It was a chilly night, but the sky was clear and the stars were shining brighter than ever. The soft breeze made the trees rustle. I liked that sound. It made me feel like I wasn’t alone. It made me feel relaxed. I was looking out my bedroom window thinking that nothing could destroy this relaxing, happy, and beautiful night, but I didn’t know what was coming.
My entire family was in a good mood. We were so happy that it seemed like nothing could upset us anymore. We were laughing and talking and making jokes. We later watched a movie. While we watched, my mom got a phone call. We paused the movie as we saw the smile on my mom’s face fading. As she put down the phone, she looked shocked and upset. Her eyes quickly filled with tears. I felt tense and anxious. My heart was pounding. My dad had a concerned look on his face. My sister looked quite confused. It looked as if my mom was going to say something, but she quickly stopped. It looked as if, if she tried to talk, she would start to cry. She ignored my questions and drank a glass of water to calm down. She looked dazed. After she calmed down, she took my dad into the bedroom and whispered something. A minute later, my dad came out and told us something that was absolutely horrible and extremely unexpected. It was that my mom’s dad, my grandfather, has brain stroke. I stared at my parents in shock and disbelief.
The next morning, my sister and I were drinking milk when my dad walked in.
“You know that grandfather has
In the allegorical novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, the aging pig Old Major speaks to all the animals on the farm, making a stirring speech calling them to arms. He tells them that Man is the enemy, and a rebellion is inevitable.His clever use of rhetorical devices such as appeal to ethos, rhetorical questions, among many others, is what makes his speech so effective.
Traveling is one of my family’s favorite things to do. The family has visited numerous places throughout the United States, however, none are as memorable as Atlanta, Georgia. In Atlanta, there are many places to go and sights to see such as: Cola-cola factory, Cabbage Patch Kids Factory, Under Ground Mall, the Zoo, Atlanta Braves Stadium, Six Flags Over Georgia, Stone Mountain Park, and the Atlanta Aquarium, are all in or near the city of Atlanta. The three that we visit on every trip to Atlanta are Six Flags, Stone Mountain, and the Atlanta Aquarium.
More than many other types of essays, descriptive essays strive to create a deeply involved and vivid experience for the reader. Great descriptive essays achieve this affect not through facts and statistics but by using detailed observations and descriptions.
The most magnificent place I’ve ever been is Puerto Rico. With its breath taking landscapes and the calm serenity of the ocean; Puerto Rico is one of the most relaxing and gorgeous places I’ve ever been. The mixes of several different Latin styles play a huge role in not only the music and dancing of Puerto Rico but, also the style of the wardrobe. The best part of Puerto Rico though is the amazing experience and adventures I’ve been on.
There’s no one to talk to... I hate this place. The smell, the silence, the way that time hangs in the air catalyses my irritation. I scream yet no one hears. I question but no one answers. I’m just waiting for the day I die and no one finds me. I guess I won’t be there to enjoy that.
Several years ago I made a trip to Cape Town South Africa, and it was one of the most memorable trips of my life. The excitement of the unknown grew with each passing hour spent in the air, high above the earth. Though my sons and I had a planned five day excursion, I still couldn’t stop wondering what might still lie ahead. Would it be something about this new culture I was about to experience; or would it be something more, something about me?
I open the first door of the local diner to escape the crisp chilly morning air. Pausing for a moment, I soak in the warmth before opening the second door. Immediately the aroma of coffee overwhelms my nostrils. The tiny diner has only ten cheap, white tables and black metal chairs with red padding on the seats. I select the table closest to the window, sitting with my back to the wall, the window on my right, and the rest of the diner in front and slightly to the left of me. The diner is located on the corner of a square in Jonesboro, IL and has been open for about ten minutes. The only people in the diner are four men and myself. Then men are all dressed simple, blending in with the simple diner. One man is dressed in a blue, white, and black flannel that is tucked in with a phone clipped to his jeans. Another man has square-shaped glasses perched on his nose and is dressed in a white-buttoned down shirt. The third man also has square-shaped glasses and is dressed in overalls with a plain white shirt underneath it. The fourth man is dressed in jeans with a simple Anna-Jonesboro High School t-shirt. As I sit there gazing at the four men, I wonder why they are here; what are their intentions of coming to a diner at 6:40 in the morning?
