The Island of Clouds.

         Searching the sea for the island with clouds Jayden became excited. He put water on his brown hair to keep it from falling to his face. His beautiful hazel eyes stared away into the sea. Finally he saw it, this was it the moment he had always dreamed of. Only 24 years old and he would be the first one to see what was behind the clouds and go back and tell the world. He tied his boat off and started to climb the cliffs. He knew that no one had lived to tell what was behind the cloud, but still he climbed. He felt like he was being watched as he went on and it got really foggy. He couldn't see anything. He knew he wasn't alone.
          He reached a flat surface and squinted his eyes to see where he was at. There was only silence. " Whose there?"  Silence. " I know someones there." Then the next thing he knew he was being pushed and he tried to fight back. The person wasn't as strong as him, he pinned the person down and all he saw were to brown eyes staring back at him. It was a girl who took his breathe away. She was beyond beautiful, he had never seen a girl like her. She looked scared he got up from her and tried to get her up but she attacked him again. He didn't want to hit her so he just held her and she stopped and just stared at him.
       " Quien eres?!" She yelled while trying to hit him again. He understood her, his mom was Colombian. He told her he didn't want to hurt her. She stared at him and then spoke English.
        "What do you want from us!?" He was surprised and took 2 steps back letting her go gently.
        " I'm here to discover whats behind the Island of Clouds but who are you?"
        "There's nothing to know get out now." Silence filled the air and he just stared, stared at the beauty she had. He tried talking to her but she just wanted him to leave. It felt like forever and all she would scream was leave so he was about to turn around and just wander off but she caught his hand.
        " Are you hear to harm us?" Harm you? Why would I hurt?" "Because everyone who comes here tries to hurt us!" " No I promise you I didn't come for that I just wanted to see what made this place so special but dangerous."
       She was still holding his hand she dropped it and told him to follow her. He asked where they were going she wouldn't answer. She finally stopped in front of bushes and told him to not be scared. He followed her in and what he saw he couldn't believe. People had wings on them and were flying! Everything seemed so beautiful and everything seemed so familiar to him.
       "What are they?" "They're fairies, fairies have been around for centuries but we keep hidden because the outside world doesn't accept us. They try to experiment on us and we don't want that so we hide." He didn't know what to say.  "What do you do with the people that come to hurt you? And how come you don't have wings?" She explained that they just locked them away so they wouldn't go off and tell people. And that fairies could hide their wings if they wanted to it just took a lot out of them.
        "I'm one of the protectors. I make sure nobody comes in who will hurt us. But you seem so familiar.. like the son the queen and king had 24 years ago but someone had took him from them."
He didn't know what to say. A few years ago before his mom died of cancer she told him that some guy had given him to her  and she fell in love and kept him. This couldn't be true though? It seemed impossible that he was a son of fairies. But as soon as he saw them he knew, they all knew that it was true.
          He found love and his family. Everything that was taken away when he was little was now here with him. So did he leave to be the first to come back from the island or did her stay to be with the people who were taken from him and knew nothing about? He decided to stay and live his life where he belonged and soon after he got his wings. The magic surrounding the Island gave it to him. He was home now. He found what he was looking for. Love and Family.
      

What does it mean?

      I had the worst dream of my life a couple of weeks ago. I was looking for my parents and I couldn't find them. I kept asking people nobody would answer me. I was getting scared I was screaming and nobody would say anything to me. I was gasping for air, everything felt so weird. It felt like I had lost them but I didn't want to believe that. My world was fallling apart and I yelled to the top of my lungs but they weren't coming. Tears started rolling down my cheeks and then I woke up crying and breathing hard. Worst dream of my life. It wasn't a dream it was a nightmare!

      Searching for what this dream meant I found this website : http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/nightmares.htm
I learned that dreaming about this meant that people who are more sensitive and who are avioding problems and this dream wants to get you to realize it. I have been pushing away my parents because I feel really distant from them but I would never want to loose them in that way. Even though we fight so much I love them so much. I think the dream was trying to tell , to appreciate them and spend more time with them because nothing lasts forever.

     In The Giver there's a baby named Gabriel who is going to be released because he dosn't fit in with what the community whats of him. The community wants to control everything and when something or someone is different they are released. The baby isn't exposed yet to how the community so he's the hope of change to Jonas. Jonas is the only one who knows how things are because he was chosen as the Giver he knows everything now. To him everything is wrong now and he doesn't like it at all he hates and wants to change it. Jonas doesn't want Gabriel to be released for being different he connected with the baby and now this baby gives him hope and the strength.

The lost of a father.

 

 

 

 

A little boy loses his dad. The person who he looked up to, who he loved, who would be there for him is gone. Just like that he didn’t even get to see him grow up. He is only about eight years old and has lost his father. For a little kid that must be the worst thing that could happen. Just like that he is gone and now in front of all these people he has to receive this flag with tears in his eyes. He will grow up without his dad now, and even though he has everybody else nobody will replace his dad. His dad was going to come home in a few weeks and then he does not come back home. He has so many emotions inside of him. He should have anger for his dad choosing to go to Iraq, regret for not having done or spent more time with his dad.

