I sat tapping my foot, constantly glancing at the clock. Every time a minute ticked by another wad of money disappeared from my wallet. I needed to pick a floral arrangement and quick. My eyes scanned from one set to another and finally I picked an alluring Amaranth Pink color. We were on the final countdown and there was still so much to be done. I took a deep, stress relieving breath and counted to three.
So today was the day. I didn't really feel too special, instead I felt exhausted, tense and dithery. Well what could I do now? The calming sound of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March relaxed my racing heart. The church looked truly beautiful but instead of my eyes taking it all in appreciatively they wearily recognized all the hard work and effort put into it. At least soon I would be able to unwind on the beaches of Malpais and put some color back into my drained face. I searched in my jewelry bag to find Grandma Dottie's blue broach but it was nowhere to be found. I located a nearby chair and sat for a moment. I hadn’t seen him all day and I began to wonder what he might be doing, hopefully doing a last minute shave or ironing his shirt, at least something productive.
From my room in the back the steady noise of chatter began to increase in decibels and my heartbeat regained its dashing pace. Eloise entered the room short of breath and I asked her if she was almost ready. Nervously she answered yes. I picked up the small wicker basket that held the Amaranth Pink petals and placed it into her small fragile fingers. The organs began trumpeting their tune. The flower girl led the procession followed by the bridesmaids and groomsmen. My father clutched my arm and we began our walk down the aisle. Instead of recognizing faces in the pews I saw each petal laying on the carpeted aisle. Many had been pierced by high heeled shoes and their blood stained the carpet. I went up and stood facing the man I loved but no matter how hard I tried to concentrate, my mind was pulled back to the petals. Each one came to signify a part of my life that I was going to leave behind as soon as I said the words “I do”. A petal with a pierced heart was my first love. There went some of my freedom. “Two shall become as one” and there went a piece of my identity. They were scattered on the floor distracting me so I lifted my head and instead I was able to see all of the people I loved. I looked to the right and there was the man that I was willing to sacrifice all of the things the petals represented for. I looked up to see Mother Mary watching from the stained glass window above and I could feel that our smiles were worn with identical happiness.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
WA-5 Wedding
The warm spring sun beat down on me. My xylem sap was fresh and thin from the light rains. I sucked up the water and it transpired on my light amaranth pink petals. Far off, in a beige colored room, a giddy but excessively anxious young woman sat tapping her pedicured foot as she discussed the floral arrangements with her very qualified but extravagantly lavish planner. The color palettes were strewn across the ornate desk and the woman’s eyes flickered from one set to another and then another. Finally, she puckered her Venetian red lips, inhaled a sharp quick breath and jabbed her filed nail at the custom group that read, Amaranth Pink Bouquet. “I believe this will do,” she said.
Slice. Everything disappeared. When I regained consciousness the cream colored linen lined woven basket was brimming with detached petals. I tried to peer over the side. Sunlight was streaming in through the stain glass windows depicting Mother Mary and falling down across old wooden pews. A man sat hunched over the mighty organs, practicing Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. The bride was getting dressed and so far she was wearing something old and something new. Her shoes were borrowed and she was looking for her broach that was blue. In a room on the opposite side of the church the groom and his best men were lounging around in their white tee’s obviously oblivious to the quickly encroaching time. Off somewhere the ring bearer and flower girl were playing hide and go seek, soiling their new outfits before the start of the ceremony.
The air was becoming thick with anticipation as long lost family became reunited and the chapel began to fill for the start of the service. The organs began to sing a song and the chatter fell to a hushed tone as seats began to be occupied. I was whisked off of a table and into the shivering hands of the young girl. A salty tear of fear trickled down her cheek as her mother reinstructed her and kissed her forehead. A sweet bridesmaid took the girl’s hand, led her to the door, and sent her on her way. Eyes wide, she looked down at her scuffed shoes and placed one foot in front of the other on the carpeted aisle. With each step, the basket became lighter and emptier. Sticky fingers plucked me out and dropped me mercilessly to the floor. High heel spike after high heel spike proceeded to skewer me as I lay bleeding Amaranth Pink. As the pain subsided, the music faded, and the star crossed lovers faced each other in front of the priest. From my view on the floor the group looked like a black and white cookie, V formation of geese. A bright, gaudy pair of shoes adorned with large tulips stole my attention from the vows being spoken. “I do” was said by the pair, the couple was wed, the service was over, everyone stood up, stampeded, and that was the last of my memory.
