It has been a long day and I can sense the guests are becoming fidgety and impatient. Grandpa Albert is already dozing in the corner- it must be a sugar crash from all that cake, and too many family members are drunk. And- Oh my word! Grandma Bernice is looping around, flirting with her nephews! Well, its definitely a good thing Albert is long gone. John, or my husband as I can now call him, slows his steps as we dance around the floor. He too senses it is time to wrap up the reception. Catching me eyes, he nods me towards Lilly, my wonderful wedding planner.
Ever since the day I came to her, three months ago, seeking help for my wedding, she has stood firmly and faithfully by my side every step of the way. I gave her the small task of watching my bouquet during the reception; simply just keep it in sight so as not to lose it. My hope was she would be able to enjoy herself during the reception with such a small task, but I shouldn’t have been so naïve. It is her nature to exceed expectations, so of course she is holding the bouquet firmly in her arms, hiding in the corner the entire time and rejecting any company. She is guarding that bouquet with her life.
But it is indeed time to wrap things up, so I make my way over to her. She looks slightly relieved to see me, and I could have sworn the bouquet seemed to straighten up a bit too (of course it was probably just the champagne getting to my head). I smile and thank Lilly graciously, and she gratefully, yet still a bit apprehensively hands the bouquet over to me..
I make my way through the congregation of guests towards the stage, and as I pass through the crowd, the women being picking up the notion. They excitedly follow me and group around the stage. I look out into their eager faces and search for the youngest- Bella, my niece. I had promised her she would be the luckiest girl of the night, and there’s no satisfaction like that of seeing a 7 year old triumph over hopeless 40 year olds (yes, this is harsh, but so undeniably true just by looking at their greedy faces). I spot Bella, grin, make a mental note of her spot in the crowd, and slowly turn my back to them.
I hold the bouquet close to my chest and peer down at it. Behind its outer, fuchsia beauty lies its inner essence. This is not simply a bouquet. It is my right of passage, signifying me from the women who stand below me. I take the moment in, steal one last glance at the bouquet, and toss it high into the air. I quickly spin around just in time to see I land in the hands of- cousin Maggie!
What a pig! First of all, who would ever marry such a cruel, fat pig, and secondly, she just ruined the night of a precious 7 year old! The bouquet gleams in the reflection of Bella’s watering eyes. I can’t bear the sight. I jump off the stage into John’s arms and we escape the scene before it mounts to something unbearable. I feel confident Lilly will calm things down, and just as we turn out the door, I catch one last fleeting glance of Grandpa Albert stirring in the corner. What commotion a single bouquet can cause!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
WA#5: First Draft
What a day. Yet my chance to shine is still to come.
Grandpa Albert is dozing in the corner, as he has been since finishing his third slice of wedding cake, an hour ago. The cousins are drunk, the hopeless romantics are drunk, and even Grandma Bernice is a bit tipsy. She found a friend in the champagne as something to console her frustration with Albert’s lack of lively presence.
The pronouncement of man and wife occurred hours ago, when the sunlight still nurtured my well being and flaunted my fuchsia. The reception has been long and undoubtedly giddy, but I have unfortunately been forced to watch the days’ exciting events unfold from a spare, lackluster vase perched in the hands of the wedding planner’s assistant. I guess she is rewarding my remarkable patience with her undying protection, as whenever a girl approaches me, my guard turns a cold shoulder, flashes the evil eye and pulls me closer to her chest.
Anticipation and exhilaration mounts in me as I sense the reception coming to an end. Yes. YES! The bride is making her way towards me! At long last my moment of fame is approaching! As planned, my guard does not turn her shoulder this time, but jubilantly pulls me out of my hindering vase and carefully hands me to the bride. Indeed, it is a sad parting from my loyal guard, but I feel equipped for what lays ahead of me. The bride tenderly grasps my stems and ties a lovely pink ribbon around them, holding me together. What a nice lady. He’s a lucky man.
She climbs the stage, me in her hand, and all the ladies in the room obligingly congregate in front of the stage. The dying energy in the room has taken a turn and the air feels animated and alive again. Even Grandpa Albert showed signs of life as he snorted and a long dribble of drool escaped his mouth. The ladies drew into an ever tighter pack, shoving each other for the most central spot below the stage. All eyes were on me. Oh what a chick magnet I am!
