Colored Hair: More Than You See
Today I put some cardinal red streaks back in my hair. I use these extensions that have keratin glue at the tops so I can glue them into my hair at the roots. They are also small enough to blend in most of the time, but then provide a pop of color when someone is paying attention. This kind of color in my hair is just perfect for me. I don’t damage my hair with dye, and they are a bit fun and funky without drawing too many eyes my way.
My sister on the other hand has put purple streaks in her hair. She enjoys having more of the color and being more outgoing with her hair. The tone of purple she picked this time is very cool toned, so it hits differently depending on the light that is around. In the sun, the purple is on full display, but if she steps into the shade, the purple blends well with her natural hair color and makes it look like she just has darker brown hair.
These are only two of the many ways that people put color in their hair that are deemed “unnatural” because genetics don’t allow us humans to grow hair in those colors. (On a more personal note, I kind of hate when employers have rules against these hair colors. They have their reasons, but I think it infringes on a person’s right to their own style.) No matter how you choose to put the color in your hair, I tend to love that people made that choice for themselves. They chose to embrace their unique style and add some fun to their every day life.
Opinions vary about the people who choose to put extra color in their hair. I have found them to be fun people who enjoy the tiny joys of life. Others say that because it is an unnatural color that it shouldn’t go on your hair. The idea that just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. I completely disagree with that sentiment. Hair is as unique to each person as their genetic code. What length they choose to cut it, how thick it grows, and the texture that makes itself known after every shower. These factures make our hair our own. They can be embraced or manipulated in various ways to compliment our style. Color is just another choice to make.
If you have the patience to put the color in your hair, and then maintain that color, then more power to you. Let people truly rock their own style and don’t try and force them to conform to what you think people should look like. No two people are exactly the same, even identical twins. As we grow, life shapes us and leaves scars that change more than just our skin. Choosing to add funky hair to the mix is just that, a choice. Allow hair to just be hair, an expression of style and personality.
Power to the funky hair people!
Letter to the Future
Recently one of my friends had her second child, and it got me thinking. Maybe, someday, they might need to hear some advice or memories that I have to share. So here is a letter to W. and A., her children, from an honorary auntie.
Dear W. and A.,
Who knows if you will ever actually read this, but I thought I could at least try and leave some form of a note for you in case you need this somewhere down the line. You two were/are my first try at being an adult figure for children. Of course I babysat back in high school but it is different when one of your best friends has kids. With that fact in mind I have a few things that I think you should keep in mind as you explore the world and this crazy thing we call life.
First I want you to know that your mother is one of my favorite people in this world. She has been there for me through quite a bit and has never once complained. You are incredibly lucky to have been blessed to call her your mother. Never forget that you got a good one and that I know for a fact that each day as you grow, she only loves you more and more than the day before. So don’t worry if you have to tell her that you screwed up or that something about you is different than the majority. She will love you just because you are her child. That will never change.
Second, being normal is vastly overrated. Some of the most interesting people I have met in my life are the ones with quirks. They look at the world from a different perspective, and sometimes that is exactly what you need, a fresh set of eyes. Surround yourself with the people who have dance parties while making dinner, and are so passionate about something that they can’t help but share that enthusiasm with the world. Without the type of people who are different from everyone else, we would never have gotten the advancements that make your life easier and more interesting.
Third, create art whenever you can. You may not be hanging in galleries across the country, but you will have a creative spirit. That spark can take you places you only dreamed of. Art is one of the purest forms of self expression, and sharing that with the world is a beautiful thing. Trust me, at least you will be able to decorate your future homes with things that matter to you.
Fourth, know that there is no one right way to do things. If there was only one correct path in life, we would all be the same. Having a world filled with diverse people confirms that there are an infinite amount of ways to move forward with your life. Whatever you attempt, if you get frustrated because it is not working out like you hoped, try another angle. You two are such unique people that there has to be a path that is completely your own.
And lastly, celebrate with your friends. Your mother and I have been there to cheer each other on since high school. I got so excited when she told me that she was expecting you, both times. She was thrilled for me when I had my knee surgery, and then showed her the scars that meant I was healing. When life gives you people that you just connect with, make sure to celebrate their wins and take an interest in more aspects in their lives than just them as a person. It will only show them how invested you are in the friendship and make it that much more rewarding.
