Club Red

Long narrow room, one wall has panels of windows and two glass doors. Rows of chips and candy. Gurgling coffeemaker. Scones and bagels stacked in the display.

"Hi, how are you today?" one cashier says. Middle aged woman, gray hair, quirky smile.

"Cinnamon Raisin bagel with cream cheese, please," says a mustachioed man.

People come and go - students, professors, university employees. Some wear hoodies and sweatpants, some wear suits and ties. Some buy scantrons, some buy bagels, but nearly all buy coffee. The delivery man comes in through the back entrance.

"Where's the drop-off box at?" he says.

"In there I guess," the cashier replies.

"You guess?"

"I guess. They won't let you come in the front door anymore?"

"Nope."

"They don't want him coming in the front door," the other cashier interjects. Younger, wears navy skirt, white socks cover her ankles.

The gray-haired woman checks the coffee containers. One is empty. She sets up the machine to make another batch. Water gurgles. A few minutes later, the younger cashier turns the machine off.

"Coffee done?" the older cashier asks.

The younger cashier is emptying the coffee grounds. No reply is given.

"Guess so, huh." She walks over the register and looks down at it. "You know I got 517 people at this register yesterday. Five hundred and seventeen people."

The younger cashier finishes emptying coffee grounds and goes into the back room.

"You know," the older woman says to a customer, "I went to bed at 8:30 last night I was so tired. I'm glad its slow this morning."

Crazy Rituals I Will Never Understand

In my Cultures of the South class we watched a documentary on a religious group in the Appalachian Mountains that practices snake handling as a religious ceremony. Every service is based on the handling of poisonous snakes. They will not use non-poisonous snakes. They refer to a passage in Mark that says "they shall take up serpents." They are a very conservative group. They don't wear makeup,cut their hair or seek any type of medical attention. I am a religious person and I understand that everyone worships in their own way, but seriously poisonous snakes. I was cringing just watching. They dance around with snakes in their hands. Many people have died from bites. One of the men in the documentary had been bitten 68 times. I just can not understand how people can do this. It is crazy. They are setting themselves up for serious injury and even death. To make it worse if they are bitten, they do not seek any medical treatment. They just wait it out and hope they survive. Many of the families had lost at least one or two people from snake bites. The kids were also exposed to this. I think that is what agitates me the most. It's one thing if you want to play with poisonous snakes, but to put little helpless babies in this environment it ridiculous. I can't not imagine how I would feel if my child died from something that could have been prevented. Can you say child endangerment? As I understand it, child services has intervened in some cases, but it is hard to do anything without infringing on people's religious freedom. Seriously though, where is the line. A child has no idea what they are doing. Should they be forced into a dangerous environment? I mean to each their own, but don't take you children down with you. I guess I just will never understand some things.

Spring Break

My spring break was not you average spring break. I did not go to panama,out of the country to some warm beach, or skiing. The weekend before i went to russeville to visit my boyfriend. I stayed there till late Sunday night. We didn't do much over the weekend, just cooked and enjoyed our time together. I guess that is called "being lazy." Sunday night i went home to Pine Bluff. I visited with my family and friends. Monday i went to the Toyota dealership(where i use to work) and visited with them and had my car services. I also had my driver seat looked at because my lab tore a hole in it. Tuesday i was off to Mississippi. I was going shopping with my mom. I was so excited to see Oxford, Mississippi, this was my old stomping grounds. I spent the next three days shopping and eat. We also looked at my old campus(ole miss). I loved that place. It brought back many good memories i will never forget. Thursday my mom and i headed back to Arkansas. That night i went to Sheridan with my best friend Haley to see my boyfriend. We ended up getting in a huge fight and Haley and i went back to Pine Bluff. Friday Haley left to go back to Fayetteville, and i was still in a fight with my boyfriend. Later that day, we made up. He invited me to go fishing with him and his friends. Later that night we went to dinner and then to grapevine to a bonfire. This was a good time, i was so glad we made up. Saturday he headed to Lake Village to start his spring break off and i did not get to see him. I was very sad. I visited with my family Saturday. I showed my grandmother all my new clothes. She loves clothes and shoes. Sunday i saw an old friend then headed back to Fayetteville. Although my spring break was not a big party, i got to see a place i love and shop. I mean what girl would give up the chance to shop!!

What am I?

This little creature is so soft and sweet. He is black with small white spots around his eyes. I'm sitting in the chair and he is slowing making his way onto my lap. He likes a lot of attention from anyone around him, always rubbing his head against anyone's hand that might be near.

This guy is so old and has gray whiskers. We've had him since I was 14. His fur is a fawn color with some black spots here and there. When walking up the stairs he struggles and bit and whimpers with each stair he takes. The black line down his back is a sign of good breeding. I'm sleeping and he snores so loudly because he has breathing problems.