Slice. Everything disappeared. When I regained consciousness the cream colored linen lined woven basket was brimming with detached petals. I tried to peer over the side. Sunlight was streaming in through the stain glass windows depicting Mother Mary and falling down across old wooden pews. A man sat hunched over the mighty organs, practicing Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. The bride was getting dressed and so far she was wearing something old and something new. Her shoes were borrowed and she was looking for her broach that was blue. In a room on the opposite side of the church the groom and his best men were lounging around in their white tee’s obviously oblivious to the quickly encroaching time. Off somewhere the ring bearer and flower girl were playing hide and go seek, soiling their new outfits before the start of the ceremony.
The air was becoming thick with anticipation as long lost family became reunited and the chapel began to fill for the start of the service. The organs began to sing a song and the chatter fell to a hushed tone as seats began to be occupied. I was whisked off of a table and into the shivering hands of the young girl. A salty tear of fear trickled down her cheek as her mother reinstructed her and kissed her forehead. A sweet bridesmaid took the girl’s hand, led her to the door, and sent her on her way. Eyes wide, she looked down at her scuffed shoes and placed one foot in front of the other on the carpeted aisle. With each step, the basket became lighter and emptier. Sticky fingers plucked me out and dropped me mercilessly to the floor. High heel spike after high heel spike proceeded to skewer me as I lay bleeding Amaranth Pink. As the pain subsided, the music faded, and the star crossed lovers faced each other in front of the priest. From my view on the floor the group looked like a black and white cookie, V formation of geese. A bright, gaudy pair of shoes adorned with large tulips stole my attention from the vows being spoken. “I do” was said by the pair, the couple was wed, the service was over, everyone stood up, stampeded, and that was the last of my memory.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
WA-4 Final Draft
Dear Mr. Obama,
First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your presidential victory and your accomplishment of becoming the 44th president of the United States of America. On top of that, being the first African American to hold that title. I am glad that this country is seeing a change, and I would love to thank you for bringing it about. Secondly, I would like to take a little bit of your time to express my wishes of what I would like to see you help this country accomplish in your first year.
The environment is very important and all of the risks that it is being faced with are a major concern to me. The abuse and neglect it undergoes simply is too much of a strain that will eventually bring about a catastrophic problem. I think that with a major effort from the government and this country’s people, our great nation can begin to set precedents for a better, cleaner world. The problem now is that there is not enough awareness and government sponsored projects. The restrictions placed on companies are very lenient and need to become more environmentally focused. Two of the major industries that I think need to re-alter their standards are that of the oil and automobile. As of now, the stipulations placed on these major, influential companies need to protect the environment far more than they do. Now that you, Mr. Obama, are president I believe that you can pass bills and make laws to help save the one and only Earth we have. Please think of that when you take office and use this quote said by the Iroquois people as something to follow: “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.”
A controversy that most Americans have a strong feeling about is Iraq and the War on Terror. People like myself, believe that the awful war brought on by Bush has gone on for too long. However, now that he is no longer in office, this can change. We can pull our troops out for good and not meddle in business that is not ours. We can once again regain a positive connotation for our country and some of us can once again call ourselves proud americans. Family members and loved ones can come home and it is my hope that when they do, they will be treated and cared for like the heroes that they are. They have risked their lives for the protection of our country and when they return they should receive nothing but the best. Please understand that this war can be ended by you and I hope that you realize that this should be a top priority.
Please take a moment to consider the things I have said and take into account the thousands of things that you now have control over. We as citizens have placed our trust in you to not only do what is morally right but also what is best for the people, the country, and the world. Thank you for being what this country needs.
A proud citizen of the United States of America,
Olivia Levine
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