Rest in Peace, My Childhood

Growing up for me has been a rough concept. I don't want to leave the comforts of my childhood but I also don't want to look needy. I've shed more than a couple tears over this dilemma and pretty much everything that has to do with adulthood. Thursday night, with less than an hour until my 18th birthday, I wrote this poem-like piece. As I wrote it, I found myself coming more and more at peace with my situation. As I went back and read what I had wrote, I hardly edited it. Very uncharacteristic of me. I couldn't believe that I had just written it. I posted it on Instagram right at midnight but I thought I'd share it here too. Maybe year's from now, I'll look back, read it again and think its stupid but it's what got me through my 18th birthday, which I had been dreading for over a year. So here it is with a bonus of a slideshow for fun.


 https://picasaweb.google.com/100916094605592356933/18Years?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPPu8o6a_s2f0wE&feat=directlink

Rest in peace, my dear Childhood. You have served me well. So many happy memories of which many I could tell. Adulthood seemed so novel when I was young. Now it's daunting and scary as it drags me along without a choice. I don't want to go there.
 Please take me back, my Childhood. I didn't appreciate you near enough. It was easy back then. There wasn't stress or a to-do list that stretched longer than I will live. Money wasn't a necessity but simply a toy and work was just chores around the house. Time came in great abundance and I could read silly fiction for hours. Schooling was simple and fun. Why did no one tell me that all of that would change so fast? To treasure it, to make it last? 

Take me back, my beautiful childhood. I had no idea how much you spoiled me until recently. Now you lay down still, leaving me in the hands of this stranger named Adulthood. Are you sure I'm safe with it? How can I be sure? Oh please, talk to me just once more! 

But wait, is that a heartbeat I hear? Is there life still left in you? Yes, come back! Your eyes open, just a crack. I grab your hand. You speak softly so only I can hear as you whisper in my ear. "Be strong, young woman. Take your memories with you and keep me in your heart, for this is just the start. Though I may be gone, my spirit will stay with you. Adulthood will lead you down many paths that I could never find. So many new opportunities that I could never give you. It's time to move on, now let me go. You have a new path to follow. Just don't forget me and you'll be fine. I love you, dear Child of mine."

My Childhood, you draw your last breath at midnight. A tear or two fall from my eyes as you slip away. I draw a shaky breath and gently rest your hand by your side. I stand and slowly face Adulthood. It's looks at me and smiles. Something is different. I realized I can become friends with it. Maybe it's not such a bad thing after all. 

My childhood, you will be greatly missed. I will now rely on Adulthood to carry me through the rest of my life. Rest in peace, my Childhood. Your resting place is in my heart where you will never be forgotten.

Scholarship Application Video

Earlier this year I applied for a scholarship for a full paid trip to a foreign country. One of the requirements was to make some form of art project be it poetry, a sculpture, a story, a drawing, whatever you wanted to do. This project was to reflect your appreciation for other cultures. I chose to make a video slideshow of my trip to Mexico last summer.

I went to Mexico to visit my aunt and uncle who live in Mexico City. My mom was there for about half the time. This trip was to visit family but I knew it was a lot more than that. It was also to learn about a culture I've only heard and read about. This was my first time out of my country as well. I knew before I even stepped foot onto the plane that this trip would change my life. I would come back viewing the world in a new light.

My appreciation for this culture began immediately. I met many beautiful people...and animals. I tried foods that I liked...and foods that I didn't think should be classified as food. But sometimes I still tried a "polite bite"... Including a grasshopper!

Around each corner, there was beauty. A butterfly in the middle of the city, a painting, an ancient artifact, or the mountains that were always there surrounding me. I learned more about history and culture from the people and the archeology sites than any textbook could ever teach me.

My favorite day was when I went to an orphanage and played with a dozen little toddlers. We sang songs and played with bubbles. I went thinking I was going to help these children but in the end, I think they were the ones who changed me.

So what has changed about me? My appreciation for world travel has expanded. My love for people of other cultures grew. And my desire to learn and serve has increased. With this one short trip...I now know my opportunities are endless.

 ~~~

Sad news, I didn't get the scholarship. Yes I was disappointed, but now I know there is something else I need to do in July, even if I don't know what it is yet. There will be opportunities to do other fun and important things this summer and I'm excited!

The Adventures of Mexican Driving

One morning, while still in Acapulco, I woke up at about 7am. I was a little annoyed because I actually had the chance of sleeping in that morning but, oh well. I later found out from my uncle that there had been a slight earthquake at about that time and that could have been the cause of my waking but I never felt anything. So here I was, awake and with nothing to do yet. My brain must have been in a extra creative mode because I picked up the pen and pad of paper on the table next to me and wrote this poem. I don't write poetry by the way. I've written probably 2 or 3 other poems in my life so this was pretty spontaneous.

Driving in Mexico

Those drivers in Mexico,

They make me crazy-o.

Some of the things they do,

Would make you crazy too.

Stop signs are optional.

Speed limits, no point at all.

Cutting me off is a daily event,

While trying not to crash into a vendors tent.

Buses blocking the road,

Trucks carrying over-sized loads.

The traffic is nuts,

And I go bumping through all the ruts.

A drive that should take me 20 minutes, easy,

Will take me an hour, IF I'm lucky.

Speed bumps are everywhere,

While potholes fly me through the air

Oh, how I want to go home!

Not stuck on this street where a million merchandisers roam.

Some people honk for the fun of it,

But me? I'm quite done with it.

By the way, who would be going through a gas station at 10km an hour?

One more random thing that has nothing to do with driving. Have you ever seen prepackaged toast in a vending machine? Neither had I.