Her stature and strong legs are intimidating to any other animal. I've never seen anything so beautiful. Her hair is white with large brown spots. Shes running along the fence and you can see the muscles in her shoulders and legs. The speed is astonishing. She is gentle as I pet her back but gets scared easily if anyone makes a sudden movement.

When I grow up...

I love hearing about people and what life decisions they have made to shape who they are and what they do. Someone could start out wanting to be a fighter pilot and turn out to be a rodeo clown, though usually not that drastic, but who knows. For Megan, her career decisions started in high school with a life guard job, a seemingly perfect job. What is better than getting paid to bask in the sun all day? During college she worked part time with her mom and dad at a desk job. For the summers, she worked at Frost Valley Summer Camp. This might have been the start of her “teaching career.” The feeling of helping people, kids in particular really grabs hold of certain people and may not let go. After that she started to be interested in teaching. She did different student teaching programs and enjoyed that very much. She then taught high school students for a time as well. It was during this time when she acquired a student stalker, which is I guess a byproduct of being a really good teacher?? The stalker wrote her letters from the perspective of characters in novels and even wrote her eulogy. Pretty creepy. Megan found a love for teaching and has stuck with it ever since. It is interesting to really examine our goals and plans from the beginning and then see how life has led us further or closer to them over time. Megan found that teaching is her passion and has stuck with it. Who knows what she wanted to be when she was a little girl, but she enjoys teaching and the fulfillment that it brings, and that’s all that matters.

Having Kids Will Bring You Closer

The saying "having kids will bring you closer" is without a doubt one of the most untrue statements I have ever heard. I do not have any children that I know of (just kidding...kind of), so I can't base my proof on that. However, I do have proof and personal experience to back it up, my parents.

Let me start off by saying that I love my parents very much. They aren't perfect but who is. I am not one of those people that hated his or her parents for lack of attention or too much discipline. My parents were in many ways great, just not for each other.

My parents were married when they had me, then divorced when I was 2-years-old. According to my mom, my dad cheated on her, but who knows the real truth. My mom tends to exaggerate, even about stuff like that.

They remarried before they had my brother Jacob, I was 5. We were doing all right for a while. We even went to Disney Land! It was probably the most enjoyable vacation we had as a family. I had so much fun, I cried when we had to leave.

Times got tough between the two of them, but at that point in time, they didn't let it affect me. They were fighting a lot, but they tried to hide it around the family and my friends. I remember constantly inviting friends over to stay the night so my parents would at least pretend to like each other. When I had a friend over, my mom would try to be the cool mom and let us rent "rated R" movies, stay up late exploring in the backyard, and whatever else came to mind.

Then my second and last brother was born, Ben. He was the third boy to be member of the family. It was a good time, for a little while. The fighting got worse between my parents after Ben could handle himself. It was getting to the point that I didn't want to stay at my house anymore or invite friends over. I just wanted to get out of there.

Out of what seemed to be desperation, something I realized at 12-years-old, my parents told me and Jacob that they were having another baby. I was thinking, "again...Really?" I was just shocked that they had decided to break their system of waiting five years to have another child. My brothers and I were five years apart. I mean, I thought the three of us, me, Jacob and Ben were going to be it. Don't get me wrong, I was happy that I would have another brother, or even a sister, it was just obvious to me that they were having the baby out of desperation.

My sister Mary was born, my first sister and last sibling. She is probably the coolest and funniest of all of us siblings. She reminds me a lot of myself, always cracking a joke or laughing about something. She is a sweet person and truly fun to be around, even with our age difference. I am 12 years older than her.

Mary coming into the family, being the great little girl that she is, didn't patch things up between my parents. It was getting unbearable. After a couple years since Mary had been born, the living situation was getting unbearable. My parents were constantly separating and getting back together, they were acting like a middle school couple.

Then the day finally came and not a moment too soon. My parents had announced to me and Jacob that they were getting a divorce. Jacob and I looked at each other with the expression that read, "it's about time."

My parents went through the usual freak-out steps that divorced parents do. I went to counseling and had to answer the constant question, "How do you feel about your parents divorce? You know it's not your fault right?"

I knew it wasn't my fault. They screamed at each other constantly over their own stubborness, and whenever the fight was over, Jacob and I received all of the frustration from the fight. It was a miserable time for a child to live through. I can't imagine putting my kid through something like that.

My parents are happy now for the most part. They even show respect for one another half of the time. There was an incident between the two of them in the west Little Rock Taco Bueno this past fall, after my brother Ben's football game, but no one was arrested or injured. So things are getting better.