You two are incredible and I am honored to be part of your lives. Watching you grow and learn is a true joy. I hope life is easy for you, and that you always know that you have some place to turn should you need it.
Your honorary Auntie,
K. F. Wiltrout
Changing of Seasons
For a while now I have been working on taking a photo of my local spring house in each season. The last one I had to capture was the spring season. Today I finally managed to take that picture. I thought it was so interesting because of the foliage around such a small but unique building, and how it would change through the year. Finally getting the picture to complete my set has gotten me thinking about what else changes with the seasons.
Fashion of course changes. You need to dress according to the weather. Although pretty much all of us know that one guy, usually a teen, who will wear short year round, weather be damned. After the heat of summer I look forward to when it is finally cold enough to wear my own version of a uniform which consists of jeans, a t-shirt, and a flannel over shirt. Usually all of this is combined with my current favorite pair of converse shoes.
Activities change with the time of year. In winter you can take your kids sledding down the local hills. Then in summer you take trips to the local pool for swimming lessons. Holiday traditions often follow along with the time of year the holiday takes place in. Christmas has songs that call for a white blanket of snow to be covering the ground outside your window. While a holiday like the 4th of July features water games and grilling out with family and friends.
Something that I am thankful doesn’t seem to change with the seasons, is how close my family is. No matter the weather we find a way to share the love. Home cooked food, fresh treats, pictures sent over text, a long phone call that makes you remember just how great it is to catch up with someone who means quite a bit to you. We always find ways to connect with each other. (I am also grateful for the internet and how easy it has become to stay in touch with family I only get a chance to see in person once a year.)
One of my best friends recently had a baby and I can’t wait to watch as this new life gets to explore and experience what the seasons have to bring. Welcome to the world A. K.!
Fear’s Power
Fear has this insane ability to cripple us. Nothing truly brings you to your knees like a true phobia. I will never claim to be fearless because my phobias certainly make me look like a total wimp when they arise in my life. Needles, spiders, and falling, seem to rule my life sometimes.
I was 18 before I could muster up enough courage to get my ears pierced. I had already graduated high school and was preparing for my first year of college before I decided that I wanted to wear pretty and fun earrings more than I feared the event that would make that possible. Sitting in the chair at Claire’s I felt pretty silly. I know I should have gone to a real professional to get it done, but we were in the mall and I decided spur of the moment to get it done and over with.
I had seen little girls just hop into the chair and not even flinch when they got their first or even second holes. My fear had me shaking and begging me to chicken out again just like I had every other time I had tried. Starting at age six my godmother tried to take me several times to get my ears pierced, but I couldn’t make it past the colored marker making dots on the skin to make sure they were even on both sides. (On a side note, I had my ears pierced for almost a year before I even managed to remember to tell my God mother that I had finally done it. Sorry.)
When I finally sat down in the chair I asked if they could have another person come over and help so both sides could get done at the same time. That way it would be over quicker. While they set that up, I picked out some starter earrings that had my birthstone on them. By the count of three it was over with and I was being told about after care instructions.
The relief that I felt afterwards was pretty euphoric. I was sort of dizzy and not paying that much attention to the world around me. All I wanted to do was pose for pictures that I could then send to my friends to show them that I finally had done it and could wear pretty earrings.
Looking back, I really wish I had just faced my fear and gotten my ears pierced earlier in life, like those other little girls. Then I could have worn fancy earrings to my high school dances and on the few dates I actually have been on. Learning that I can’t change the past and I just need to live with my life story has been an interesting journey for me. I guess this is just one more quirk that makes me unique.
Easter Weekend: Family Style
On my Mom’s side of the family we have never been very religious. Easter mostly serves as an excuse to come together and spend time with family that we don’t see that often. My Mom has an older sister, who has a family unit of four, and a younger brother, with a family unit of four as well. As the youngest generation grows up, not all of us will spend Easter at home, but the majority of the family shows up.
In the grandkid generation there is my older brother, myself, my younger sister, our cousin L., cousin W., cousin A., and cousin C. all together most of the time. L. spent this year with her boyfriend and his family so we were one grandkid short of a set, but she did a video call to make sure she could say hello and pass on Easter greetings.
Cousins A. and C. are the youngest, at seven (C.) and eight (A.) years old. My aunt and her husband live with them in Minnesota, so whenever they visit, I am very happy to see them. Thankfully this time around, they arrived on Friday so we got more than just one day to hang out and have fun. The girls decorated the driveway of my family’s house, since we were hosting and the weather was so nice. Seeing them draw out this massive hop scotch game reminded me of warm sunny days trying to make the biggest and longest course I could on the sidewalk/surrounding pavement. I would use as many colors as I could to make it more fun and pretty.
