Living in Washington State, both sides of my family, my mom's side and my dad's side, live in two different directions of each other. Alothough, my dad's side of the family is much closer. This makes it easier for family get togethers around holidays.
On Thanksgiving, my grandma usually fixes a beautiful turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, white trash (mandarin oranges mixed with cottage cheese, cool whip, and jello), beets, and to top it off a homemade pumpkin pie. Every day though tastes just like a holiday at this grandma's house. She always has something cooking on the stove or in the oven. Everything tends to be homemade, and when it isn't, it is because there was a sale at QFC on their wonderfully made chickens! Every morning there is either french toast, pancakes (with a hint of cinnamon..YUM!), waffles, and even bacon on the side. Lunch is usually consisting of a sandwich or soup with toast, unless my grandma is in the mood for tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches (I may be lactose intolerant, but that doesn't stop me).
Driving down to my other grandma's house is a long drive and we all work up an appetite...by sitting in the car for two hours...Anyway, it is almost the complete opposite. There is bacon every morning with a big jug of Sunny-D because when I stayed with my grandma, while my sister was in the hospital, she let me pick out my favorite juice and sure enough Sunny-D was my choice and she has carried that tradition on for about ten years. When it comes to lunch, its more about popcorn and junk food like chips and candy. But when dinner comes, it is all about the homemade chicken soup (which isn't like ordinary chicken soup). On special occasions, like birthdays or holidays, the roast beings to cook and the smell is so delishous. It reminds me of a cartoon where the smell is resembled as steam and it grabs the character by the nostrils and brings him to the kitchen.
Between the two different sides of the family, one is more traditional and a bit on the healthy side, where as on the other side of the family its about having fun...well, that's another way to say eating all the junk food you want.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
What Community Do You Live In?
"Being a driver is a community." I drive to school and work just about every day, and when I am not going to those places; I find new places to drive to. I have had an opportunity to pay attention to the many drivers that are turning, flying passed me, getting passed by me, and stopping right in front of me. As I glance over to the vehicle passing me, I look into the eyes of a fellow friend. Not a friend that I hang out with or even know, but a friend that shares the same thought as me; I am sick of driving.
As I then come to passing a driver on the left, I, again, glance over to see the eyes of another driver who has again the same thought as me; He better hope that there isn't a cop over that hill. In this driving community, we all feel the stress of having to hurry to get to class on time, get to work on time, or to get home in time to watch American Idol. Yet, we all share the same fear of that police car waiting right around the corner, or waiting for you right over that little hill that you know you will speed up as you make your way to the top.
To the person on the side of the road with the passenger side door swung open, we all know what it feels like to have to use the bathroom, but we know that we won't make it to our destination in time. To the person who approaches the intersection and the light turns yellow just after you passed the point that you know you won't be able to stop in time, but you know your going through a red light; we know what that scared feeling is that that red light camera is going to take a beautiful picture of your frightened face. To the person who is driving slow, we all know what it is like to have those days when you just want to enjoy the scenery, but also how fun it is to annoy the person who has been tailgating you for the last two miles. To the person who left their brights on, we all know the feeling of, "Oops". And to the person who pulls into the gas station, we all know the feeling of, "There goes my college fund." or "There goes that cruise vacation." And finally to the person who left their lights on in the parking lot, we all know how embarrassing it is when your car won't start.
This community is about people going in the same direction at some point down the road and sharing the same feelings. Connecting to one another is what this community brings to the larger picture. We all avoid rush hour, or try to, but when we get caught up in rush hour we feel the same feeling as every one else; frustration. This community also shows how much we trust one another. When a car is coming in the opposite direction of you, you have to trust that car to stay in their side of the road. And the same goes for you, you are being trusted to stay in your lane while that car passes by.
I can relate to this community because I am ALWAYS on the road, or so it feels like. I go to Everett Community College and I work in Mount Vernon. I see every kind of driver anyone could imagine. The racers, the pacers, the slugs, the big, the small, the box, the long, the wide, the ignorant, the old, the young, yellow, brown, white, red, blue, black, silver. We all share the same ability; driving.
As I then come to passing a driver on the left, I, again, glance over to see the eyes of another driver who has again the same thought as me; He better hope that there isn't a cop over that hill. In this driving community, we all feel the stress of having to hurry to get to class on time, get to work on time, or to get home in time to watch American Idol. Yet, we all share the same fear of that police car waiting right around the corner, or waiting for you right over that little hill that you know you will speed up as you make your way to the top.
