Driving to a new place, I embraced the surrounding that I was witnessing for the first one. When I got out of the car the gravel crunched under my feet. My family and I walk up a long, skinny board walk approaching the front entrance. As I looked out the front windows all I could see was the beautiful view of Lake Travis. Walking out I saw rows of tables that had umbrellas on top. There was multiple different levels that you could sit at all looking out at the same mesmerizing view. Looking out over the lake I felt a sense of home. Time continued to tick as we sat and waited for our food. It felt like eternity had passed before the waiter came back to give us the most delicious dish I had ever had. I dipped my warm tortilla chip in the smoldering
When the day came to leave I was woken at the crack of dawn. I was keen to get to Blackpool as swiftly as possible, not only for the football that was ahead of us but also for the famous Pleasure Beach. The coach picked us up at around 8 am and in we crammed into an already full coach. The journey down was full of laughter and friendly joking from the parents. That day, it was particularly hot and inside the coach a number of people were becoming uncomfortable. I was unaffected by the warmth inside the coach, with my earphones in I relaxed and paid more attention to the vast countryside we were passing through. The vivid scenery blew me away, with colossal hills to calm rivers that we met on the journey.
...as nothing to do but swim, sight see, and watch TV. It was all worth it on the morning of the fourth day when I came down it to the lobby and saw our bus, triumphantly pulling into the parking lot with the morning sun gleaming off the shiny metal, driven by none other than, our youth pastor. Completely forgetting about breakfast I ran outside and waved to him as he pulled it around back to park. As soon as he came to a stop I ran up to the door, he opened it, and I climbed up in and with a satisfied sigh I inhaled deeply taking in the smell I had grown to miss over the last three days. It was at this moment that I realized something, instead of complaining to myself the morning we left, I should have been grateful that we had a bus at all. And with that thought I smiled, and turned around and me and my youth pastor walked inside to get some breakfast.
There are many themes highlighted in the short story Greasy Lake, by T. Coraghessan Boyle. Some of these themes include being adventurous, violence, and being young and restless. However, there is a main message that stands out more than the others and is the most centered theme of the story. This is the theme of coming of age through the narrator’s journey to finding out what it means to be “bad,” and whether or not he wanted to make bad choices.
I wasn’t even outside but I could feel the warm glow the sun was projecting all across the campsite. It seemed as if the first three days were gloomy and dreary, but when the sun on the fourth day arose, it washed away the heartache I had felt. I headed out of the trailer and went straight to the river. I walked to the edge, where my feet barely touched the icy water, and I felt a sense of tranquility emanate from the river. I felt as if the whole place had transformed and was back to being the place I loved the most. That day, when we went out on the boat, I went wakeboarding for the first time without my grandma. While I was up on the board and cutting through the wake of the boat, it didn’t feel like the boat was the one pulling and guiding me, it felt like the river was pushing and leading me. It was always nice to receive the reassurance from my grandma after wakeboarding, but this time I received it from my surroundings. The trees that were already three times the size of me, seemed to stand even taller as I glided past them on the river. The sun encouraged me with its brightness and warmth, and the River revitalized me with its powerful currents. The next three days passed by with ease, I no longer needed to reminisce of what my trips used to be like. Instead, I could be present in the moment, surrounded by the beautiful natural
When we arrived, it was a beautiful and sunny day. We checked into our hotel, waiting to move into the house we had rented sight unseen. The first couple of days were spent driving around town getting used to our surroundings. Our first summer here was beautiful, I surprised myself when I actually started enjoying my time in this unfamiliar place. The fall and winter seemed to go on forever, and with that so did the rain. It was challenging, moving from a place where our winters consisted of warm weather and clear skies to a place where the rain seemed to never stop. I was still unemployed, I hadn’t made close friends. I felt lost, I just wanted to make this place feel like home. In the later months I received an offer to work for an apartment complex as a leasing consultant, it seemed everything was falling into
We’re idling across the parking lot with people walking every which way. Everyone flooding into one complex out of the three plus other businesses. Above the door in a greasy stainless steel font, sharp letters spelled Chipotle Mexican Garille. As we squeak to a halt I notice each figure walk one by one into what looked like an archipelago, just there were no islands just a dense area of heavy emotions. I walk in and the vibe of heaviness and pressure invades the stratosphere of my presence. Inside my mind I cannot comprehend how long I might be waiting just to get my food. Standing minute after minute made my legs feel as if my bones were boiling liquid, as if they were lava from an infuriated volcano. I wondered if leaving and coming
As I inched my way toward the cliff, my legs were shaking uncontrollably. I could feel the coldness of the rock beneath my feet when my toes curled around the edge in one last futile attempt at survival. My heart was racing like a trapped bird, desperate to escape. Gazing down the sheer drop, I nearly fainted; my entire life flashed before my eyes. I could hear stones breaking free and fiercely tumbling down the hillside, plummeting into the dark abyss of the forbidding black water. The trees began to rapidly close in around me in a suffocating clench, and the piercing screams from my friends did little to ease the pain. The cool breeze felt like needles upon my bare skin, leaving a trail of goose bumps. The threatening mountains surrounding me seemed to grow more sinister with each passing moment, I felt myself fighting for air. The hot summer sun began to blacken while misty clouds loomed overhead. Trembling with anxiety, I shut my eyes, murmuring one last pathetic prayer. I gathered my last breath, hoping it would last a lifetime, took a step back and plun...