Obviously part of Saturday was spent coloring eggs. Each person gets one egg with their name on it, and those are saved for the next morning’s breakfast. Any additional eggs that have been hard boiled, are still colored and put away for the next morning, but they are fair game to any who are hungry. We use crayons to make designs and make sure to leave the eggs in the dye long enough to make the colors extra bold. The vinegar smell always brings back memories of past years when we would dye eggs, but it also reminds me of midsummer when we make brine for that year’s homemade pickles.
The dogs absolutely adore the weekends when we all get together as well. My family’s three, River, Maggie, and Cooper, get together with my grandparent’s dog Ruby and the pack truly enjoyed the nice sunny day we were blessed with. They were running around on the grass that is finally showing from under the melting snow, and wrestling with each other. Maggie, because she is about half the size of the other three dogs, mostly barks from the sidelines as a referee. Meal time has to be their favorite though because they are pros at puppy dog eyes. Small morsels of food make their way under the table and to some very happy puppies.
This year my aunt provided plastic eggs for an egg hunt. I helped out with hiding them in the front yard, mostly to avoid potential doggy yard bombs getting in the way. The eggs held small bouncy balls, dino skeletons, tiny unicorns, and of course candy. Over 50 eggs were hidden with various difficulty and thankfully all were found. Jokes were made that we would lose a few and find it months or even years later and laugh about it.
Easter day featured a large brunch as a celebration. My aunt and her crew had to return home that afternoon so we had decided early on to have brunch be our big meal that day. Colored eggs were surrounded by coffee cake, waffles, an egg bake, bacon, sausage, orange rolls, and topped off by fruit. If there is one thing my family can do, it is cook. Several people were asking for half servings of things because they wanted to maintain room for a taste of everything.
Family has always meant the world to me. Easter is just another reason to see them and celebrate life together. I will forever be grateful to have been blessed with such an incredible family to celebrate with.
yo07
-A small message from Maggie, who hit the keyboard with her paw as I was writing.
Distractions Please
This week I have been trying my best to keep myself distracted. Having to sit with just my thoughts would not have been too fun for the past few days. The right side of my jaw has been in quite a bit of pain and I have been doing quite a few things to not focus on it. (I have been to the dentist and I am working on getting better.) One thing that has managed to even make me laugh was a conversation that I had with my family last night. I asked a simple thought question: Do Transformers need to buy car insurance or life insurance?
My sister answered first, “They need both.”
Mom then turned to her and asked, “But then which one pays out if something happens to them?”
This started a whole string of questions and laughter. Sister thinks that the payout depends on which mode they are in when they are “injured”, car mode or robot mode. I tend to agree with her. Many other trains of thought stemmed from this overall idea. Who would get the ticket if the Transformer is in an accident? Normally it is the driver but if the car is self driving, as is the case with robot cars, does the car itself have to pay? (On a side note, do Transformers even have money? Who pays for the parts they use to repair themselves?)
Then the idea of playing chicken came up. For those who are not aware, playing chicken in cars is where you drive directly at the other person while they drive at you. Whoever swerves to the side first loses and is deemed the chicken. When it comes to Transformers playing chicken, if neither of them swerve to avoid a head on collision, and the damage is bad enough, is that considered murder? (Kind of a dark thought sorry.) Now another thought to consider, are the Transformers ever really dead? To the best of my knowledge, the majority of engines in modern times are able to be rebuilt with spare parts. And even if the full engine needs to be replaced, would that be like a heart transplant? I am guessing an argument could be made that the body of the car, as long as it can still be morphed into the robot form, is what makes a Transformer.
We had a lot of fun just asking questions and throwing out answers on this strange topic. That is just how conversation evolves when three out of the four participants have ADHD.
Birthdays: Celebrating Another Year!
Well, I have made another trip around the sun. I am another year older. Maybe a little bit wiser too? I have always enjoyed the extra love I receive on my birthday. Getting woken up by my parents before they leave for work, so they can be the first ones to wish me a very Happy Birthday and give me my present. This year it was two new sets of very soft pajamas that I was in desperate need of. As I have gotten older I have come to value more the presents that are things that I need and will actually use, than the silly luxury gifts. Things like new pjs and bookmarks from my one of my favorite fandoms, show that the person was really listening to me and knows details about me that shows they care.