Hour nineteen was halfway conquered. I could barely take it anymore as I glanced around the car for the thousandth time, it was still the same thing. Several guys crashed out in the back row of seats, the same grey interior with a touchscreen navigator on the dashboard that was set on the directions that read: DESTINATION: ONTARIO, CANADA in the glowing white LED lighting. The distance between the passenger seat and my legs seemed to get closer with every hour that passed by. My legs paid the price; when we got out of the car to refuel on gas, I stumbled out of the solid red Nissan as if I haven’t been able to walk for years. After the quick break, it was back into the car. All 6 of the Anderson men were piled in for the long voyage for our annual fishing trip in Ontario, Canada. The car was polluted with the smell of old fast food, greasy old clothes, and body odor.
I wake up not even knowing that I had fallen asleep and see that my little sisters are not where I left them. I look around frantically when I see two people emerge on the path we walked in on. Before I can see their faces I recognize their strides and I start jumping up and down. They came! I don't know why I thought they wouldn't, but I had my doubts. I smile one of the most genuine smiles in a while. I see that the smiles are returned as my parents faces come into view.
The view was breathtaking. A dark blue of many hues dotted with twinkling lights. Swirls of purple and greens like the oceans at home. The yellows and oranges gracefully danced together in dust ballad. All beautiful, but none of these things could ever add up to the beauty of earth. That was all that kept me from the reality that I lived in a small cubby made up of a wall and large window that curved up over my head. I had put all of the blankets I could find on the ground and pillow down to sleep. I had a bag which I used to store food. The cargo ship actually doubled as a chauffeur for the government into space. It had an auditorium and the large cloth that covered the back wall cover the entrance to my crevice. There was a bathroom backstage, and because the auditorium was out of order I had free access to it anytime I wanted. I also found a little chute that led to the kitchen. I found the times when I should and shouldn’t crawl up. I learned when I shouldn't the hard way one afternoon. I got a plat of spaghetti to the face. It was delightful and still so hot it burned my skin! The one thing that haunted me is Nana. Without anyone to talk to there was nothing that could distract me from the uneasiness in my gut. I’m worried not only for her but for me too. Maybe I should have stayed back, my parents must be worried sick.
The alarm goes off at six in the morning. With the whole world still asleep, I get up and put on my basketball gear. My eyes hardly open and my muscles refuse to get out of the warmly made bed. My dad comes down with a rather keen smile plastered all over his face. He asks if I’m ready to go. I reply with a simple nod of my head. The feeling of the cold water from the sink suspends the feeling of collapsing muscles. But the day is long from over.
Ever since I could remember, I have always been able to communicate to the dead. However, when it first started, I didn’t know that they were spirits. They would play with me and be my friends. My parents just thought they were just my imaginary friends, that all change when I met my aunt.
RIINNGGG. The alarming sound coming from the school bell interrupted my nap as I had been sleeping through a lengthy lecture about Ludwig Van Beethoven. I looked out the window, seeing the long, gray clouds covering the sky. I guessed that it might rain sooner or later. I yawned softly, quickly glancing around to make sure no one noticed that I had taken a snooze the whole period.
The candescent rays of the warm Chicago sun shone through the cream colored sheers of my hotel room, quite a peaceful way to be woken up if I do say so myself. Today was a big day, I finally got to meet Max and Tyler. I’ve known each of them for around a year now over numerous social networks and I’d say it's quite overdue for us to meet. You see, Max and Tyler both live in Milwaukee, and I live in Woodbury, so Chicago is kind of the perfect place for us to meet up. I was excited to see them, but I was also a bit anxious, what if we don’t end up getting along?
With the recent uproar of various states legalizing marijuana it seems as if marijuana laws have gotten more complex than ever before. Prove of this is found when observing the legalization status of different states. States like Colorado and Washington have legalized both recreational and medicinal use. Whereas states like New Mexico and Arizona have only legalized Medicinal use. These complexities has confused many supporters of marijuana in terms of understanding the process of full legalization. One common misterpetation is that the government won't allow the states to experiment with marijuana. However according to Adam Davidson in his article titled “Learning From History in Changing Times” He mentions that “All three branches of the federal government have signaled approval of the states' experimentation with marijuana legalization”.(Pg 2119) This means that if one is to hope for legalization anytime soon one must first realize that the states do have a say in its process and thus our voice and our vote really do matter in regards to the legalization of Marijuana.