More Teenage Drama

So, after the first post about the "Being a Teenager" monologues I found in my attic, I decided some of these topics are just too funny and cheesy to store back in the carton. If I'm hurting for blogging material I might share more, but for now here's 3 of my classmates' narratives:

Animal Rights by Andrea
"Animals are living creatures that rely on only the few advantages they have. The one disadvantage they have is the fact that they can't state their opinions and rely on humans to know what is right and wrong. Unfortunately, many of us don't know what is right. This means that millions of animals will be slaughtered because we cared only about ourselves. The only way they can defend themselves is what they've been given, unfortunately it isn't enough to keep them alive. There are too many effortless people and too little people who care."
Hmm...this looks like the preamble to the bill we tried to pass about animal cruelty in Jr High legislature that same year!

School by Bryan
"Nine years of school and still four more years to go. Then college! I don't know if I can take it much longer! If summer doesn't get here soon, I think I'll die! My grades are low and still dropping. The teachers are really bugging me. I'm always getting into trouble for some dumb reason or sometimes no reason at all! Some teachers complain that I don't do my homework, and it's like I've got better things to do. It's a mess. For example, the other day in science class during the 5 min break, Im sitting there talking to the guy beside me. Then the bell rings. So I look around and everyone else in the room is still talking. EVERYONE! So, I turned around and kept talking. Then the teacher walks in, points at me, and the next thing I know I'm out in the hall being told I have to write off 200 times for talking. And everyone else was talking, too. Well, I guess I'll live."
Wow..I wonder if he ever made it to college?

Music by Miles
"Hey! I think I should be able to listen to what I want to. You shouldn't try to limit my music. I don't try to tell you what to listen to. You think you can control my every move. That's not right. I can think for myself. Just because some of the people drink and do drugs doesn't mean I have to copy them. I just like the music, not what some of them do. You haven't even heard what you're putting down. The only reason you are trying to make me stop listening to this is because you don't like the way it sounds. I don't like the way your music sounds. And at least I keep my music at a decent level. You turn yours all the way up. I put up with it. But when I barely turn mine up, you start complaining. You should try to like my music. I'll try to like yours even though that's almost impossible. Don't complain about my music and I won't complain about yours, O.K.?"
Ahh..teen angst! I wonder if he's now an Industry person??

A.

Curley

Ok, this is what I call a good hair day!

Aunt A.

Being a Teenager

As I was going through my attic cleaning out stuff for the OC yard sale, I found some cartons with important-enough-to-be-saved items from kindergarten to college. I even found a signed picture of Billy Ray Cyrus from his Achy-Breaky mullet days! Yikes! In particular, I happened upon some monologues from Mrs. Lester's 8th Grade Advanced Reading class that we wrote about 'Being a Teenager'--thoughts on various topics including school, animal cruelty, and the afterlife, etc. Even at 13, I had a sense of humor! Here's my witty prose about the driver's license:

"A UFO is an Unidentified Flying Object, therefore a URO must be an Unidentified Rolling Object. This object has four wheels but they seem to be two or three feet away from the body of the object. The object has anti-lock brakes and two doors. It also has windows that have been darkened. This URO screeches as it travels and has stripes on its side. It also has an antenna on the hood....but wait a second....the door opens and from the inside comes the deafening sound of Metallica in the tape deck. There are dice hanging in the mirror. Then an alien steps down. He's wearing shades and he looks cool. Could this be a teenager who has just gotten his drivers license??"

Somewhere there's a videotape of these monologues and I was stylin' in my Guess shirt and tight-rolled jeans. Wow. Napoleon Dynamite would be so proud!

A.

Life is precious, life is sweet

Just a word of caution: this post gets very sentimental!
Recently, I traveled to the land of Dixie to visit family and friends. I became increasingly aware of how quickly my baby niece is growing! The littlest princess is preparing to graduate from noisy babble to her very first word. She's working on the lalalala's and dadada's. I was hoping she'd babble at least an "A" for her favorite aunt, but I think the long vowel was too much! Then I wondered whether 'mama' and 'dada' should even count as a first word? I also got in a visit with 2 more friends, my parents, and my 90 year old Granny! I realized how important my family and friends are in my life.
And this weekend I'm even more aware of just how precious life is. I always think of my mother on August 19th. I know it's a day of emotions for her and she always makes sure my brother and I know of her unconditional love for us. August 19th is the death of my maternal grandparents. Not together on the same day, but 13 years apart. I always think about the Grandmama I always hear so much about, yet I never knew as she was killed when I was just 2 years old. I'll never forget the day Dad left this world from the nursing home bed I know he disliked. It seems lately there are even more reminders of just how precious life is and for me not to take for granted the blessed people, things, and experiences that make my life that much more meaningful.
I pray that I show compassion for my terminally ill neighbor that I see is now mobile via wheelchair, that I listen intently to the amazing stories that Granny has to share of her life because I know I might never get that chance again, that I set a good example for my baby niece who is growing and is a constant source of pride, amazement, and humor for my whole family, that one day I hope to be a mother and teach all the things I've learned, and I pray that I never lose sight of my roots. I thank God every day for the fantastic friends I have who I trust and adore and have the best of times with ("What would we do if we weren't us"?!?!)!
And I pray that I live each day to its fullest and I will always trust God with all my heart!

A.

Who's the grown up?

Remember that post about learning lessons everyday? Well, here's another one. I'm a wee bit embarrassed to say that I was scolded by a 3 year old. We were sitting in a circle in Bible class singing 'Happy & You Know It' and one of the kids did something and I said 'Oh my gosh'. And I was quickly corrected by precocious Ellery that I'm not supposed to say that and I should say "Oh my goodness" instead. I suddenly felt smaller than 3 feet high and made sure to tell Ellery that I was sorry. It's amazing how much kids really do pay attention even when you think they're not! Apparently, I have a lot to learn about kids!

A.

Reading is sexy!

(Title line compliments of Melody for that hilarious logo t-shirt you found!)
Today is just one of those days where I would rather be lounging poolside with 2 books I'd like to finish. So, I made a list of books I've been wanting to read. Maybe I should coordinate a read-a-thon?!? In no particular reading order:

Searching for God Knows What--Donald Miller

Mark of the Lion Series

The Bell Witch

Chronicles of Narnia --CS Lewis (preferably by the time the movie releases, but I know my reading track record!)

Skinny Legs and All -- Tom Robbins

Dress Your Family In Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

The Scarlet Letter (because I haven't read since 9th grade)

Silas Marner (because I haven't read since 7th grade)

East of Eden --Steinbeck

Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde

My Year of Meats --Ruth Ozecki

Speaking with the Angel and A Long Way Down --Nick Hornby

A Case for Christ

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 & 3 --Anne Brashears (yes, I'm a cheeseball!)

a Jane Austen novel (prompted by recent visit to England, of course!)

And I'm pretty sure this list will change faster than Harry Potter can apparate!

A.