The bride turns her back to the eager crowd of women (the men look apprehensively through their drunken eyes in the shadows of the room, beer in hand). Before I know it, I leave her delicate hands and I’m flying through the air, turning over and over, approaching the mob of women. What a sight. By the looks of their greedy, over-eager faces, one would’ve thought I was a stack of a billion dollars. With what seemed to be a thousand arms outstretched to get a hand on me, unthinkable joy mounted in me. I had never felt so wanted before.
My flight turned downward. I felt a hand close firmly around stems. I looked into my winner’s eyes. She was rather piggy looking, but one happy pig at that. I was her golden ticket. She began to prance around in circles, holding me proudly above her head. A mob of horrified ladies surrounded me and my piggy winner. In a split second I had turned from a billion dollars into the girl cheating with their boyfriends.
Grandpa Albert is dozing in the corner, as he has been since finishing his third slice of wedding cake, an hour ago. The cousins are drunk, the hopeless romantics are drunk, and even Grandma Bernice is a bit tipsy. She found a friend in the champagne as something to console her frustration with Albert’s lack of lively presence.
The pronouncement of man and wife occurred hours ago, when the sunlight still nurtured my well being and flaunted my fuchsia. The reception has been long and undoubtedly giddy, but I have unfortunately been forced to watch the days’ exciting events unfold from a spare, lackluster vase perched in the hands of the wedding planner’s assistant. I guess she is rewarding my remarkable patience with her undying protection, as whenever a girl approaches me, my guard turns a cold shoulder, flashes the evil eye and pulls me closer to her chest.
Anticipation and exhilaration mounts in me as I sense the reception coming to an end. Yes. YES! The bride is making her way towards me! At long last my moment of fame is approaching! As planned, my guard does not turn her shoulder this time, but jubilantly pulls me out of my hindering vase and carefully hands me to the bride. Indeed, it is a sad parting from my loyal guard, but I feel equipped for what lays ahead of me. The bride tenderly grasps my stems and ties a lovely pink ribbon around them, holding me together. What a nice lady. He’s a lucky man.
She climbs the stage, me in her hand, and all the ladies in the room obligingly congregate in front of the stage. The dying energy in the room has taken a turn and the air feels animated and alive again. Even Grandpa Albert showed signs of life as he snorted and a long dribble of drool escaped his mouth. The ladies drew into an ever tighter pack, shoving each other for the most central spot below the stage. All eyes were on me. Oh what a chick magnet I am!
The bride turns her back to the eager crowd of women (the men look apprehensively through their drunken eyes in the shadows of the room, beer in hand). Before I know it, I leave her delicate hands and I’m flying through the air, turning over and over, approaching the mob of women. What a sight. By the looks of their greedy, over-eager faces, one would’ve thought I was a stack of a billion dollars. With what seemed to be a thousand arms outstretched to get a hand on me, unthinkable joy mounted in me. I had never felt so wanted before.
My flight turned downward. I felt a hand close firmly around stems. I looked into my winner’s eyes. She was rather piggy looking, but one happy pig at that. I was her golden ticket. She began to prance around in circles, holding me proudly above her head. A mob of horrified ladies surrounded me and my piggy winner. In a split second I had turned from a billion dollars into the girl cheating with their boyfriends.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
WA#4: Final Draft
Dear President Barack Obama,
I am a high school student from Charlottesville, Virginia and am finally proud to live in America. I have never before been more active in the presidential race than I was in 2008, let alone any sort of political campaigning. Through canvassing, phone banking and simply being around many other Obama hopefuls I learned an immense amount about your campaign, goals for presidency and views on many issues our country currently faces. I am an avid supporter of your Presidency and I would like to congratulate you on being elected as the first African American president our country has seen. More importantly, I would like to give you input on where I believe you should center your energies during your first year in the White House.
