Lessons Learned, Memories Treasured

       Home, home isn't a place, home are the people you are with that mean something to you. Linden, the place I have lived a majority of my life now has a soft spot in my heart, despite all the hatred I held for it growing up. From the moment I turned ten until I was 17, i walked to school every single day. I have found that those sometimes 20- 30 minute walks to and from school shaped me in ways that only the roads and its silent warnings and prayers can teach you. Every morning, way before the sun rose in the sky to greet us hello, my feet where already on the pavement. Sometimes the fog would roll in and make the playgrounds look like abandoned cemeteries that held nothing but broken dreams and promise. The winter months where the harshest, blizzard snows blinded you like a sunny day, every part of your body was an ice cube by the time you got home.

            Regardless of all that, those walks hold some of the best memories and life lessons. Head slightly pointed down, eyes dashing in all directions, keep your ears open and make sure you have both hands in your pocket. One gripping on to a cell phone ready to dial 911, the other with your keys between your fingers, just in case. I would always walk with my headphones in, the volume was always on mute. I learned how to detect if somebody was walking behind me and I soon learned that there are strength in numbers. By the time I reached middle school, a large portion of my friends all walked home and lived near me, so we would all walk together in one large group, sometimes I feel like the soccer moms picking up their kids from the elementary school, felt we were a mob ready to destroy their children. My best memories come from walking to and from school with my friends throughout middle and high school. I remember all the times we would help the fragile old lady on Sunny Side Drive carry her groceries in the house. We sometimes use to walk down the middle of sleepy streets or race each other to the end of the block.  There was always an extra ear bud laying around or even a shoulder to cry on. Our group, though large in size, was closer than any person could imagine. All of us were from different classifications aka cliches, but that didn't hinder our weird, forever treasured friendship. Our walks turned into impromptu therapy sessions, regulated by nobody but us. We cried, we laughed, and we learned that their was always someone to count on, even if there was nobody there when we got home. We taught each other how to be vulnerable and yet carefree in the way every child should be. Most importantly, we taught each other that family does't have to mean your a blood relative, because while blood is thicker than water, but it's water that washes away fear, tears, and skinned knees.

Interview With the Bestie

Interviewer

Introduce yourself! How are you today? How are classes going?

Raquele

My name is Raquele Strickland. I am 18 years old. I am a freshman at Rutgers University. I dorm on Cook. I'm doing well; my day would be much better if I didn’t have to go to classes.

Interviewer

When you were little, what did you want to be?

Raquele

I wanted to be a doctor when I was little. Cliché I know, especially if you consider how much I hate Chemistry. I wanted to be a doctor because I wanted to help people like my sister. Her and me would always play fight when we were younger, and I would always hurt her because if my nails. So, I came up with the idea to be a doctor. That way I could help her and not get in trouble with my mom for hurting her.

Interviewer

OMG! I use to fight with my sister like that all the time and to be honest I still do. Ok, next question. Who do you think should run for president in two years?

Raquele

Brad Pitt should be running for president because he is a good actor with good looks and an incredible background. What! Don’t look at me like that, you know you want him as president too!

Interviewer

Sure, whatever you say Rocky. What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year? Ever?

Raquele

This year the best book I’ve read is Tom’s River because it was so relatable to my life. The setting of the book really resonates with me, as I live in a similar setting. Where I live there is a lot of pollution, I live two blocks from an oil refinery. The book explains a lot about it and all the negative effects it has on humans and the environment. The best book I have EVER read is The Undiscovered Self because a psychologist wrote it and it always kept me wanting for me, if that makes sense.

 Interviewer

Ya, that makes sense to me. It sounds like the book, keeps you interested in your self and how you are always changing. And while society and the social standards for women might mess with our brains, we should always love who we are and want to be who we are.

Raquele

Exactly!!!

Interviewer

What makes you feel afraid?

Raquele

Mice, they freak me out! They are really ugly and have slithering tails. Ughhh, I'm getting Goosebumps answering this one. The have beady little eyes that stare into my soul in a bad way.

Interviewer

I should have guessed that’s what your answer was going to be. Do you remember the time in French Class, Victor the mouse paid us a visit and you and Madame Foy jumped on top of her giant oak desk, both of you decked out in high heeled boots, screaming at the top of your lungs. It was so funny; especially when Madame Foy kept screaming go away Victor. We had no clue she was talking to the mouse.

