Visual Perfection

September 19, 2008

The sand warmed my inner being. My toes curled in and out, griping the earth below. After a moments pause, another figure jumps up beside me. My eyes rise to find my mother. She stands, with a peaceful smirk, waiting for my company. Slowly, I rise and my hand meets hers as we blindly walk toward the water. I am left in complete ignorance until the cold liquid awakens me from my mindless actions. My spine is confronted with a life threatening shiver that stuns my whole body. A quick inhale leaves me stiff and unstable. The waves can see my fear and are quick to attack. Pride fills my mind after I service the oceans first punch, but the back wash keeps me humble as I fall to the ground. Right hand out, ready to embrace the fall, I prepare for the ocean to take me away. A sudden jerk from my mothers grasp pulls me back to safety. It is not until I gain sturdiness in my body that I realize that the water only reaches my ankle bone.

Head tilted back, I see my mother looking off into the distance. Her expression shows a strictness I am unable to grasp, seeing as I am only two years old. My concern for her serious face causes me to tug on her hand for acknowledgement. Her gaze is dropped and she looks down into my worried eyes. A small giggle is accompanied by a motion with her finger that suggests I look at what has occupied her for so long. My eyes follow her finger and are led to the most beautiful site in the world.

Yellow, orange, and red controlled the sky with the dark blue outline that comes from the sea. The sun has a forgiving glow that allows for eyes to enjoy its grace. The sound that comes from the distance is peaceful and seems to put all thought to rest. The sunset, so captivating and breathtaking, allows for nothing else to override its importance. The scenery does not allow for the people along the shore to look at anything else. I am so captivated in the beauty that I cannot break my stare. Silence seems to overcome the world for an immeasurable time.

Time stands still as I turn my head to see what stands behind me. I am the only one in motion and the only one that seems to be looking as anything but the sun. Right behind me, I find my father and brother sitting in the sand remaining in the peace and quiet. They had just been playing in the sand and between them rest a castle that reaches higher than their heads. The hypnotizing sunset stops their progress on the near perfect castle and they now gaze past my profile. I find it hard to understand how my swimsuit does not catch their attention. With its pinkish tint mixed with every color known to man, it is a hard thing to miss. The tutu that hugs my waist brings even more flare to the suit with fabric pointing in every direction. And yet, my swimsuit seems to attract no attention. With some frustration, I turn to my left and lean back to look past my mom. Beach goes too far for my eyes to see. The endless sea line makes the world look even bigger than it is in real life. The scenery to my left cannot keep my attention and my gaze drifts back to the right. Yet again, I am confronted with sand that stretches for many miles. Even though these sights would have kept me staring for many hours before, now that I had seen the unforgettable sunset nothing can quench my eyes thirst. Spite possesses my heart as I look back to the sky that had ruined what I thought beauty was. I am unable to keep these feelings, however, when my eyes return to the sky. This image will always be in my mind and to this very day, nothing has amounted to its glory.

The sun inched below the sea line and the world is able to return to its business. Now that the planet could continue its rotation, my family went back to the rigorous activities we had dropped. My father and brother continued constructing the castle with the help from my mother and me. My hands dive into the ground and pull up a sand ball. The sticky sand covers my fingers and changes my skins color as well as its texture. Trying to help, I lob the ball onto the castle walls to make them stronger and more detailed. The sudden his from my brother proves that my help is not wanted. I retract my position and make my arms support my wait as I lean back. Legs crossed, I take a posture that is much too mature for any two years old to take. I am, once again, looking over the peaceful sea. It is at that point that my mind begins to race. “That image was so intense and life changing, I will never be able to forget it”, I think to myself.

To this very day, that image is encrusted in my heart. My first memory just so happens to be my best memory. My present character is based on that day. I am always looking for beauty that could amount to something close to that sunset, and yet every image I pass falls short. I am glad that I saw beauty so early in my years; now, when I am confronted with true beauty again, I will know what I am looking at.

