First Essay Brainstorming

1.    “But as the water continued to rise, the table started moving, then rocking-and Lydia knew she was in trouble.” Page #130.  Paragraph # 7  Lydia’s Story

2.      “Everywhere we traveled in Louisiana, there were countless people in shelters that had once been a hotel, convention center, sports arena, school, church, YMCA, and, yes, the VFW hall where I met Lydia.” Page 131   paragraph 12

3.       “Entering the large VFW hall, we were struck by the chemical odor of a cleaning solution so strong that it seemed toxic.” Page 128  Paragraph 2

4.        My Topic: The first time I read my own goodnight story to myself.

5.       I want to tell this story because it has a big impact on how I learn today and how I read and write. I want to share my story with others.

6.       Some of my readers could have had very similar experiences, we all learned to read on our own at some point. I don’t plan on doing a lot of explaining I think it will be easy to follow. I am willing to share a lot with my audience, which is my blog followers and professor.

7.       I want to project a sincere stance that has emotion in it. I want my readers to see what I saw in my situation and have a good understanding of the story.

8.       My narrative will be printed and posted on my blog. It will not include photos or videos, only print.

9.       I see; blue hand printed walls stained with yellow, royal blue rough carpet, red window curtains pulled to the side, dark outside, red and white toy box in the corner, blue and white bed frame, purple flower covered blanket, cracked wood door.

10.  I hear; the heater kicking on and off, leaves softly hitting my window from the light breeze, my brother shay watching TV, the whispers of the land before time playing on the living room TV.

11.  I smell; my blanket that smells like mom, the musty smell of the old heater, the stale leaking window, Teeko at the foot of my bed, light smell of my book.

12.   I feel; excited, nervous, relieved, chilled, determined, confused, and damp from my wet hair.

13.   I taste; mint from my recently brushed teeth.

14.   Each person.

My mom- she is still dressed in her clothes from working outside, she looks tired, she wears slippers, she sounds calm and relaxed, she seems happy. She talks slow and clear. She leans against the bed frame. She stands by the door. She smells like mom.

  “Time for bed, Biscuit! Woof, woof! Biscuit want’s his blanket.”-mom

“Go to bed biscuit!”-Me

“You need to go to bed too Holly”-mom

“I don’t want to go to bed, I want to read about Biscuit.”-me

“Well I’ll be back but I need to get ready for bed myself.”-mom

“Biscuit….does not, want a…bath. Woof. Si...llyyy….puppy. No tugging.”

“Keep going you’re doing fine.”-mom

“Mom, I’m reading without you!”-me

“Yes you are, you’re reading Biscuit all by yourself”-mom

  

I was proudly reading aloud my favorite book to myself. My face gleamed with hopeful joy. My reading fueled happiness was contagious, my mom couldn’t help but smile and laugh with me. I stumbled on words but I figured them out after pondering for a moment or two. I was rattled with excitement. There was no way I was going to bed anytime soon.

   The significance to me;

This story has forever greatly affected me and my learning ability. Just from this single time of reading alone has created the reader I am today. I believe that reading the story of Biscuit by myself made me a confident reader. After the first initial time I read everything I saw aloud to myself. There was no stopping me. My grandma created flash cards of words that I would most likely see or hear on a regular basis so I could fluently read them so I would be ready for anything. All I really needed was the first step of finding the courage to attempt the simple words on the picture covered pages.

This specific story has a lot of personal meaning to me because it reminds me of the positive, happy childhood memories with my mom. I still remember and reminisce the nightly bed time stories on cold winter nights with just me and my mom. At the time I enjoyed it, but it didn’t hold much sentimental value. Now, I look back and see great times of laughter and bonding. It is a great example of character building which also means a lot to me.

To this day I can trace certain aspects of my life to that very night. For example, when I get assigned a reading for class and I don’t feel the most prepared or confident, I think of how I picked up that book while no one was looking and just did my absolute best because it was what I wanted and needed for myself. I think that in my everyday life it has created and determined how my mom and I interact. That night with her being proud of me and encouraging me helps me rely on her today for the same thing. She always installs confidence in me for all my new adventures and life endeavors.

If this event had not happened, well, I probably would not be able to read or write very well. If this event had happened differently or at a different time I could be more or less of a confident reader and writer. My passion for writing may be completely different or not there at all. If I had not shared this time and moment with my mom she may not have felt rewarded from all the times she read to me helping me learn. We also may not have bonded so closely together and not share the confidence and encouragement we do today.

This story matters to me for all the reasons I’ve listed above. I am convinced my life would be a completely different story without this significant event in my childhood. I am happy and proud to share this memory with others and my mom.