Those I used to love...

Those I used to love…

            I sat there motionless, as still as a statue, as quiet as a mouse. My brain ran through the last ten minutes of my life over and over again, I just kept rewinding, playing, rewinding, and playing. It’s like I’m a human video camera, I can always look back on what I saw. It is like a memory I will always remember or like a nightmare I’ve wished I have forgotten.

The day started out like any other for a bride 2 days away from her wedding. It was stressful, impatient and right now I just wanted to get it over with.  My fiancé, James, was out getting our honey moon reserved and all I had to do today was re-check the guest list, get to my wedding dress fitting, and meet relatives at the air port. I slowly got into my sweats, with all the things I had to do there was no time to primp. I sat down at the wooden table in our kitchen and read over all of the people attending.

            After I dropped off my family at their hotel, I excitedly drove home hoping James was home. When I pulled up to the house all the lights were off. Hmm maybe he’s asleep? I thought. I tiptoed quietly inside trying not to disturb his sleep. When I peeked into the bedroom…it was empty. Where could he be?! I thought panicking. What if he got in a crash or is in the hospital right now?! His meeting was at 1:00 for the reservation, its 8:00. I tried to not think about him and started to make my dinner. Two hours passed and finally his car pulled up.

            Although he said he was at his office doing “extra work” I knew he was lying. The side of his mouth was up in a small smirk trying to hide his secret. I wasn’t sure if I should just let him get away with this… but he did look exhausted. “What extra work?” I asked. “Just some taxes and stuff… and you know the reservation meeting took a while...” He said nervously. Now, I was positive he was lying because over the phone the reservation agent told me he had another meeting at 1:30 so James’s meeting had to be brisk. “Ok well, Good Night.” I said. I realized I shouldn’t give him the satisfaction of him thinking I cared so much.

            Finally my wedding day is here. I’m so nervous, I’ve already cried three times today. Once when I saw my mother, twice when my dad gave me his “down the aisle” pep talk and third when I put on my beautiful, white, wedding dress. I was still waiting on my sister, Crystal, to come to get into her dress, my cousin said she had a work dilemma and was coming soon. I nervously paced, I heard James’s bachelor limo was running a little late, but I figured that was ok since all he had to do was stand by the alter and say “I do.”  I started feeling a little uneasy. “Guys, I'll be right back I need to take a walk.” I say as I escape the small room filled with bridesmaids. I lift up the wedding dress from my feet so I can walk down the hallway. As I walk, I hear laughter from inside a closet. Who would be laughing from inside a closet? I thought. I put my hand on that handle and listen closer.

            “NO!” said my cousin running towards me.  We called her lil’ lacey, she was my favorite cousin since she was born. She looked gorgeous as her bleach blonde hair flowed over her peach colored dress. “Kate” she said “You cannot go in there…” I was so confused I just wanted to know what was going on “Why not?” I demanded. “Umm, they’re employees for the wedding, the…umm waiters.” I was about to question her more until I heard a throaty chuckle come from inside the door… I was starting to realize what was going on… but… who else was in there? A familiar voice said James’s name from inside the closet.  “O Crystal...” said James. A cold tear of shock ran down my cheek and dropped to the floor.

            My hand was still on the handle… My body became overwhelmed with so many feelings. I was stressing out, I was sad, I was mad; I was furious, angry, fumed and heartbroken. All I can think of is that my fiancé and also my sister are together… on my wedding day. I flung open the door. There stood my sister that I’ve lived with for 18 years and my fiancé who I’ve been in love with for 4 years, embraced in each other’s arms.

Pride for the United States of America

“I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free, and I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.” Lee Greenwood sung these words in his song “Proud to be an American.”  Are you proud of your country? What have they done for you? My country is pure and kind hearted; people have taken their own lives for me to survive. Our country is special; we have freedoms but with freedoms come laws and responsibility. We have an amazing country with freedoms to do things others can’t, we the Americans should be grateful that we live in such an extraordinary country.

Since we have such a liberated nation, people all over the world want to live where we are, we don’t have a dictator, we have a free government. A dictator orders people around telling them what to wear, who they are, and who they have to be. Our government has a huge process, the president wants a law, and then he has to ask the congress to approve and majority rules. Basically we can’t just have one person tell us what is right or wrong, we have a procedure we have to do if we want certain things and they take a long time to develop than just what a dictator can do. Not only do we have a free government we also have certain freedoms other countries respect as well.

Although we have laws and responsibility, we get amazing freedoms in our country too. We have freedom of speech, where we can say what we think to others and not have to worry about consequences of what the president or others thing.  We have freedom of expression too. Which means we can express ourselves and who we are, we can wear what we want to where and be who we want to be. 