It was the middle of the night when my mother got a phone call. The car ride was silent, my father had a blank stare and my mother was silently crying. I had no idea where we were headed but I knew this empty feeling in my stomach would not go away. Walking through the long bright hallways, passing through an endless amount of doors, we had finally arrived. As we
There were the cheap but decent tasting burgers, or something outside of the bun. Although, I been having those burgers at least two times this week. So, I decided to go to Taco Bell. From the distance, I could see the time-consuming line for the drive-thru. But I could wait because I knew the wait would be worth it. so, I got in place for the drive-thru. It didn’t take long for me to order. The soft wrap that keep the whole burrito together. Inside of it is course the warm cheese with the well-seasoned beef and the goodness of the fried beans. The taste was like the winning the lottery. After I was finished, I continue my trip to my peace of mind. when I got there it was a sigh of relief. I unlocked the door. A warm wave hits me when I walk in. The silk layer of the furniture was very conforming for me. Then, the great feeling of taking off my shoes was like they can finally breath. The next step to replace the plain work outfits that was dragging my mood down. So, I grab my more fitting clothes. The only thing to do was to take relaxing shower. After I was done, I throw myself to my bed. At that moment, my body started to shut down. One thought was left was my destination was
I didn’t even know where we were going just that I filled my suitcase with clothes and put in it the trunk of the car. I got in the leather covered car seats, with my trusty pillow and blanket. Before I knew it I was out, I woke up about…an hour or so later. I looked out of the window the grass blowing in the wind, the sky as blue as a lake not a cloud in the sky. I sat up right “dad where are we going” the car stayed silent for a couple minutes then I heard the deep voice of my dad “where going to Spring Lake.” It sounded nice I thought hopefully there’s a lake and that’s not just the name of the park. “How long until we get there?” I heard the squeak of my mother’s high pitched voice “soon sweetheart, soon.” I decided I should sleep, since my parents hadn’t been helpful in telling me when we would be getting to Spring Lake. Another hour later I felt the lurch of the car and the seatbelt tighten around my waist, I sat up and stretched my arms, I noticed the car was parked and the engine of the car is off. In front of us is a two story cabin, just like Lincoln logs, I unbuckled my seat belt and stepped out of the car...
I turned off the car and took a deep breath. Looking slowly up into the pink sky, I began to watch the golden sun go to sleep. The beach seemed deserted, quiet, but peaceful. I opened my door and put my feet out on the soft sand. I started taking my shoes off, then my socks. I threw them in the passenger seat, and then shut the door. I looked out over horizon of the lake and started walking towards the still water. With each step I took, I could feel the warm sand crunch between my toes. Then suddenly, a sharp rock, but not sharp enough to break the skin.
I pulled into the driveway of my house and parked my car. I grabbed my coat and bag and opened the door. When I got out I instantly began to smell the sweet aroma of the long rose bushes making their way out of our fence and into the world of our driveway. I was so captivated by the fall breeze, and the beautiful smell of fall in the air that I didn't even know that I was to the door. As I snapped back into reality, I looked up and I was standing at my doorway.
The ruckus from the bottom of the truck is unbearable, because of the noise and excessive shaking. As we slowly climbed the mountain road to reach our lovely cabin, it seemed almost impossible to reach the top, but every time we reached it safely. The rocks and deep potholes shook the truck and the people in it, like a paint mixer. Every window in the truck was rolled down so we could have some leverage to hold on and not loose our grip we needed so greatly. The fresh clean mountain air entered the truck; it smelt as if we were lost: nowhere close to home. It was a feeling of relief to get away from all the problems at home. The road was deeply covered with huge pines and baby aspen trees. Closely examining the surrounding, it looks as if it did the last time we were up here.
It was a maddening rush, that crisp fall morning, but we were finally ready to go. I was supposed to be at State College at 10:00 for the tour, and it was already eight. My parents hurriedly loaded their luggage into the van as I rushed around the house gathering last minute necessities. I dashed downstairs to my room and gathered my coat and my duffel bag, and glanced at my dresser making sure I was leaving nothing behind and all the rush seemed to disappear. I stood there as if in a trance just remembering all the stories behind the objects and clutter accumulated on it. I began to think back to all the good times I have had with my family and friends each moment represented by a different and somewhat odd object.
This area of the world is so foreign to my Oklahoma life; it infuses me with awe, and with an eerie feeling of being strongly enclosed by huge mountains, and the mass of tall trees. However, when my foot first steps onto the dusty trail it feels crazily magical. The clean, crisp air, the new smell of evergreen trees and freshly fallen rain is mixed with fragrances I can only guess at. It is like the world has just taken a steroid of enchantment! I take it all in, and embrace this new place before it leaves like a dream and reality robs the moment. As I turn and look at my family, I was caught by my reflection in their impressions. The hair raising mischief in the car was forgotten and now it was time to be caught up in this newness of life. It was as if the whole world around us had changed and everyone was ready to engulf themselves in it. The trickling of water somewhere in the distance and the faint noise of animals all brought the mountains to