I also love gifts of new things I haven’t had the chance to try, especially art things. My friend B. sends me a gift every year and usually it is some art tool I haven’t been brave enough to spend my own money on because I am afraid that I won’t get my moneys worth out of it. I have gotten to try out so many new things just because she is my friend and she listens when I offer up ideas that I would like to try.
Gifts also have a challenge for the Birthday Person, at least I personally have one. I don’t want to ask for too much from my friends and family. Money is a very real worry for me, and I know the feeling of not being able to afford that one thing that my loved one asked for. So to combat this worry a bit, I try and aim for a decent sized list of things that are around $20. Twenty bucks, to me, seems like a nice amount that you can still afford it but it is a quality gift. My friend A. loves when I go to the Dollar Tree to get her gift. The same amount of money gets quite a few little things that she will find useful and like a treat to herself. Like candy that she doesn’t have to share with her son or husband.
Speaking of A., she is what has become known as my Birthday Buddy. Her birthday is the day before mine, so we have taken to picking a day during the week and exchanging gifts between us. During high school, because her birthday means she is just over 24 hours older than me, it was fun to have someone to go through the milestone ages with. Our senior year, our 18th birthdays landed on a weekend, and my family took me out to dinner to celebrate along with a few of my friends. I hesitated planning the dinner for Saturday because that fell on A.’s birthday and I didn’t want to intrude on her day. Thankfully she is an incredible person and she understood when I asked. She attended the dinner and we sang her happy birthday as well.
Looking back on my birthdays, I have always felt loved and celebrated. No matter how small the present, my loved ones have more than made up for it with time. Time spent cooking my favorite meal for a birthday dinner. Time spent picking up a cheese cake from the bakery. (I much prefer cheese cake over regular cake.) Time spent making my heart melt with mushy notes written on cards. Many of which I keep in a treasure box in my bedroom. But most of all, time spent making me laugh and smile.
I am so grateful for my incredible friends and amazing family. They make each trip around the sun that much better.
Springs To Mind
Even as a kid, I preferred spring weather to those of any other season. I have never been a fan of the deep freeze that comes with winter and the extreme heat that summer brings. The colors of fall are pretty incredible, but spring has always had my heart.
The world comes back to life in the spring. Rain storms provide quiet cozy days spent indoors or splashing in puddles. My family’s garden sprouts new seedlings that will soon become beautiful blooms. Daffodils, my favorite flowers, are one of the first to show off their buds of bright yellow. While I was in college they were the first real sign that spring had started to come to campus and that I wouldn’t have to deal with trudging through the slush and snow much longer.
Every year, for as long as I can remember, I would wish for the snow to be all melted by my birthday in the last few days of March. A couple of times I have gotten close, but never have I gotten it to be completely gone. One year it even snowed as late as May. I was certainly not thrilled with Mother Nature then. The sooner all the snow is melted and gone, the better in my opinion.
This year I am looking forward to those late night thunderstorms that have such deep rumbles that you can feel them in your chest. Rain has always been a calming sound to me and I will often play it as a white noise while I am sleeping or trying to meditate. The pitter patter against the window pane, and the far off grumble of thunder has gotten me to fall asleep more times than I can count.
I am sure Erza is looking forward to the warmer weather as well. The first time it is warm enough for me to open my windows and let the air flow through, she is instantly sitting in the window sill and taking deep breaths of the fresh air and basking in the sunshine. Erza is also harness trained, so she looks for every opportunity to go outside and do some exploring, and maybe even some hunting. Sadly due to our home location, during the winter I have to tell her that it is too cold for her to be outside. “Too cold for kitty toes,” I say. She pouts and yowls her dismay that I am denying her any form of adventure or mental stimulation. Be rest assured though, them moment I deem it warm enough, and reach for her harness, she is instantly purring and helping the best she can to get the buckles clipped in and ready to go.
Spring has always been a sign of hope and renewal for many people. This idea is at the root of my fondness for the season. It stands as a very real sign that things get better, you just have to look for the signs and wait.
Thoughtful Questions
Occasionally I need to entertain myself when I don’t have my usual methods around. When the need arises, I find myself turning to what I have begun to call “Thought Questions”. These questions are usually prefaced by giving a scenario that is different from the world we know every day. My dad is often the source of these questions as well.
