Chase, do you want to play?Dog, I cannot throw the ball,
I have work to do. You two other sisters, two. Why must you whine in the hall? I am sorry, please give me a chance. Once I am done, we will play. There will be no other delay. As soon as I am done, we will dance. Boy, you are making me sad. Tapping on those screens, it can only mean one thing: bad. I try by any means. Whining, pawing, looking, only goes so far. As soon as you stand up, I knew something was cooking. Yes, this is it! I get to go run as fast as a car! Runners
runners running runners running through the woods tripping tripping hard over each other over roots roots mud mud hills hills hills we climb hills we climb persevering and pushing pushing through the pain through the pain yet we listen listen to our bodies that carry us that carry us through life through life driven by the mind only to be strengthened only to be strengthened every time every time runners run runners run Living on a farm in the country comes with many challenges. From working with heavy machinery to feeding the mules, every day is different. It takes a strong person, mentally and physically, to keep everything running smoothly. My grandpa is no exception. Everyone knows difficult choices have to be made when looking after others' lives. Back then, times were different and people had different views on things. Papa had mules, sheep, goats, chickens, and dogs. One of his first dogs, Zeek was an outside dog. He came in for the winter, but was only allowed in the back room. This was how it was, raw and real.
“There are many things in my life that I regret, and that is one of them,” my grandpa sighed. He turned towards me with a face lacking expression. “Always dig the hole before you shoot it.” There was a moment of silence before it was interrupted by the song of a mourning dove. “Why did you do it like that?” I asked. “Well at the time, that’s what needed to happen. Zeek was hurting and he was old. I was home alone so I thought it was the right time. I took him back to the barn and sat him down. When he sat down, he licked my hand. I shit you not, licked my hand without a care in the world.” When he was explaining this to me, he was looking off into the distance like he was relaying the moment in his mind. My grandpa closed his eyes soaking up the morning sun. “I’ve done it once, and never have done it since. But let me tell ya, your actions have consequences. Everything you do, to hulling wood, to putting down animals. Everything takes a toll on you.” This in life, you make mistakes and learn from them. I Am Understanding
I am understanding but do not take advantage of me for I will retreat into a hole where my brain plays tricks on to me and now all I can think about is how I could've done it differently -- Garrett Based on "My Secret Pepsi Plot" Serotonin and adrenaline rose up through the small pebbles that ground in between my toes as I walked down to the fog covered water. The sun was trying to push through the tops of the pines as if it had something to show you. Loons glided down from above to bathe in the bay. Everything was as it should be, peaceful. This is exactly where I want to be right now.
When I got down to the water, I picked out the perfect spot to fish off the bank. My hopes were high, knowing there were big fish lurking in the depths of the Magpie Reservoir. As I prepared my pole, I felt a calm come over me. I’m going to catch something. I have to. These conditions are too perfect not to. I flung the braided line through the crisp morning fog, hoping each cast would be the one. With every toss going in a different direction, I had a good feeling I was coming closer to connecting with the beast in the shadows. I was alone in the woods with my thoughts while my family was slowly waking up in the warm cabin on the hill. I’m so glad I made myself get out of bed. I’ve been looking forward to spending my mornings like this. The sun had begun to rise over the pine trees and the rays danced along the water. Frustration was beginning to set in, but my dad had taught me to be patient. I attempted a big cast but my bail flipped over and the lure only went about six feet. Annoyed, I began to reel in my slack and that’s when I saw a shadow move. Suddenly, the pole was bent and the line was screaming. This is it! Fish on! The battle was intense, stressful, and exciting. Twenty minutes went by and I was getting tired. A small child fighting a Northern Pike is no easy task. I reached down with the net and brought this fish on to the beached boat. I set the fish down and it flopped. The lure flung out of its mouth, along with my exhilaration. I stood there dumbfounded as I watched it happen in slow motion. In the blink of an eye, it took one flop and dove back into the shadows from which it came. Sadness washed over me and there was nothing else to do besides walk back up and tell my family what happened. I had it. I had hooked the big one and I lost it. I was so close. is that as a kid, I avoided wearing shoes.
I cleaned my feet thoroughly every night, scrubbing dirt, cuts, and blisters. I watched my parents get frustrated with me not bringing shoes to the grocery store and having dirty feet in the house. Which left me wondering why I didn’t just slip on a pair of shoes when I ventured outside to a dirty and hazardous ground below. Perhaps that is when I realized that feeling something is better than feeling nothing. Perhaps that is why, especially now, I’d rather walk through life more vulnerable and exposed just to make the numbness go away. 2020 was a wild year no doubt about that, but what about 2021? As we go into this year, how would you describe this new year in three words? My three words for 2021 are... New, Hope, Change
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