Monday, November 11, 2013
A Piece From My Upcoming Short Stories
As a kid you'll make friends with anyone. Alex was the kid across the street. From a broken home with an abusive dad and no attention: Alex was a wildcard. Some days we'd sit home and watch movies, play games and other days we'd be outside climbing mausoleums and walking to the waterfront. Sometimes we'd pay and sometimes we'd steal. One particular night Alex called me up on the house phone and told me he wanted to go for a walk. We ended up in the cemetery under the stars.
Ten years old and our parents never worried about kidnapping. My parents had their hands full with my four other siblings.
Ten years old and Alex asks me; does it ever get better?
I had nothing to tell him. I didn't know. I was neglected in my own way with four siblings I could easily get lost in the shuffle. Instead I chose to enjoy my anonymity.
If my parents grounded me I'd spend a week sleeping at friends' houses. I thought I was being rebellious.
I went to school, I didn't do homework. I did the dishes but my room was a mess, you couldn't tell me to clean something that was mine.
One time in middle school Alex, Vince and I were at this new thing called a 'game cafe' and we were playing a demo game that had just come out,Vince mentioned he was thinking of getting the game and Alex said, "Why? You can just steal it." Alex grabbed the disc and darted out the door before we had time to think. Sprinting down the street, an employee yelling after us, it was the most fun I'd had yet in my life. Running down the street with my heart pounding I remember thinking I wanted to be young forever. Young, with my two best friends, there could be no doubt what life was.
Now, at 22, I can say for a fact that I'm made by the friends that I spent those days with. Inside I'm still running down the street from the cafe, still sleeping under the stars.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
How Did We Ever Meet
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
WALL-E drinking game rules
Plant is shown on screen during a scene
"Foreign contaminant" is said
"Rogue robots" is said (two sips)
"Directive" is said
There is a moment of insight for a character
This game is guaranteed to get you hammered.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Our Unique Wants and Needs
How do you gauge what you should be doing from what you shouldn't? In a society where almost all things are accepted where do you draw the line, or do you?
Sure, some things have laws preventing them but besides those bad decisions what is frowned upon?
Nothing is bad unless you make it bad. There is an emotion that we humans feel called "shame" that keeps us from doing wrong. Actually, normally it doesn't stop anyone from doing anything just makes them regret it.
In this world of "shame" and "regret" are the same principals as the old world where a lady's worth was dependent on her reputation. A spotless reputation was marked by a lady who caused no trouble at all and was the picture of piety and accomplishment. A woman who had to watch her every word and show nothing.
Today we can do anything we want but we still feel that old world "shame" for having sullied our reputations with the shameful act. So can we truly do whatever we want, or is it an illusion?
I believe that if you want something that breaks no laws and harms no one, despite the way society sees it, you should feel no shame. Our wants and needs are unique and we can't all hope to be satisfied by the same "vanilla" lifestyle.
Walking around pretending to be perfect does more harm to society than good. Imagine a world full of clones each one the same as the next.
The next time you are facing a decision take a look at your options. There's always an easy and a hard option. Think about what you want the most and do it without shame. Regardless of how hard it is to be yourself, accomplish your goals or make the right decision for you, the right road is often the one that you want to take.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Without Fear of Consequences
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
For My Mother
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen."
This prayer peeks its head into my life when I need it the most and it reminds me of my mother's struggles through recovery. If she can become the strong woman she is today I know I have nothing less inside of me.
For Dan
– Mother Teresa
I know for a fact you have said this to me and when I stumbled upon reading it I cried a little to hear your voice again in my head. Thank you.