Windy Walk

Today 01/02/2012 I decided to get up and go for a brisk walk. Even though it was getting closer to the afternoon and I wanted to be on my way back instead of just leaving, I didn’t let that stop me. I put on my workout clothes and my sneakers, did some stretches, some leg exercises and some crunches and then went on my way. To be consistent about exercising and eating right is once again one of my New Year Resolutions. Too often I have to push myself to go walking or do any kind of exercises. I do keep a much better schedule in the summer time than I do in the winter though. The weather was nice. It was somewhat windy, but the sun helped a lot to keep me warm.

I walked from my apartment complex to Stone Crest Mall, which is about 2 miles away, so I walked a total of 4 miles. As I walked I tried to keep my mind on the healthy benefits of walking and how wonderful I will look and feel in a couple of months. On my way to my destination I flowed with the wind, keeping a good steady pace. I looked straight ahead trying not to look at the moving cars and the noises that came from them, whether it was the engine, the muffler, or music. I was trying to create a peace of mind. Finally I reached my destination. I walked about a half of a mile past the hotels then, I turned around to start my journey back home.

On the way back I soon realized that I was walking against the current of the wind making it a little harder for me to keep a brisk and steady pace. I put my elbows up like the football players do as if I was tackling my way through the wind. Then a thought came to mind as they often do and I started to compare the walk against the wind with everyday life. I came up with a quote, “sometimes in life you may flow with the wind and sometimes you may have to press against the wind, but with your elbows out and your feet press firmly on the ground, you will persevere”. At the end of my walk I felt great and was glad that I had taken it.

Memories

Memories

            Happy New Year everyone! For some us at the end of the year, celebrations start in November with Thanksgiving, which for me and my family was filled with lots of food, laughter and fun? All of us do not celebrate Christmas because of our religious beliefs, but those of us who do celebrate Christmas usually get together for dinner again and a day filled with conversation, laughter and fun. Even though I have learned to lean more toward the Christian aspect of Christmas, I want to embark on a celebration that brought back memories of when I was a little girl. I and some of my other family members were invited over to my oldest niece’s house for a seafood feast and a tree decorating party. We had a festive time with lots of food and fun.

             After we ate we relaxed for a while, after a few minutes passed by one of my nephews started to decorate the tree, so a few of us joined him. At first I thought the tree was artificial until I smelled the pine. As I helped decorate the tree, smelling the pine brought back memories. I began to reminisce on the time when we were children and my father would go out every year and cut down a tree out of the woods. He would bring it home, put it in a bucket of dirt and put it in the living room in front of the window that is facing the main street. My mother would cover the bucket with a Christmas tree skirt and then she would decorate the tree with lights, ornaments, silver tinsel and colorful balls.

             While my mother was decorating the tree my father would be outside putting lights around the house and on top of the shrubbery. It was a very exciting time for us, and we could hardly wait for Christmas Eve, the night that Santa will come. We didn’t get a lot for Christmas, maybe a toy or two, but we were happy and filled with joy for what we got. Part of our gift would be a brown bag filled with an apple, an orange and some nuts. It seemed that we were just as happy to get the bag of fruit as we were about our toy. To some of our other family and friends it was hard to believe that we were happy not getting more than what we got, but I know for me at least, that those years as a young child was the happiest time of my life, and I remember appreciating what I got.

About My Introduction

My introduction was actually a short autobiography of my life that I had presented to the manager of a book store where I was hoping to have my poetry displayed. The original version of the autobiography was worded totally different from what you see to the right of this page. Tia McCollors who is the mother of one of the students in the pre-k-4 classroom where I worked as a paraprofessional, and an award winning author of several books, edited my autobiography for me, or should I say rewrote it for me.

When I first read it I couldn't say anything but, "wow, how did you do that". She totally transformed my words. I wanted to mention this because I am so grateful to her for editing that autobiography for me and for showing me what real writing looks like. I attended one of her work shops and it was very informative. From time to time she would get on me about consistency with my writing and she highly recommended that anyone, especially a writer should read several kinds of books to enhance his /her views.

It's not showing yet in my writing, but I'm going to be that great of a writer one day soon. I think I still have the original version of that autobiography, If I do I may post it soon, just so that you can see the difference. Thanks Mrs. McCollors I will never forget how you helped me.