To the person on the side of the road with the passenger side door swung open, we all know what it feels like to have to use the bathroom, but we know that we won't make it to our destination in time. To the person who approaches the intersection and the light turns yellow just after you passed the point that you know you won't be able to stop in time, but you know your going through a red light; we know what that scared feeling is that that red light camera is going to take a beautiful picture of your frightened face. To the person who is driving slow, we all know what it is like to have those days when you just want to enjoy the scenery, but also how fun it is to annoy the person who has been tailgating you for the last two miles. To the person who left their brights on, we all know the feeling of, "Oops". And to the person who pulls into the gas station, we all know the feeling of, "There goes my college fund." or "There goes that cruise vacation." And finally to the person who left their lights on in the parking lot, we all know how embarrassing it is when your car won't start.
This community is about people going in the same direction at some point down the road and sharing the same feelings. Connecting to one another is what this community brings to the larger picture. We all avoid rush hour, or try to, but when we get caught up in rush hour we feel the same feeling as every one else; frustration. This community also shows how much we trust one another. When a car is coming in the opposite direction of you, you have to trust that car to stay in their side of the road. And the same goes for you, you are being trusted to stay in your lane while that car passes by.
I can relate to this community because I am ALWAYS on the road, or so it feels like. I go to Everett Community College and I work in Mount Vernon. I see every kind of driver anyone could imagine. The racers, the pacers, the slugs, the big, the small, the box, the long, the wide, the ignorant, the old, the young, yellow, brown, white, red, blue, black, silver. We all share the same ability; driving.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Through the Folds of My Wallet
Imagine this, you are walking down the street of Seattle and you come across a wallet. Hopefully out of instinct you pick up that wallet and you open it...pulling out everything inside, you examine that wallet. The person you are about to meet through the folds of the wallet is me.
First you will see a driver's license hind a plastic wrap with all the information of David Mitchel Chitwood. Behind that picture you will see two pictures, one of the pictures is of my grandparents. This shows that I carry their love everywhere I go. They are two people who have helped show the world to me. Then the second picture is of a little girl. Her name is Maddy, and I met her at a church camp. She has become a part of my life and family in so many ways. I want to make a difference one life at a time and God has put her right in my path.
In a pocket just to the right of the plastic wrap are many cards and papers. The cards consist of my debit card, Red Robin Bottomless Rewards card (Red Robin.....YUM!), a Starbucks card, an Old Navy card (about three years old), and a Barnes and Noble gift card. Then comes all the coupons I can possibly fit into a wallet. The coupons range from toothbrushes to movies.
Finally, in the most important slot (where the cash goes), you will find a lot of cash that doesn't ever get spent. I'm sure you will come to the conclusion that I am "loaded", but I am not loaded. I just don't like spending money. This slot not only holds the money, but it currently will be holding two tickets to see Celine Dion in Las Vegas on August 14, 2011.
What you won't find in my wallet just happens to be the most important object in my entire life and that is my Bible. This what truely defines my identity. My relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is what my life is, was, and always will be about.
First you will see a driver's license hind a plastic wrap with all the information of David Mitchel Chitwood. Behind that picture you will see two pictures, one of the pictures is of my grandparents. This shows that I carry their love everywhere I go. They are two people who have helped show the world to me. Then the second picture is of a little girl. Her name is Maddy, and I met her at a church camp. She has become a part of my life and family in so many ways. I want to make a difference one life at a time and God has put her right in my path.
In a pocket just to the right of the plastic wrap are many cards and papers. The cards consist of my debit card, Red Robin Bottomless Rewards card (Red Robin.....YUM!), a Starbucks card, an Old Navy card (about three years old), and a Barnes and Noble gift card. Then comes all the coupons I can possibly fit into a wallet. The coupons range from toothbrushes to movies.
Finally, in the most important slot (where the cash goes), you will find a lot of cash that doesn't ever get spent. I'm sure you will come to the conclusion that I am "loaded", but I am not loaded. I just don't like spending money. This slot not only holds the money, but it currently will be holding two tickets to see Celine Dion in Las Vegas on August 14, 2011.
What you won't find in my wallet just happens to be the most important object in my entire life and that is my Bible. This what truely defines my identity. My relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is what my life is, was, and always will be about.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)