Fall 2015
English 1010
English 1010
My Favorite assignment was this:
Emmalisa Horlacher
Memoir Essay
En1010
Aug 31, 2015
My Time in Idaho
Every summer I like to visit my cousins, Teya and Sadie, in Idaho. I fear this past summer that I went might, be one of the last. That is what happens when you grow up. Sadie is a year older than me, but she’s in the same grade as me. We’d play pretend and many times she had us on the ground laughing so hard that we couldn’t get up. We were lucky if we made it to that bathroom. She has had to learn how to deal with kids since she is the babysitter of her four younger siblings. Teya is a year younger than me and the best artist I know. She’s been perfecting her skill since, well forever. She draws anime type characters, putting them into little comics she writes between her friends. My favorite of one that she did was of a young boy looking out a window. On the other side of the window there were groups of other kids playing in the field, their reflection is seen on the window as the boy’s sad face is seen. He is alone watching what he wished he had. I love it!
My cousins often take me to go do the traditional country outings. We have gone swimming in the stifling cold neighborhood canal, running after midnight with glow sticks, paying in sand pits, and hiking up a hot mountain. They’ve taken me to a water park and an amusement park, a walk on an abandoned railroad, and I even once got the chance to go to school with Sadie. We always take a walk around the nearby cemetery, which is where I got my love for cemeteries. My first time driving was with my Aunt Rachel. It was before I got my permit and I felt I was going to die when a car passed me.
Out of all the country outings I would have to say that the most hill-billy red-neck one I’ve done is jump of a bridge. I’ve heard people say, “If your friends asked you to jump of a bridge, would you?”
It started with us packing up and preparing. We got on our swimming suits, tight but comfortable and useful. Then we packed in the van, Sadie driving. We passed tall trees, most were Aspen, few were oak, and even less were evergreen. We drove over small canal and stream crossings. Through the window we saw large planted fields, full of potatoes; such is the geography of Idaho.
Soon we crossed the bridge when we came to it and parked. As we left the car we took off our shoes so they would not get wet. Pain stung the unprotected foot as we walked over tiny rocks and pebbles on our way to the river. The water was cold, but not unbearable. We swam to the other side, fighting the river’s flow with our strides and kicks. We had to swim more upstream to avoid slimy moss-green algae. A few dead fish were floating in the algae. By this time our bodies had numbed to the cold. Once out of the water we climbed up to the bridge. Teya did not want to do it so she got back in the water and waited downstream. Sadie and I got as far we could to the middle of the bridge.
Sadie had told me it was safe. Lots of people had done it before. She’d gone before with friends and they’d all been safe. The bottom of the river was deep in this area and the sides were wide. The current was slow and steady. I was a fantastic swimmer. There was nothing to worry about. It was safe.
Although, looking down, more than fifteen feet above the water, it didn’t feel safe. My heart beat fast, adrenaline fueling my courage. The water below me, it was visibly moving. I kept my grip tight on a rustic metal bar, nothing but the water to catch me. I wanted to cling to solid ground and never let go. Why would I put my life in this situation? My head had to keep reminding my heart that I wasn’t going to die. Sadie jumped first, to show me it was safe. Her nerves were as scattered as mine.
I stood alone, on a human-build bridge. I saw Sadie’s head pop-up and watched her swim over to Teya. I had to go down. I had to do this, no matter how scary it was. I prepared myself, loosed my grip… then tightened it again. I could still go back, then I wouldn’t have to face this. I scolded myself for chickening out. I needed a war cry. Once I found it my decision was made; my heart began to beat even faster. This time I loosened my grip and fell. I yelled at the top of my lungs, “I LOVE YOU GUYS!” Then I held my breath in anticipation for the water. Wind assaulted me on my freefall. My body was a stone. I wondered if I would ever greet the water. Then SPLASH! I hit the water. Underwater I felt safe, the anticipation was over. Tiny bubbles helped bring my body back to the surface. I gulped in the air. I swam over to Teya and Sadie. They laughed at my silly war cry, but they enjoyed it.
I was getting up to solid ground, out of the water, but the rock I was using was slippery. After a failed attempt and flopping back in the water, I used my belly to help pull my body up. I was visibly shaking, my nerves and fear level were still spiked. This is when Sadie and I decided to go down again.
The second time was not much better than the first. Neither was the third. That friend named Fear thought he could help me out. He never left but, but by going and jumping, even if he stood and watched, I had a great time. Now, if someone were to ask me, “If your friends jump off of a bridge, would you?” I’d say, “I already did.”
Reflection:
This was my favorite assignment because I got to write something that was meaningful to me. It's a precious memory.
I really enjoyed this class. I thought it was informative and a good influence. I feel I learned alot. This class has sparked an interest in me to write essays more often. As in as a recreational activity, not just a requirement. So, thank you.