An example that my dad asked first and that I have asked many people in my life because I find it silly: If fish had fur instead of scales, how would they take care of their fur? Since the idea is all hypothetical, any answer can be valid.
A few answers that I have received are:
They would go to a beauty shop run by the Octopi.
They would have to convince land dwelling animals to assist them in procuring hair care products such as combs and brushes. This would also require the fish to assist each other due to the small size of many species’ fins.
They would use coral or other surrounding vegetation to serve as a comb.
They would have multiple fur dreads or mats.
Another thought question that has amused me quite often is: If you were to steal something from another person’s house, but only mildly upset the person by doing so, not actually hurt them, what would you take? Several of the answers that I have heard have made me laugh.
The plate out of the microwave
Their left shoes/half of each pair of socks
The backs to their remotes/the batteries out of them
The shoelaces out of all the shoes
Their forks/spoons
These are just a few of the questions that I have entertained myself with. Surely there are plenty more out there and I would love to hear them. Maybe it is my ADHD, but I really enjoy hearing how other people think things through and I feel like you can learn something about the person based on the answer they provide, or even if they refuse to play along.
I have found that the majority of people that I surround myself with will play along with me, and I think that is a good sign for the type of people in my life. They are willing to be silly and play a small game. What I really love is when they get passionate about their answer and discussing other people’s answers with each other.
Overall I think thought questions are a great way to learn about others, and entertain not only yourself when your options are limited.
Introducing Erza
On November 19th, 2019 I lost my childhood cat Smokey. Smokey was incredibly special to me and losing her hit me particularly hard. For the first bit I was processing my grief, I noticed that I was mostly missing the small moments of companionship that Smokey had shared with me. The solution that my Mom found was to chose another companion in the form of another cat.
Exactly two weeks after losing Smokey, my mom picked me up from campus. I was in college at the time. We headed for the local humane society and asked to see the kittens that they had at the shelter. Due to the amount they had living there, they had dedicated a room to house the kittens.
I was first to get to the door, so I opened it. The moment the door was open far enough one of the kittens vaulted over the baby gate that was supposed to prevent them from leaving the room in one large group. While the shelter employee and my mom corralled the escapee, I continued into the room.
Several kittens looked up at me and a few others were trying to hide. There were several different types of cat, from long to short hair, and several different colors. Maybe it was the contrast from Smokey, who looked like a Siamese, I was looking for, or maybe just loving the incredible colors, but I found myself reaching for the calicos. (Calico cats have black, white, and orange coloring on their fur, that is featured in blocks of colors, not mixed.)
The first calico I picked up, even though I didn’t know it at the time, was the kitten that had tried to escape. Apparently when she had gotten out of the room she made a bee line for the front door like she was trying to run away from the shelter. The moment I got her into my arms she started purring. I felt this instant connection with this tiny life.
On the inside of the door was a list of the kittens in the room. The list included their names, ages, and identifying features. Looking on the list I managed to place a name with the five month old kitten in my arms, Erza. At first I read it as Ezra, which makes me laugh now, and I had to read her name at least three times before I realized the letters were correct but I had mispronounced her name. Even through the name issues, Erza was still purring and making herself comfy in my arms.
I tried my best to really consider my options, considering how many kittens there was to choose from, but I had this connection growing with Erza as she purred in my arms. So I informed my mom and the shelter employee of my choice.
That connection that I could feel starting with Erza, was very similar to the bond that I had with Smokey. Maybe it is wishful thinking, but I think Smokey played a part in getting Erza and me together. She told Erza that her family was coming and that is why Erza jumped the gate. Doesn’t hurt that Erza has proven to be very curious about the world.
We ended up taking home a second kitten from the shelter as well as Erza. This kitty ended up bonding with my brother and is named Gobi, like the desert. My mom couldn’t leave Gobi at the shelter because in the viewing window, he was trying his best to show how much he just wanted love.
Erza, Gobi, and Gobi’s litter mate Pho, that we had adopted from Pet Smart a few days before, are now three years old and will be four in June. They explore and play all the time. I am beyond grateful for Erza and all the healing she has helped me through.
Gamer Girl
There is a stigma that comes with being a female gamer. Many people say that girls only show interest in video games because they want male attention. Obviously I can’t speak for all women that are showing interest in games, but most of us genuinely enjoy the challenge and stories that come from playing video games.
