A Fishing Trip to Remember
It was June 6th, 2013. Our family set off for a fishing trip in the crystal blue waters of the South Miami Sea. We had heard reports of a hurricane coming in from the north, but dad decided they were just rumors; who could blame him? The sky was as clear as could be and not a single cloud to be seen. A gentle, cool breeze blew in from the south blowing my hair over my eyes. My little brother Adrian swiped my hair back behind my ears; “
”There you go sis.” he said. Adrian is the best little brother a big sister could ask for. I never really understood the concept of sibling fights, because we both have always naturally gotten along. Mom was lying down in the back of the boat sun tanning. “Alyssa, could you get me a peach from the
…show more content…
I walked back up the stairs and out the hatch into the blazing Miami sun. As I went to deliver the peach to mom, I tripped over a fishing rod that my brother had left out and I landed right on my face. “Who put that there!” I shouted as I rubbed my cheek in agony. Adrian popped his head up “I did, I’m sorry Aly I didn’t mean to make you fall.” He came over and gave me a tight hug at my waist. I can never stay mad at him for longer than ten or fifteen minutes. He’s just about my best friend. I got up and looked for the peach that I was holding. Then I saw it, floating out 15 feet into the ocean. That was our last peach. Sorry mom. BOOM! Out of nowhere thunder crashed around us. The sky was still clear and as calm as ever. BOOM! Thunder crashed all around, only this time clouds began to form. The sky turned gray. This must be the hurricane that everyone was talking about. None of us had ever seen anything like it, not even dad. Who has probably spent more time on the water than he has on land. “Everyone in the lower deck!” dad shouted over the loud rain that had begun pouring. “I’m scared” whimpered Adrian as he was clenching on to my arm. “In my head I was thinking “me and you both” but I had to be strong
Halfway up it was beginning to look doubtful, the wind was picking up and everyone was getting out rain gear to prepare for the storm. I voiced my doubts to Phil and he said we might as well keep going until the lighting got too close. So we did. The thunder grew in volume and the echoes magnified the noise to a dull roar sometimes. Then suddenly it began to ebb. The wind died down and lightening came less frequently. I exchanged relieved looks with Phil after a bit, but kept the pace up--I didn’t want to take chances. Eventually it hit us, but by then it was nothing more then a heavy rain. We kept moving, if slower, and made it over the ridge with no other problems. That night I enjoyed the meal a little more and slept a little deeper realizing how much is important that easily goes unnoticed until something threatens to take it away.
Thunder rolled intensely outside, my aunt, mother, sister and I were sat calmly in the basement. We had been through this many times before; I mean afterall, Kansas was part of Tornado Alley. 2. My sister and I were young when this happened, her probably four or five, me about eight. 3. Before we had even started driving to my aunt’s house; since she’s the only one with a basement; my sister and I were complaining about being hungry. 4. Mom said she would get us something to eat soon, but then the sirens started blaring. 5. She called my aunt and told her we would be over in about ten minutes. 6. Me and my sister continued to complain about being hungry because, we always had to get what we wanted. 7. So my mom stopped at McDonald’s and got us some food. 8. After we were almost five minutes later than we said we would be my aunt panicked. 9. Jenny, my aunt, was calling like crazy. 10. When we finally got to her house she lectured my mom about how it wasn’t safe to have us out there like that with a tornado in the area. 11.Afterwards, we all sat on the porch and watched the storm. 12. That’s my favorite memory with my family, and it’s one I’ll never forget.
You know the feeling when everything’s perfect, and suddenly your heart just stops? The 1 hour 48 minute drive to Lake Ontario was just like any other. Movie playing, siblings arguing, music blasting. My family hosts our annual 4th of July party up by Cape Vincent. With the warm air filled with the scent of the grill, and the sounds of laughter and music,that weekend was turning out to be just like the rest. Or at least that’s what we thought. 1311 Failing Shores Lane was never quiet during any of the previous events, but for some reason a dead silence draped over the lot.
