteWaking up on New Year’s Day
ReplyDeleteI could hear the door creaked gently as my mom tiptoed in to my room, or as my parents would call it a maze of accidents waiting to happen. My eyes were heavy from a long night with friends as we rang in the New Year’s together. As much I tried to shoo her away, she was still persistent that we should and need to have breakfast as a family, since after all it was the first day of the year, and only a few short days before I leave the home cooked meals for dorm food. After a few minutes of trying to convince me and random poking to let me know that she would not back down easily, finally she resorted to deception. She even told me that she was going to go shopping without me. But I knew better than that, she would not leave me alone for the next 3 days. After about 10 minutes or so of her taunting me she finally backed down and left my room. However she still left my door open. Trying to go back to bed after what I thought I won the battle with my mom, I realized I lost. I could still hear everything that was going on downstairs, making it very difficult to go back to bed. Finally I decided to please go downstairs. And I realized moms are always right, nothing beats a home cooked meal.
It was 6:20 am January.1. I got on my aunt’s car and got ready to welcome a new sexy quarter. It took almost 2 hours for driving from Colorado Springs to Denver because of the heavy traffic that is cause by the terrible foggy weather. Oh, damn! I hate wasting time on the car. I hate it. It was a horrible morning. Yes, it do is. The thing I did most in that morning is having breakfast 3 times. The sentence I said the most is “ hey, dude, how was your break!” Tell you the truth, the reason I said dude is that I have already forgot most of those guys’ names. I still remember that morning is the busiest one I have ever met before. When I just put all of my staffs in my room, I met David who is one of my best friends here. He asked me to have the breakfast with him while we can hang out. This became my second breakfast. By the way, I should tell you that I have already finished my first time breakfast at 5:30 in my auntie’s house. Well, after hanging out with David during the meal, I planed to go back my room and packed up my 2 cases staffs. But on the way I go back, I met another best friend. The same invitation, the same way to hang out and I third breakfast borned. When it finished, it has already been the noon. The busy morning passed and my story overed.
ReplyDeleteNervously awaiting for the laundry to be ready so I can finish packing. I sit in front of the pile of clothes that are about to be placed into bags and ready to be moved out. This decision was a hard one to make. Do I really want to go back? I could just have my own room, my own bed, and my own bathroom. I am only a couple of minutes away from campus. I sit hestinatly as we move all of the things to the car. Its offical I am moving back to the dorms. The thought in my head wanted me to say something but I knew that I had a scholarship to move back to campus and it probably the most convient. What do I do? As I sit myself in the 1994 Honda Civic and head back to the place I once lived for 10 weeks. It is already dark as we approached the campus. I take in a deep breath as I walked to the door of #214. It was the same as I had left it in November. It was offical I have moved back in. The next day many of my hall mates entered my room, confused, they did not know I moved in but I surely explained I had moved in late last night. And thats where it started I offically moved back in.
ReplyDeleteTo drive fifteen hours and forget them all. Illinois. Home is gone. Home is coming. Iowa. The windmills don't move. And I wonder, is it worth it? Nebraska is so flat that I don't care. But then Interstate 76 and I drive and drive. The home stretch. It is my homecoming. But did I not just leave home?
ReplyDeleteSwitch on and switch off but neither door is ever closed. My mind and body were moving to a new place. I find happiness and warmth. New people for my old head; new warmth for the old cold.
To drive fifteen hours and forget them all is not a fault. It is my survival. To grow with M and D and x, y, and z to then switch off is not a fault. I come into Denver not with a memory of the past but lessons I have learned in my life. To make memories by remembering to forget.
I was already awake by the time my alarm clock clicked on to the COD radio station. But I did not move until I heard the jazz track, trying vainly to forestall my flight back to Denver. I groggily attempted to open my eyes, which felt as though they had been clamped shut for an eternity, and was able to manage only a few quick blinks at the ceiling. I then leaned over to within an inch of the glowing, green, digital numbers on the screen for definitive proof that it was time to get up. 7:01. It was New Year's Day, and I was already behind on sleep.