Running Through My Veins

September 5, 2008


My first memorable visit to the windy city defined my present ideas about where I want to go in this life and defined my most important characteristics. I stood hand in hand with my mother waiting for that taxi that would take me to the life changing city. Eyes glazed over, I stood on the sidewalk until a yellow flash averted my stare. There was silence for only a moment and then the vehicle sped off with jagged movements. My brain scattered unable to maintain focus as various images flashed through the windows. After about five minutes the driver screeched to a stop and shoved my mother and me out the door while grabbing for the valuable green paper slips. Frantic movements possessed my mother as I became hypnotized by the humbling new scenery. Not much time passed before I realized that this place now defined me and my existence.
Chicago developed an appreciation and a love for variety in me. The second I stepped foot on the experienced sidewalk, more people than I ever knew existed blurred before my eyes. It is said that people fear what is different than themselves, but the sight sparked curiosity and interest in me about what was out there hiding from me and my quiet home town. My mother, troubled by my quickened steps, held onto me with both hands hoping not to lose me. At last, the friction my short legs produced came to an abrupt stop when the Sears Tower intruded on my path. My glance creped up the building’s surface: It must have taken a minute or two for my eyes to reach the top. Jaw dropped, I jolted back into reality with my mothers questioning words. "Elena, Are you feeling well?" It took a much time for me to shake off my astonishment but I managed to continue the day’s adventure. The moment I put myself back together I turned around to take in all that information I ran past just moments before. At this time, the sun seemed to shine brighter to frame the numerous buildings and the hectic motion seemed to slow down as the sounds ceased. Time stood still as I developed my feelings for this place and the place became embedded in my soul. From that moment on I knew that my life's journey would include the beautiful scenery that the city had to offer. Chicago engraved itself in my dreams.
Ever since that first visit, the city molded my characteristics. The need for speed flows in my veins thanks to the constant movement that defines such a populous area. It is as if the city never sleeps. This quality defined me in that I must always have a task at hand or I feel discomfort and concern. I must be doing something with my time or I feel like I am falling behind and the world is passing me by. Whether this is a good quality or a bad quality, it is a quality none the less that has changed the way I live. My mind works like a city runs; no event, no mater how huge or life changing it is, can stop the pulses in my brains nerves.
Along with my new active self, the city has also engrained an appreciation for variety that was never there before. Each day, I see at least a thousand people I have never seen before. Each person has there own story and own ideas that could marvel me for days. Just thinking about all those lives humbles my personality; there are so many people out there that my life almost seems insignificant. Every time I roam the city, I find myself looking at each face that passes me by and try to make a story for them. As I shuffle my way through the pigeon sea, I find a man sleeping on a bench with next to no possessions. Once a wealthy man, he now sits unable to find the money to afford his medication. My quickened steps take me to yet another individual that lives quite a different life. Her black stilettos and revealing dress proves that she is on her way to see that special someone. He has been in her life for only four months and she is already convinced that she is in love. The white glow that shines past her lips hints to the public that her man is in sight. I am introduced to yet another character down the block that is so different from me that I have trouble understanding him and his situation all together. He came from another country to find a better life that will provide for his family. He speaks next to no English and wanders the street with fear blazing through his eyes. I learn from each individual in a way so minute that I almost do not recognize the lessons at all. Depending on my situation, I use the lessons these people teach to live my own life. The variety provides for a vast knowledge that could get me through any conflict.My rambling about the city and its wonders has encouraged my friends to label me with a nickname: City girl is now my accepted title. I go where the population is great and time does not stop. That first visit to Chicago made all this clear. Thanks to that trip, I now have a passion for the blaring horns and the people that flow like streams. Now, I have a love for the constant motion that fails to stop no mater what the circumstances might be. Now I find joy in looking at all the people in the world that are so different from each other that there is no way to even consider them the same species. This place impacted my life more than any other place my eyes have seen. No matter where I am, Chicago will always be on my mind.