Raquele

I completely forgot about that! I can’t believe she named the mouse. They are too disgusting to have names.

Interviewer

OK, now here is a very serious question. Would you rather get lunch with Gillian Flynn or J.K. Rowling?

Raquele

J.K Rowling hands down. What kind of question is that Nicole; you know I will always answer Rowling! She created Hogwarts; it doesn’t get better than that.

Interviewer

Fine. Though can you believe with the amount of books I read, I have never read the Harry Potter series? Oh well, what’s your most embarrassing childhood memory?

Raquele

My most embarrassing childhood memory is when I went on a camping trip with my grandparents and I have to pee behind a tree. I like my privacy and modern technology. A tree does not offer that.

Interviewer

If you had the option of adopting a baby fox or baby koala, which one would you choose?

Raquele

Baby Koala hands down. They are so adorable and cling to you. I love to cuddle, so it would be perfect.

Interviewer

What’s your dream job?

Raquele

To be a botanist at NASA. For you people out there who don’t know what I'm talking about, a botanist is a scientist that specializes in plants. And for the rest of you shaking your head, saying I have no future, watch me succeed.

Interviewer

Well, look on the positive side. If you ever got stuck on Mars, like Matt Damon, you wouldn’t die of hunger.  Who is your favorite mythological god/goddess?

Raquele

Artemis or Hades, I favor them both. I love my dark, dreamy men. Actually, my first crush was a boy names Alex in elementary school. He was a Spanish dream.

Interviewer

That is ironic, considering that your now dating a polish dream named Alex. I wonder what Alex would say to here that you’ve had a crush on another Alex.

If you had to choose between using Internet Explorer forever, or permanently using an AOL e-mail address, which one would it be?

Raquele

It would have to be a freaking AOL e-mail address. Internet Explorer would drive me insane.

Interviewer

 If you could either be a duck or an owl, which would you be?

Raquele

An owl, because they can turn their head 270 degrees and I need that to make sure no woman is staring at my man.

Interviewer

What do you love about yourself most?

Raquele

My ability to make conversation is what I love. I can literally start talking to anybody, no problem.

Interviewer

Ya, your randomness helps you in that field.   What don’t you like so much?

Raquele

I don’t like my face. It’s too oily and prone to break outs, especially since I have started living on campus. And I'm not trying to put myself down, I'm just complaining.

Interviewer

Rugrats or Doug?

Raquele

Rugrats, all the way. I still watch them till this day!

Interviewer

Me too!!! Which house would you belong to in Game of Thrones? Like, very honestly.

Raquele

The one with all the blonds, what!?!!? I can’t remember their names.

Interviewer

Regardless, thank you for doing this for me; I owe you some beef jerky.

Raquele

No problem! And you know how much I love my beef jerky!

Live: Grandma Finale

We are pulling up to my grandparents house right now! If you haven't caught in by now they live in downtown Elizabeth and they mean the world to me. My grandpa is 80 years old and my grandma is 73. They are literally relationship goals. The way my grandfather look at my grandmother, it's like his whole world depends on her and without her presence, soul, endless amounts of love, he would not even exists. The love they share, is the one I too hope to have someday. To have someone look at me the way he looks at her. To be truthful, I didn't not believe that a love like theirs could truley exist, but as I grow older, my heart aches for what they have. And I know that somewhere there is my other half, my soul and my light at the end of the tunnel. And while I know it might take years, I have no problem waiting and try to figure myself a little bit more and experience life and go on adventures, that'll hopefully change me for the better.

Live:Grandma Part 3

My dad just pulled into a gas station because my car is in empty and he's paying!!!!!!! I'm so happy right now. Gas is so expensive for a broke college student.

Live: Grandma Part 2

I have just took exit 140 and now we are in 22. If you were to ask me to elaborate on said route, I'd look at you with a dumbfounded face because let's face it I have no sense of directions!!! But on that note I love exploring new places and getting lost. :)

Live: On my way to Grandma's

I am currently driving down the Parkway North Bound, toward Elizabeth to go see my grandparents and I still have so much homework to do. Don't fear, I'm not driving my father is and let me tell you I'm so elated that his is. After an extremely long, taxing day and a 40 minute drive home, the last thing I wanted to do was drive. So, I am sincerely appreciative that he offered to drive and that we will be getting there much faster because while I'm a stickler for some speed restrictions he likes to go a little faster.Nothing too fast!