I am proud of my family and where I came from because I know they did the best they could to raise us. My parents are good people and have worked hard to provide their children with everything they need to succeed in life. They were right for us, just not right for each other. I am at least glad that I can learn from their mistakes.

Winning Softball Team

Ingredients
Take 1 large field
14 teenage girls
A dash of finely ground dirt
4 bases
1 rotten coach
14 pears of Nike cleats
3 Easton Bats
14 Rawling gloves
3 packs of sunflower seeds
28 Gatorades
A bakers dozen of Rowdy parents

Directions
In the large field take 9 of the 14 teenage girls reserving the other 5 in the dugout. Place the 4 bases in the field surrounding them with a dash of finely ground dirt. Take the rotten coach and place him on the edge of the field. Give each girl their 14 pears of Nike cleats and Rawling Gloves. Give the players in the dugout the Easton Bats. Drench the players in Gatorade and pop in a bunch of sunflower seeds. Last but not least add the most important ingredient the Rowdy parents.

Oh High School Jobs!

It smells, its loud, a simple act of someone opening a door causes an up roar.  Someone is fighting in over a toy, as another is chewing on the sofa.  Time to go outside.  There is a stampede to the door, not everyone can get out at the same time but they all still try.  The little ones get run over and the big ones get stuck in the doorway.  I watch my step as I walk around the backyard, making sure not to make a wrong step.  Everyone is happy as I throw a ball and a game of tug-of-war starts.  Bath time is a nightmare, one is tied to the sink, as I another runs around the small room soaking me and the whole room.  No one seems to know the meaning of personal space, making sure I knew that they were there.  Tori is in the other room, you can hear the clacking of food being poured into bowls and the howls from the hungry onlookers.  One by one everyone is feed or bathed and it is either time for parents to come pick them up or the ones staying the night to claim a couch, chair, or bed.  As the crowd thins it becomes somewhat peaceful as the rhythmic thump of a tail on the ground and soft panting becomes a lullaby for all.  

American Idol with the Queens!!!

Everyone is crowded onto one couch or the small area in front of it. No one has any concept of personal space it seems and the censor button on their mouths seems to be broken. They all speak in almost a foreign language--that is, until someone comes on stage and grabs a microphone--then all is silent, except one. He makes some off the wall comment, and they all attack. It's brutal. Just one of the quips thrown at him would make a normal person cry, but he takes it in stride. Then they all go back to watching the screen. Commercial break. There is no distinction between sexes when someone is being talked about--it's usually just "oh, her?" or "that bitch" yet usually they're talking about a guy. It's a strange world they live in, but everyone understands it. Movie lines are constantly being bounced around as if it's just another conversation. The entire movie dialogue could most likely be quoted--and everyone knows all of the lines. Typically it's a gay movie...go figure. Offensive slurs are spouted by one, but no one looks upset or offended and everyone just laughs. Old stories that apparently everyone knows are constantly repeated and always accompanied by loud laughter. How does everyone know every damn story? When one person get ups to get another drink, they always return with at least three for the rest of them. It seems like the normal thing, everyone always gets things for everyone else. They are so rude to everyone (it seems) but everyone really likes every person there. The only time someone questions if anyone else wants a drink is if the oldest one asks, "Whiskey?" Everyone else groans and talks shit about his whiskey habit, but shots are poured all around. All is suddenly silent again, another person must be coming up to sing.

The Unusual Pair

He could not have been further from my type.  Tight spandex running pants with the sunglasses strung around the neck to gear up for a ten mile run- not exactly what I looked for when I scouted out my potential mate.  I wasn't being close-minded on the situation.  I simply knew what worked for me, and honestly he just would not do the trick.  

Backing up, it all began when I was in need of a new housing arrangement.  Craig's List, being the "it" way to find things-furniture, clothes, pets, and even potential roommates- became my way to finding my new home.  After settling in to my new place and growing accustomed to the new roommates, one of them eventually moved out and her ex-boyfriend moved in.  

One weekend I was studying in my room when my one roommate let me know that his one friend would be coming to visit, and that I should meet him!  He described his friend Brian as the athletic-type, a runner, healthy, in to fitness.  To me- a complete turnoff.  "Megan, come on!"  He pestered continuously.  "No, really, thanks," was my simple yet certain response.  It wasn't until I encountered Brian on our couch downstairs that we hit it off.  Our conversations held meaning and depth, and our relationship progressed.

An awkward beginning with a fairy-tale ending.  The man who seemed to hold no potential for me was exactly the opposite.  Cliche as it sounds, he became the man of dreams and the love of my life.  I'm not sure who Craig is, but I sure am thankful for his list.