Finally, I’d like to say, I’m extremely proud to say that I live in The United States of America. Some people may not like certain decisions made in this nation, but all together we all appreciate United States, as Lee Greenwood once sung…

“I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and it’s time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

God Bless the Usa.

Hope

Who am I?

And how did this happen?

One day I'm with my cubs...

And the next day i wake up and they're gone?

Where did they go?

And how will i get there?

I am one of many this has happened to.

Does that make it right?

Some are saved

But from this point of view

I have no hope

Way to be positive right..?

Well, look at me..

Does it look like I'm ready to leave my cubs?

           No

            I'm Not

            Not at all

                  They're mine and no one elses

                         Where are they now?

                And how did i get myself in this mess?

                              I hope they're safe

                          I hope they're protected

           Well, You know, I have hope in a lot of things

                 Like, right now I'm hoping i'll be saved

                                    Please...

                              Think of my cubs

                                And Save Me.

                                 



Wanting Freedom While Educating

*Authors Note: This piece is to my previous school's principal asking for students to not wear uniforms.

Dear Mrs. Meleski,

Hi, my name is Bri Dettlaff, I'm in eighth grade, and I am writing this letter to you to protest against uniforms.  Why is it that teachers think we will get along better by wearing the same clothes? What about freedom of expression?  I personally, am highly against this decision.

In any middle school or high school you are constantly being judged for who you are and what you look like.  You have cliques groups of people that you have things in common with, people that you can relate too.

Besides later in life when you go off to college and get a job, your cliques you have in grade school, don't matter anymore.  Have you ever thought about your style? With uniforms style doesn't exist.

Even though you say uniforms are helpful, they're not. They don't give you any freedom. Have you ever heard the saying freedom of expression? It's when you can express your own style. In my opinion, your style, your clothes, is they way people figure out who you are.  In our childhoods we started as babies and toddlers, when we could only trust that our parents had some sense of style for us. Later in life, we're finally allowed to dress our selves, what would you pick out? And would your guardians who have authority over you, allow it?

 I remember my first day of school at Pewaukee Asa Clark. At first, it was quite frightening. Coming from a grade of 16 to a grade of 230+ students was overwhelming. Especially when I didn't know what it was like here. What do they wear compared to what I wear?  I thought then when I got here I had to become a knew me. Maybe die my hair, change my clothes, my personality.   Then I had to stop and think who am I and who do I want to be?

My sense of style, made people get to know me.  I wasn’t like certain people at Asa, and they weren't like me, I guess that's just how things work out.  You could definitely say there are cliques here, but in my opinion we're all floaters. We like to be friends with every one we can. I love meeting new people, no matter what they look like.  Sometimes, I'm afraid to take a risk with my clothing, you could say that it's not worth it and it'd be better for everyone to be in uniforms, but that's how you find yourself.

When you think about the question "What you want to do in life,?" It also involves the questions "How will you get there?" and "What do you need to look like."  If you decided to be a Punk rocker and wanted to go to Yale… people can judge you for what you look like. It's not right, but it's reality.  When people say "Who are you?" think about it.  Think about  how your style can change people's perspective's or can change others opinions, but are you still you? You can completely change yourself any point in your life, but you rarely have people not wondering "Why did he/she change?" Maybe you weren't a big fan of her clothing so you did the opposite, or maybe you really liked it and wore the same brand. Even though uniforms is a great way to treat people equally. You don’t get to express yourself and who you are.

                  I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams.”

                  ~ Madonna

Thank you,

          Bri Dettlaff

Losing hope on the bleachers

Authors Note: This is a structure essay from a fan to the short story baseball player “Casey at the Bat.”

Dear Casey,

            I’ve been to all your games, and I have to say you’re a really good player, but that last strike was the worst.  You got way ahead of yourself and it wasn’t the best choice you’ve made. You could’ve actually attempted to swing the bat.  You didn’t even try like you said, “It’s not your style” well then maybe baseballs not the best career for you.

You were losing 0-4, and it was the last inning, you had to at least get one hit, right? But no, when you went to bat, we all stood up in hope. Why’d you have to disappoint us? Anyways, when you walked up to bat, it was a rising action, some excitement for the team. The biggest climax, the most exciting part of the game…well, I admit, you were our last hope for any points in the game. When you missed your first pitch and got one strike, we thought there was no hope.

The crowd died down in a falling action, as you missed your second pitch , as we all lost more hope. The resolution, the ending, when we knew we were done, was when you missed your last pitch, Strike three, you’re out. We knew that was it, we were done, Such a tragedy huh? That’s why, Casey, I say you actually try for your team, or get out of baseball.

                                                                   Thank You

                                                                             Sincerely,

                                                                                      Bri Dettlaff