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Its frightening, looking up into a room full of adults standing in my school's main office, all of which are gazing into space as if they have just seen a ghost. I was a little confused, but I knew something was off. My mother had picked me up from school, and I sensed her tension immediately. She was vague, and every time one of my questions were dodged, my nerves took a hit. Once we sat down in front of the television at home, neither of us said anything, there wasn't much to do except watch. I was in third grade, only seven years old, but I watched intently as the Twin Towers went up in flames. Amatuer footage caught it all, it captured tragedy in its entirety. The streets of New York City were filled with debris, dust, and flustered people. I think everyone was a little dazed, slightly loopy, no one could really grasp what was happening. On the morning of September 11, 2001, four commercial passenger planes were hijacked by 19 a-Qaeda terrorists and directed into populous American cities. I can remember a reporter interviewing a sobbing woman. She described how others as well as herself observed the debris falling from the buildings, only to learn at second glance that it was people jumping from the buidlings. I grew up having so much hate for the terrorists involved in the attack; I resent their lack of value regarding human life, even their own. heir actions took my father out of my life for nearly a year, but I was lucky. For others, their parents never made it home from work that night.
Through My Eyes: an Autobiography
I don't really remember being all that sad when i found out my dad was leaving, I still thought of him as invincible and had faith that he would return home safe. I spent as much time as possible with him before he left, and that was probably because though I'd never admit it, I knew it would very well be the last time I ever spent with him. We sat in the foyer putting various vitamins into baggies and labeling my father's gear with sharpies. I observed his M4 with great interest, tried out his nightvision goggles, and truggled to lift the kevlar while wearing his helmet. I feel like we spent hours labeling and organizing, packing up the never-ending list of equipment. That was fine by me, I kept on packing and hoped that by the grace of God that maybe my dad would'nt have to leave after all. I remember so many details of the day he left. I recall how the sky had a gray glare and the humidity brought a warm breeze. My brothers, mother, and I all said 'I love you,' and even though tears were streaming down my cheeks, I could'nt help but laugh at my dad. There he was, on his way to deploy to war, and he stepped off our porch with a cigar in his mouth and a beer in hand. On his way to the rental car, he stopped and turned, twisting the cap off his Samuel Adams. He looked at me and chucked the beer cap. I didn't really pay much attention to the cap, I kept my eyes on him and absent-mindedly stuck out my left hand to catch it. I kept that beer cap, it still sits in the same box I placed it the day my father left, knowing that he would be back.
My brother's graduation was important. Sometimes i even think i was just as thrilled as he was. I was so happy for him, he had made it through high school and was graduating with his Advanced Diploma. He had a rough senior year, for he was hospitalized for quite some time due to an extreme case of pnuemonia that proved difficult to treat. I had hated knowing my brother was so weak and fragile, I felt like he should never be that way. Seeing my brother in such a vulnerable state was heart-breaking, I wished so badly that he would just get better and could come home. But as he recovered, I began to anticipate his graduation. It was so awful, knowing that my brother, who I felt like I had just begun to become so close to in the past years, was now going to move on into adulthood. Even worse, he had plans which involved leaving Virginia Beach, and though I can't say I blame him, I was both sad and jealous. My older brother has been like a best friend to me in the past few years, and I'm so excited for him to begin his life as an indepedent. The day he graduated, I did not cry like I had predicted, but smiled and clapped, knowing that I would be in his shoes in just a short time.
I met her in 6th grade, and we have been attatched at the hip ever since. We were in the locker room, getting dressed out for P.E., and we began to shoot the breeze, casually talking about our parents and what their careers are. Oddly enough, we exchanged information about our fathers to learn that not only are the both Navy SEALS, but they worked together and were pretty good friends. Carsyn and I have been best friends for years now, and I know that we will be for the rest of our lives. We are so much alike, and have such a great time with one another. I pity anyone who never experiences what it is like to have one really great friend, because I find quality way better then quanity.
Mahi Mah's has done quite a few things. Firstly, Mahi Mah's taught me the meaning of hard work, and how pulling a sixteen hour shift is tiresome, but worth it when your paycheck arrives.. Secondly, I have learned that while I am sitting down at a restaurant, enjoying a delicious meal, there is a world of chaos happening just yards away from me. Working in a restaurant is eye opening, and I would suggest that everyone experience it, even if for only a short period of time. I have made friends, worked hard, and earned money. My weekends may be lost and very seldom do I ever have a real break, but in my eyes, its worth it.. When i first began working at Mahi Mahs, as a hostess, it was August. Beach-goers were still enjoying the warm air and not thinking about the nearing school year., and summer was in full swing. The East Coast Surfing Championships were coming up, and buisness was booming. I remember days when us hostesses would be out of pagers to hand out, and their was a line going out the front door to get a pager to get on the 2 hour wait for a table. It was insanity, we were all so stressed out and everything was moving at lightspeed until I could convince myself to actually take a deep breath. The stress that comes from working in a job that involves customer service is something I do not enjoy, but and grateful for having experienced. The ability to cooperate with people and do your job with finesse is an awesome skill. I will continue to cherish my time as a hostess at Mahi Mah's, for I am happy to have taken to leap from childhood to working, young adult.