Emmalisa Horlacher
Memoir Essay
En1010
Aug 31, 2015
My Time in Idaho
Every summer I like to visit my cousins, Teya and Sadie, in Idaho. I fear this past summer that I went might, be one of the last. That is what happens when you grow up. Sadie is a year older than me, but she’s in the same grade as me. We’d play pretend and many times she had us on the ground laughing so hard that we couldn’t get up. We were lucky if we made it to that bathroom. She has had to learn how to deal with kids since she is the babysitter of her four younger siblings. Teya is a year younger than me and the best artist I know. She’s been perfecting her skill since, well forever. She draws anime type characters, putting them into little comics she writes between her friends. My favorite of one that she did was of a young boy looking out a window. On the other side of the window there were groups of other kids playing in the field, their reflection is seen on the window as the boy’s sad face is seen. He is alone watching what he wished he had. I love it!
My cousins often take me to go do the traditional country outings. We have gone swimming in the stifling cold neighborhood canal, running after midnight with glow sticks, paying in sand pits, and hiking up a hot mountain. They’ve taken me to a water park and an amusement park, a walk on an abandoned railroad, and I even once got the chance to go to school with Sadie. We always take a walk around the nearby cemetery, which is where I got my love for cemeteries. My first time driving was with my Aunt Rachel. It was before I got my permit and I felt I was going to die when a car passed me.
Out of all the country outings I would have to say that the most hill-billy red-neck one I’ve done is jump of a bridge. I’ve heard people say, “If your friends asked you to jump of a bridge, would you?”
It started with us packing up and preparing. We got on our swimming suits, tight but comfortable and useful. Then we packed in the van, Sadie driving. We passed tall trees, most were Aspen, few were oak, and even less were evergreen. We drove over small canal and stream crossings. Through the window we saw large planted fields, full of potatoes; such is the geography of Idaho.
Soon we crossed the bridge when we came to it and parked. As we left the car we took off our shoes so they would not get wet. Pain stung the unprotected foot as we walked over tiny rocks and pebbles on our way to the river. The water was cold, but not unbearable. We swam to the other side, fighting the river’s flow with our strides and kicks. We had to swim more upstream to avoid slimy moss-green algae. A few dead fish were floating in the algae. By this time our bodies had numbed to the cold. Once out of the water we climbed up to the bridge. Teya did not want to do it so she got back in the water and waited downstream. Sadie and I got as far we could to the middle of the bridge.
Sadie had told me it was safe. Lots of people had done it before. She’d gone before with friends and they’d all been safe. The bottom of the river was deep in this area and the sides were wide. The current was slow and steady. I was a fantastic swimmer. There was nothing to worry about. It was safe.
Although, looking down, more than fifteen feet above the water, it didn’t feel safe. My heart beat fast, adrenaline fueling my courage. The water below me, it was visibly moving. I kept my grip tight on a rustic metal bar, nothing but the water to catch me. I wanted to cling to solid ground and never let go. Why would I put my life in this situation? My head had to keep reminding my heart that I wasn’t going to die. Sadie jumped first, to show me it was safe. Her nerves were as scattered as mine.
I stood alone, on a human-build bridge. I saw Sadie’s head pop-up and watched her swim over to Teya. I had to go down. I had to do this, no matter how scary it was. I prepared myself, loosed my grip… then tightened it again. I could still go back, then I wouldn’t have to face this. I scolded myself for chickening out. I needed a war cry. Once I found it my decision was made; my heart began to beat even faster. This time I loosened my grip and fell. I yelled at the top of my lungs, “I LOVE YOU GUYS!” Then I held my breath in anticipation for the water. Wind assaulted me on my freefall. My body was a stone. I wondered if I would ever greet the water. Then SPLASH! I hit the water. Underwater I felt safe, the anticipation was over. Tiny bubbles helped bring my body back to the surface. I gulped in the air. I swam over to Teya and Sadie. They laughed at my silly war cry, but they enjoyed it.
I was getting up to solid ground, out of the water, but the rock I was using was slippery. After a failed attempt and flopping back in the water, I used my belly to help pull my body up. I was visibly shaking, my nerves and fear level were still spiked. This is when Sadie and I decided to go down again.
The second time was not much better than the first. Neither was the third. That friend named Fear thought he could help me out. He never left but, but by going and jumping, even if he stood and watched, I had a great time. Now, if someone were to ask me, “If your friends jump off of a bridge, would you?” I’d say, “I already did.”
Reflection:
This was my favorite assignment because I got to write something that was meaningful to me. It's a precious memory.
I really enjoyed this class. I thought it was informative and a good influence. I feel I learned alot. This class has sparked an interest in me to write essays more often. As in as a recreational activity, not just a requirement. So, thank you.