The current state of the environment is an issue I believe should be made of extreme importance in our country. Former President Bush kept much of the increasingly detrimental behaviors of Americans in the shadows for eight years, and its terrible effects are showing. I believe you can bring awareness to these concerns. It is difficult living in America and knowing that our country is one of the main reasons for worldwide environmental distress. To change this, I would like to see you make alternative fuel options more readily available and more widely used. Also, I think small changes in the lifestyles of every American should gradually be encouraged or enforced by you and the capital government. I fully support your aggressive climate and energy plan to reduce emissions levels greatly, and I see no reason to hold out on putting it into full effect. I am also excited that it is now legal for states to determine their own harsher regulations for fuel efficiency. Our world can’t wait much longer for our country to continue behaving as it currently is, and I hope you know that your admired position in, not only America, but the world, is a key place to begin making changes to a more environmentally friendly country.
I also believe jump starting the economy should be of utmost importance during your first year of Presidency. I understand that the terrible state the economy is currently in may take more than a year to improve, but changing former President Bush’s old, unfavorable policies is a solid place to start. I have never been able to understand why Bush would make tax policies that ultimately made the wealthy more wealthy and the poor poorer, but taxing the rich more than the poor would be a positive change I think you should bring about. Rewarding the working class with tax cuts would be a great route to take in your first year of presidency. Also, as a student in high school beginning to look into college, tuition and other fees are of great concern for me. With the cost of college rising rapidly, many college hopefuls are seeing the doors to a successful life close abruptly simply because of money. Reducing that cost would be a gateway for students across the nation seeking further education and a foundation for a successful life, just like I am.
My uncle, David von Storch, who has shared his experiences of meeting you with me, can easily confirm my passion for a greater country. We both strongly support change, and I think he is a perfect representative for every American that is so keen to see the great change you are capable of bringing about. I hope you will take into account my hopes for your presidency, and I would like to thank you for your time and consideration. I speak for young liberals across the country, like myself, who share a fervor and excitement for an improved country. I am sincerely looking forward to the next four years as a citizen of the United States of America.
Sincerely,
Ellie von Storch
I am a high school student from Charlottesville, Virginia and am finally proud to live in America. I have never before been more active in the presidential race than I was in 2008, let alone any sort of political campaigning. Through canvassing, phone banking and simply being around many other Obama hopefuls I learned an immense amount about your campaign, goals for presidency and views on many issues our country currently faces. I am an avid supporter of your Presidency and I would like to congratulate you on being elected as the first African American president our country has seen. More importantly, I would like to give you input on where I believe you should center your energies during your first year in the White House.
The current state of the environment is an issue I believe should be made of extreme importance in our country. Former President Bush kept much of the increasingly detrimental behaviors of Americans in the shadows for eight years, and its terrible effects are showing. I believe you can bring awareness to these concerns. It is difficult living in America and knowing that our country is one of the main reasons for worldwide environmental distress. To change this, I would like to see you make alternative fuel options more readily available and more widely used. Also, I think small changes in the lifestyles of every American should gradually be encouraged or enforced by you and the capital government. I fully support your aggressive climate and energy plan to reduce emissions levels greatly, and I see no reason to hold out on putting it into full effect. I am also excited that it is now legal for states to determine their own harsher regulations for fuel efficiency. Our world can’t wait much longer for our country to continue behaving as it currently is, and I hope you know that your admired position in, not only America, but the world, is a key place to begin making changes to a more environmentally friendly country.
I also believe jump starting the economy should be of utmost importance during your first year of Presidency. I understand that the terrible state the economy is currently in may take more than a year to improve, but changing former President Bush’s old, unfavorable policies is a solid place to start. I have never been able to understand why Bush would make tax policies that ultimately made the wealthy more wealthy and the poor poorer, but taxing the rich more than the poor would be a positive change I think you should bring about. Rewarding the working class with tax cuts would be a great route to take in your first year of presidency. Also, as a student in high school beginning to look into college, tuition and other fees are of great concern for me. With the cost of college rising rapidly, many college hopefuls are seeing the doors to a successful life close abruptly simply because of money. Reducing that cost would be a gateway for students across the nation seeking further education and a foundation for a successful life, just like I am.
My uncle, David von Storch, who has shared his experiences of meeting you with me, can easily confirm my passion for a greater country. We both strongly support change, and I think he is a perfect representative for every American that is so keen to see the great change you are capable of bringing about. I hope you will take into account my hopes for your presidency, and I would like to thank you for your time and consideration. I speak for young liberals across the country, like myself, who share a fervor and excitement for an improved country. I am sincerely looking forward to the next four years as a citizen of the United States of America.
Sincerely,
Ellie von Storch
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