The thing that draws me in to games most is the story. As a writer, I have always been a reader. Video games are like books that I can become a character in. With some I can even influence the outcome and get to know the back stories of the Non Playable Characters (better known as NPCs).
Video games also serve as a way to connect with my friends and family. Not only do we spend time discussing games and the various choices or aspects that make each game unique, but those games that allow multiplayer allow for time to be spent together enjoying the challenge and stories.
One thing that does irk me about many games though, is the armor/protection that female characters are subjected to wear. Often taking the shape of skimpy swim wear, these garments would hardly provide any form of actual protection if worn in a real life situation. Plus, when the male characters wear the same item, they are fully covered and look like they are ready for anything a battle can throw at them.
Recent releases have gotten much better about equality when it comes to appearance. The female characters are more covered, so they actually look protected, and they are also designed to look more like real humans with the body of a woman. The better graphics also lend themselves to making everything about the environment and characters better.
I am a proud Geek, and I just shake my head at those who try and use my love for something I consider a form of art to try and shame me. Video games for all!
Warm Thoughts On Cold Days
Growing up, snow days were always interesting. Sledding with my siblings, playing in the snow, and warm drinks when we came back inside. Now as an adult, I don’t participate in these outdoor activities very often and I much prefer to stay inside when the weather starts to turn sour. When it comes to weather, I am very much a “Goldilocks” type person. Not too hot, not too cold, I need it just right.
On cold weather days now, I curl up inside with my cat Erza, and enjoy indoor entertainment. Reading a book, binging my latest show obsession, or playing with my dogs, all serve as activities to help me get through the day. Every so often though, I will through on my jacket and boots to step outside with my dogs into the back yard. River and Cooper, the two boys, will often race through the snow drifts, wrestling and playing tag, while Maggie, the girl, who is smaller than the boys, barks at them as some form of referee or egging them on from the sidelines. Maggie is small enough that when these large snow storms come to my area, my Dad actual takes the snow plow and makes paths around the back yard to allow Mags to actually go out in the yard with the boys and do her business somewhere other than the shoveled out patio. My grandparent’s dog, Ruby, has become well known for loving the snow and will go out and must roll around on her back at least once before she will come inside. When she comes to visit my house, she absolutely adores having more dogs to romp through the snow with and more space to roll around in fresh untouched powder, because her yard at home isn’t very big.
Warm memories also help get through the days where it seems like the white powder won’t stop falling from the sky. I remember making stews and soups with my Grandma and Grandpa when we would come visit during the winter months. Once we were old enough to start helping out, we would be put to work, peeling potatoes and carrots, chopping vegetables, and mixing up dough for either homemade noodles or dumplings. This work was always accompanied by laughter and most of the time some form of music coming from the player in the corner of the kitchen.
I live in Wisconsin where if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change. While I really dislike snow, too the point that I tease my family that it is another four letter swear word that starts with S, I don’t think I could see myself being too far from here for that long. Wisconsin is home. Wisconsin has my family, and has been the location that a lot of my favorite memories have been made. No matter my opinion on snow, I doubt I could leave the warm memories and loving people behind.
The Power of Stories
Growing up I would always hear my Grandpa, better known as Papa, tell these incredible stories that just had people hanging off his every word. He could make people laugh and make them have a great day just by telling these stories about his life. Those stories are some of my best memories. Because of him, I learned the power of telling stories.
One afternoon at the annual family reunion I saw the usual circle of family telling jokes and stories back and forth, making everyone laugh. So I walked up to my Papa and asked if I could give it a shot. I took a deep breath and told my story.
I was around ten years old and visiting my grandparents at the family cabin. Standing at the end of the dock, I was holding on to a fishing pole, trying my best to actually catch something. I took a step forward without realizing that I really was at the very end of the dock. Falling into the water, I was at least grateful that I was wearing my swim suit. When I finally got out of the water and retrieved the fishing rod, I found out that my uncle had caught a blue gill. Turns out that he couldn’t do the whole catch an release, because when I fell into the water I shocked the fish into inhaling the hook and it got so deep that it couldn’t be released.
When I got done telling my story everyone was laughing and some were having a hard time staying in their chairs because they were laughing so hard. The thrill I got from making everyone laugh and happy was great. That moment made me even more determined to achieve my dream of becoming a published author.