ReplyDeleteWaking Up on New Years Day
ReplyDeleteBlood red walls, ivory elephant tusks as tall as a body, African grass, tribal masks. Nothing to protect me from this African Safari but the Guatemalan jacket I decided to use as a sorry excuse for a blanket. I scratch at the crusties formed at the corners of my eyes after only two hours of sleep. The dim lighting is surprisingly easy to adjust to. Little statues, plastic trees, smooth leather seats. First thought is, where the fuck am I? The repetitive beat of Pretty Lights techno can be faintly heard over the surround sound speaker system. Limbs feel like jello, weak from dancing no doubt. I slime out of bed and hear the click of pool balls knocking into one another behind me.
“Good morning” says one of the pool sharks in a drowsy sarcastic tone.
A boy is sprawled out under the table. No shirt, only a pair of ripped boxers to cover his toxic, sharpie tattooed body.
Whiskey shots and champagne for breakfast. Not a bad way to start the year.
I didn’t sleep at all that night. I decided that I would be more tired after one hour of sleep than after zero. Five o’clock came around and my mom came in to tell me it was time to go. I sat at the airport for two hours trying to figure a way out of it. I got on the plane, fell asleep, and was awoken by the last thing that I wanted to hear, “Welcome to Denver.” After waiting for my bags I found my ride and got dropped off in front of the dorms, and as I walked up those steps toward the front door, I couldn’t help but think, “This is going to be the longest 5 months ever.”
ReplyDeleteBreakfast. It's been drilled into my mind as the most important meal of the day. However, as a college student, it seems to lose its importance every morning as I wake up. Waking up this dark and gloomy morning, hitting the snooze button three times,and having a roommate who doesn't want to get up just as much as I do certainly doesn't help this situation. There is no time for me to plan out a breakfast and sit down to eat it when I have no will to get out of bed in the first place. Now I am running late. Rushing to get dressed and get everything together, eating is the furthest thing from my mind. Racing out the door, bundled for the cold, my roommate hands me my favorite peanut butter granola bar. This may not be the most important breakfast, but it sure seems great to have a tasty treat to get me by and a roommate who cares.
ReplyDeleteMy eyes felt like they were on fire. All I could see was white. I tried to move but my back stiffened like a floorboard, screaming in protest at every movement. My brain started to race in panic asking questions such as, “where am I”, and “what the hell happened last night”? I rolled over and hit the ground with a thud. Great. More pain. I see that I was sleeping on a miniature couch, not nearly long enough for my giant-like tall body. All I could smell was champagne. As I stood up, I observed that I was still wearing the clothes from last night. I went into the bathroom and nearly screamed when I looked into the mirror. I looked like a cavewoman. My hair was huge and sticking out in every direction, my eyes were black around the edges from what I assume is from sleep deprivation, and my clothes were rumpled. It honestly looked like I was raised by dogs. As my brain caught up, I walked down the windy staircase of the familiar cabin to find it to be a disaster. A smile stretched across my face as I realized that my New Year’s must have been epic!
ReplyDeleteThe nerves in my stomach were a bit unsettling. Why was I so nervous? I had lived here for three months; three months that I had found rather enjoyable. The first steps into the residence halls made me a confused child again. Where were all the people I constantly surrounded myself with all last quarter.
ReplyDeleteI felt like new outsider again, not really knowing what to expect. Would everything be the same as it was? Being apart from friends that seemed so close for six weeks couldn't be to bad...could it?
Not until the elevator doors opened onto my floor did i realize, i was back. The familiar laugh of Jeanette the RA brought an instant smile to my face. Hugs were shared as reminiscing of the relaxing break days ensued.
Breakfast this morning
ReplyDeleteWaffles taste better in the dark, I think. That's how I ate mine this morning. That's how I would eat them every morning if I could. Unfortunately there aren't many people willing to go to Waffle House at five in the morning. Scott yawned from across the table and pured more syrup on his already soggy waffles. Fortunately, there was at least one. We began talking about school. This conversation lead to one about essays, which lead to one about paper cuts, which lead to one about about painting, which lead to one about why people carry around large amounts of change. The sky began to slowly lighten.