As my brother and I were setting up the generator Dad was making fast work of the trees outside with his chainsaw. He had been worried about the loose limbs and them potentially breaking a window. I decided to give Dad a hand but before long I heard a shout, “Bradley!”. It was Mom, and I go by Brad so when she calls me by Bradley I know she is serious. She had the news on as she was packing our just-in-case bags which had everything you needed from a toothbrush and toothpaste to a lighter and flashlight. She even threw in an extra pair of my socks, you know just mom things. “The storm is expected to arrive in less than 30 minutes”, she said “tell Dad to hurry and get inside.” So as every good child would do I told my Dad it was time to come inside, he agreed as we could see the storm coming in the distance. Hurricane Harvey was massive, the biggest I have ever seen and hopefully the biggest I will ever see. We returned to the living room to find Bryan and Mom with Shasta, our pet dog. Mom lit some candles around the house so when the power goes out we will be able to navigate
Miami Dade, October 2005: Most streets are empty, the news stations' careful packages about hurricane survival seem to have persuaded even the stubbornest of Floridians. Workplaces closed, schools canceled, elated children fill homes with their usual buzz for just a few more days, to their parents’ weary “delight”. In one particular Miami home, two girls, one 8, one 6, have expressed their intentions of spending the day by the window, watching the beautiful wreckage unfold, their steadfast positions elicit a begrudging half-nod of approval from the mother. Before long, the lights go out, no distractions, no chores, the tiny family sits in harmony telling stories amid the few scattered decorative candles that they gather from all strange corners of the home,
“Come on, “ my counselor Emily screamed from shore. The quick rapids made it very difficult to dig our paddles into the river. My cabin was stopping to eat lunch on our Tuesday canoeing trip. On Saturday, we had traveled down to Brownstown, Indiana for a week full of friends, fun, and God. My church stayed at a retreat center called Pyoca. Every year on Tuesday, we would go on a canoeing or rafting trip depending on the water levels. Emily, Annabelle, my canoeing partner, and I sat along the sand bank waiting for other canoes to come in. Many other groups slowly went by, while we patiently waited for other groups to come in. I was so hungry, I couldn’t wait. Canoeing had zapped all of my energy, and had made me really hungry. I began to quickly wade out into the river, so I could help the other canoes come in faster. Someone screamed, “Be careful” from the bank. Nate Epple, a counselor of
It was hurricane season. I didn't even know until I saw the weather report the week before. “Hurricane Michael raging on the East Coast. Hurricane Paula strikes Alabama,” the weatherman said. It didn't faze me. “It happens every year,” I thought. Never did I think that this would affect me in the small town of Center, Texas. In the middle of September, the day felt strange. Then, a friend called me from San Augustine. “It's coming!” she shrieked. I was very confused. “The hurricane! You need to get ready!” I replied slowly and hung up. Scared to death, I started to get ready for the disaster coming towards us.
In the summer of 2005 Louisiana’s coastline was struck by one of the strongest hurricanes that has ever been, Katrina. A week before the storm was predicted to hit we were having supper together as a family when my dad’s phone rang. I distinctly remember him bowing his head, taking in a deep
stood upon, was frightening. The only was to go was down. I took a deep
It was a warm sunny day in the summer of the nineteen nighties nine, at the Jersey Shore. Sally stood outside her grandparents ' house with hesitation. Should Juan and I have come? Sally thinks to herself. Sally then begins to gaze out at the ocean 's shorelines. As if time had stood still and the world faded away. She closed her eyes and took it all in. It made her think of all the wonderful childhood memories that they had achieved there. Sally remembered playing in the sand, swimming in the ocean, the bright sun gazing down upon her and a boy. This place had memories that Sally would never forget and treasure forever, for that kid now a man was always in her heart and her life.
I stood at the end of the driveway with a bag of clothes and my little sisters by my side. My dad pulled up, we got in the truck, and we drove about 10 minutes until we got to his shop. This would seem like a normal day, but things were different this time. We weren 't at the shop to ride the four wheelers around or to play basketball in the garage or to mess with the pinball machines. There was a gloomy feel about everything around us. Even though I didn’t say anything, I knew things were changing.
As we pulled out of my parents driveway, the circumstances seemed very surreal. My entire way of life had been turned upside down with only a few hours consideration. I was very much “at sea” in the ...
I remember a time in my life not too long ago when my family and I went white water rafting for the first time. We had been spending some of our summer vacation at a cabin in the Smokey Mountains, close to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The next day we would experience feelings of exhilarating excitement, with a sense of suspense and anticipation as we rafted down the Nantahala River.
I could "snooze" as my dad urged himself to go onward towards Arizona as he
Rolling waves gently brushed upon the sand and nipped softly at my toes. I gazed out into the oblivion of blue hue that lay before me. I stared hopefully at sun-filled sky, but I couldn’t help but wonder how I was going to get through the day. Honestly, I never thought in a million years that my daughter and I would be homeless. Oh, how I yearned for our house in the suburbs. A pain wrenched at my heart when I was once reminded again of my beloved husband, Peter. I missed him so much and couldn’t help but ask God why he was taken from us. Living underneath Pier 14 was no life for Emily and me. I had to get us out of here and back on our feet. My stomach moaned angrily. I needed to somehow find food for us, but how? Suddenly, something slimy brushed up against my leg and pierced my thoughts. I jumped back and brushed the residue of sand of my legs. What was that? As my eyes skimmed the water in front of me, I noticed something spinning in the foam of the waves. Curiosity got the best of me and I went over to take a closer look. The object danced in the waves and eventually was coughed out onto the beach. “Emily!” I called to my eight-year-old daughter who was, at that time, infatuated with a seashell that she found earlier that day. “Come here and see this! Mommy found something.” Although I had no idea what that something was and I definitely didn’t know it would change my life forever.