In the shoes of a presidential candidate.

 

     What if I decided that from now on,  I will answer questions like a presidential candidate.   Besides the question never being answered, it might sound like this:

"Lauren, what are you going to do this weekend?"

"That's a good question and an important one, and I WILL do something this weekend. But let me step back and answer a broader question. What are we ALL doing this weekend? As a nation? As a world? This weekend I will do something comprehensive and robust, yet fun. We all should!"
...

"But, what are you going to do?"

"What I'm going to do involves 3 things. First, It's going to be relaxing. Second, it's going to be enjoyable. Lastly, I'm goin to make sure it is cost-effective so I do not get into a deficit. Four weeks ago I said I was going to do something- and I did. This weekend will be no different!! 

 

    We are raised to answer questions and tell the truth.  How should we respond when the leaders of our country can't answer a question?  The straight up truth can build a solid wall of trust, however, the lying, cheating, and munipulative forms of leadership take down their respect.

Love

      “Keep love in your heart.  A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.” (Oscar Wilde)  God created us to love one another and build one another up.  Loving someone, however, always comes with inevitable pain- whether a death, break up, or any other painful experiences.   With perseverance and dedication to one another, the pain is a price worth paying.  It is a joy to watch my grandparents grow old together with their wrinkles perfectly suited together.  Their passion for love and dedication toward one another grows each and every day.   They both know that as humans, we are not designed to last forever, but they have learned to enjoy the moments they have to spend together.  The importance of enjoying the moment was revealed to me this past summer of 2012.  I took a trip to see my  Grandfather in Brooklyn, New York.  I was able to spend a wonderful week with him.  He passed away three days after I arrived back home in North Carolina.  Although the pain of his death increased due to spending that short week together, I wouldn’t have changed anything.  His love became more important than the pain that followed.

Christmas

         Christmas time has arrived! I feel as though every year it comes in so fast like a huge gust of wind. By Thanksgiving the Christmas music is playing in all the department stores preparing their customers for all the shopping thats in store.  Sale signs are hung in all the store windows hoping to attract some extra customers to buy little toys and gifts.  Christmas trees are seen tied to the tops of passing cars.  Decorations are brought out of the basement and bestowed accross the house.  Soon Christmas will be in mind before the celebration of Thanksgiving.  The special Holiday just can't come soon enough.

        Araca has always been one eager to jump into new adventures and live to

 life’s fullest.  She is my cousin from Mississippi who moved to Asheville in order to stay with

 our ‘grandmothers’ who together share a common connection with one another.  Araca is 18

 however her short fragile body airs her to be the age of 14. Through Araca’s personality and

 humor of a 15 year old we are able to connect and sincerely enjoy one another’s presence.

   Since her move to Asheville our relationship has sprouted to its all-time high as we indulge in

 mischief and crazy exploits.

                           Our goal through high school was to take a trip before she graduated in her class

 of 2012. This past June of 2012, I received a phone call. 

 “Hello?”  I said.

  “Hey Lauren its Araca! I know this is a late notice, but Jan wants to know if you and I would

 like to go stay with her in New York City for two weeks!” 

“That sounds wonderful.  When would we leave?” I asked.

  “We leave in a week.” She said.

           Her answer threw me off guard.   I couldn’t help but realize how crazy she actually was.

  The obligations to my job and over the summer reading would be placed to the side for two

 weeks without any for warning to the sudden trip.  After several minutes in thought and a brief

 conversation with my parents I decided to join yet another crazy adventure with my cousin.  

    

Once we arrived in New York we were overwhelmed with the overabundance of

 sweat the sweet smell of food and we were shocked by the population.  I was however interested

 in the different outlooks of all the many people.  The working business men and women on Wall

 Street tended to style a very sleek appearance.  In comparison the East side of New York tended

 to appear more casual and laid back sporting apparel such as blue jeans and boots. 

             “Lauren, I feel so free!” Araca said one early morning. “We are only young adults and

 we have our very own apartment for the duration of our stay!”  The small apartment located on

 the upper side of Manhattan served as our home for the week.  Our step grandmother lived in the

 apartment below.  The small apartment had a great view from the roof.  The view beheld all of

 New York City’s finest attractions from the Empire State building to the memorial of the twin

 towers.  We spent our last night eating the finest NYC bread and cheese on the top of the roof.

  We called it the ‘last supper’ to celebrate the conclusion of our journey.

             Araca and I enjoyed our adventure to New York City.  Having such great freedom at our

 young age was an experience we will never forget.

Satisfaction

            

 

                                  Samuel Johnson wrote: “Our desires increase with our possessions.  The knowledge that something remains yet unenjoyed impairs our enjoyment of the good before us.”  Obtaining a great share of possessions and assets, doesn’t always come with contentment and satisfaction.   As humans, we have trouble finding satisfaction, therefore, we yearn for something more.  We are also weak to the corruption of jealousy as we observe others with something that is unattainable in our hands.    Luke 12:15 “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 

                     As a child, I remember the joy of investing in a new toy.  That bright, noisy, new toy was the product of my hard earned, weekly allowance from my parents.   The satisfaction in tearing the highly anticipated toy out of the package was one of the best parts.  However, in a short time of at least two weeks, the better, more expensive toy would be introduced and I would be hooked.  No longer did my 'old’ toy satisfy my desires, for I wanted more.   The Rolling Stones sing “I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction, 'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try. I can't get no, I can't get no.”  Stressing the point that satisfaction isn’t easy to maintain.   We get a taste of satisfaction when we first gain something new, however, that sense wears off and we are therefore discontented and left wanting more. 

What Scagaswea means to me break down

Tone/Style: Satire, mocking parody, Making fun of specific aspects.  The theme park is Sacagawea's brain.  The tone gradually changes into a serious manner,  while the author tries to prove a point, using articals and contradictions that prove his point. 

Personal essay idea

                                      I plan to write my personal essay about my identity found within my religion.  Many different countries struggle with the freedom of religious expression, but in America we are able to have that wonderful freedom.  Due to the Constitution of the United States, our country has a foundation of freedom.