Wild Kingdom

Sitting on the u-shaped couch, mostly with people I had never met before, the muted TV was playing scenes of elephants being shot by villagers. Myself and my female neighbor winced as we caught a glimpse.

"Oh gawd, I hate seeing that stuff."

"Oh! Me too."

"I usually turn the channel as fast as I can."

"I can watch people getting hurt but when it comes to animals..."

The man next to her says, "They showed this water buffalo being brought down by tigers. Once they had it down, one held onto its head while the others ate it and it was still alive."

She and I sat there quietly looking at this imbecile who obviously had no idea we were already in pain from the scenes on the tv.

He finished off , "The animal kingdom is way more brutal on itself than humans ever could be." 

Today, as I rounded the curve from north I-540 toward the NWA Mall, I had slowed to about 45 m.p.h. Off the right shoulder a hawk flew and seemed to hang right in front of my windshield. The moment stopped as he held his prize in front of me for me to see. In his claws was a plump field mouse, tail twitching quickly - then he flew away. Usually I can save the lives of mice and chipmunks, even snakes from my cats' death grip - but there was no way I could save this field mouse. I imagined, for a second, what was next for the little critter. 

Then I realized - the man is right. The animal kingdom IS more brutal on itself than humans ever could be. 

The Ontological Layer

Daughter, sister, friend, mentor, student, athlete, dreamer, believer, pretender, instigator, white, Irish, Hungarian, Texan, Razorback, Gymback, gymnast, hard-worker, aunt, lover, fighter, child, grownup, unique, individual, different, proud, stubborn, grounded, lost, looking, searching, finding, living, dreaming, breathing, thanking, love. Life.

My Earliest Memory

My mom yelled up the stairs for us to get down there. Now. By the tone of her voice it was evident someone had done something. Something she was clearly not pleased with. Evidently the problem at hand was that my mother had found hair all over our bathroom. Apparently someone had decided to take the initiative in cutting their own hair, and the evidence lay spread on the counter and floor of the bathroom. While no one was willing to confess, the topic was dropped. For now.

We made our way to gymnastics class. My mom, my sisters, Katie, Kelly, and me rode backseat of the car. Kelly turned to me and made a comment that spiraled out of control. "Molly's hair looks uneven." All of a sudden, to everyone in the car, my hair look insanely uneven, and I was placed with the blame of the hair cut mess. I knew it was Kelly who had done it. Not me. Operation Payback would begin soon enough.

We stood in the front hall way of the house, and Kelly began egging me on. Teasing me. Pestering me. So I did it. I took a huge bite. My teeth sank into the hand, and I bite down hard. Tears began to stream down. My mom came running. "Look at my hand!" I yelled. Kelly's face filled with utter confusion. "Kelly bit me!" Grounded- Kelly, that is. Who was wrongly blamed now? :)

Six Word Memoir

Family: Stick by each other through everything

Goals, Hopes, Dreams: So close but so far away

Work: More hours means more extra money

College: Couldn't survive it without my friends

Religion: Faith is the answer to everything

Love: Take one day at a time

Fairy Tale Memoir

"Lose your shoe. Find a Prince"

"Slay the dragon. Win her heart."

"I can show you the world!"

"Under the sea! Under the Sea!"

"Read a book. Marry a beast!"

"Prick your finger. Gets you kissed!'

Six Words

Family: Mother. Father. Brother. On BIG MESS!
Love: Ice cream cures all. Fall again....
Recreation: Rugby Chicks. Get'm while we're straight.
College: University of Arkansas? They wear shoes!?!?
Work: Feed, poop scoop. Feed. Get paid.
Recreation and college: Drink beer. Make friends. Good times!

Six Word Memoir

Family: the rock that keeps me strong
Work: is great if you love it
College: stressful fun chanlenging busy entertaining unique
The Arts: take you where you can't be
Goals, Hopes, Dreams: dont stop believing you can achieve
Recreation: shopping is always the cure all

Six Words

Love and sex: Two completely different things in relationships.

Goals, Hopes, Dreams: Seem too far out of reach.

College: No sleep, stress, want to graduate.

Work: Can't get anything without a job.

Family: Too stressful to think about now.

Arts: Could sit and stare all day.

Brain Teasers

Family - We put the 'fun' in dysfunctional.

Food - All I do is say "BAM!"

Religion/Spirituality - It's not Jesus; it's his fans.

College - It's a boner: long and hard.

Love and Sex - It hurts. It hurts. It's awesome.

Goals, Hopes, Dreams - I just want people to listen.

Six Word Memoir

Food- It is best when deep fried.

Love and Sex- What's love gotta do with it?

Future Family- One husband, healthy kids, long life.

Work- Nothing is longer than a 9-5.

College- Shortest four years of my life.

Family- Little sisters can be a pain.