So many people loose someone so special to them. The little boy is so brave because he stands there receiving that flag in honor of his dad. You can tell he is proud of his dad and hopes to one day be as good as his dad. His dad died serving his country, doing something that he wanted to do. Maybe this will make him stronger, make him want to make his dad proud of him. Pain is in his eyes. He looks like he just wants to run and cry, that's what I would do. I'm older and I don't think I would be able to handle myself like that, He’s being so strong, and he has courage. All the memories he has with his dad even though they might not be that much since his dad is in the Marines and would have to travel a lot he should hold on to every single one of them. Keep everything in his heart. You can see that his dad was so special to him. He must just be shocked with grief because he doesn't understand why out of all people it had to be his dad. But it's not just his dad it’s so many people losing their loved ones every day.

He didn't get to say good-bye or say a few things to him. His dad was so far away from him and this time he wasn't coming back. He could be regretting not saying things to him but he has his mother and they both share grief but also wonderful memories of the man who they loved so much and was now gone. But he didn't die over nothing and they should be so proud of him and everybody like him. His hero is gone, what does he do now? He shouldn't let this bring him down this should make him even stronger. His dad the brave man he was must want him to be happy. He doesn't have to forget his dad how could he? His father meant so much to him. He was probably his best friend and now he was gone. He was taken away from his son, his wife, family everybody. But the little boy and everyone else have to live their life and remember all the good times they spent with him.

Having to go through all of that must be so hard. Especially for a little kid whose just growing up just about to start actually living and experiencing life his father gets taken away. It's not fair but life isn't fair. His dad will always be in his heart. So many people go through this everyday loosing people who go into the army and things like that. But they can’t stop living their lives because the little boy’s life didn't end. He still has a long way to go and he should be honored to have come from a man who would risk it for his country. He's not going through it alone though so many people are there for him. He should be so grateful even though he lost his dad it should make him stronger and more determined to succeed and be happy and be more eager to become a good person.

Not getting to grow up with his dad and having to see all his friends with their dads. And as he grows up the memories will fade because they weren’t that many. He will cry so many nights and feel so alone. I’m so proud of him even though I don’t know him. He’s at his dad’s funeral and has the courage to stand there and receive the flag. Even if he’s crying I would never have the courage to do that. Not many people do and it is so sad to see someone so young go through that. Losing a loved one is so difficult. Nobody should go through that but sadly it happens. It’s going to happen to everybody it’s just the truth of it. But to lose someone at such a young age is even harder especially when it’s a parent. We all fight with our parents and when we get mad we say horrible things to them but at the end of the day we love them and their only ones that will always be there for us. He must have had many fights with his dad but he knows that his dad loves him and would just want the best for him now that’s he is gone.

Time is going to pass by and everyday he will think of his dad everyday he will miss him. He will miss out on so many things but he has to appreciate that he is healthy and can keep moving forward. Things won’t be easy for him, it will all be different and more difficult but nothing is easy. All he can do is keep moving forward remember his dad in the best way possible and never stop loving him. Use losing his dad as a motivation to do good in his life.

The Tower of Love

 

     Living all her life in Paris, Sophia had never actually been to the Eiffel Tower. Weird because it's somethings she's always wanted to do but never had the time to do so. Shes always busy taking care of her brothers, school and work ever since her mom passed away two years ago from cancer. She's only 21 years old, average height for a girl and has brown eyes and hair. After her 21st birthday she decided she would finally go see the tower up close not from a distance anymore. The Eiffel Tower is known to be the tower of light. It looks extremely beautiful at night! You can go to it and look at all of Paris from it.
 "My mom always talked about how beautiful the  tower was, she said one day she would take me and my brothers but after she got sick she lost hope in everything" Sophia told her friend Grace. " It's always been my dream to go all the way to the top and see all of Paris."
  "Go this weekend, I'll watch your brothers for you" Grace said smiling. " Your going to love it and you'll never forget it."
    That Saturday night Sophia drove her car all the way to the Eiffel Tower, she lived about 40 minutes from it. She went at night because that's when her mom said it was more beautiful and romantic. As she grew closer she became more excited. She parked and started walking it was November so it was about 42 degrees outside so she walked fast but not to fast because she was very maladroit.
   Finally reaching the stairs she walked slowly enjoying every second of it. After a few minutes she stopped to look at the view when she was about to start walking she bumped in to someone.
"Opps I'm sorry" she whispered.
" No I'm sorry I wasn't watching where I was going" Said the voice who was still holding her. He soon noticed and let go turning red and rubbing the back of his head.
"I'm Sophia" she blushed. In front of her was a hazel eyed guy who looked to be in his twenties was muscular and had light brown hair.
" I'm Alex" he smiled " its my first time here, how many times have you been here?"
"Its my first time too" " Really? Do you mind if we spend the day together? I mean if you want" He turned even more red. He was shy she found that cute. She accepted and they started going up the stairs talking about all sort of things. She even told him about her mom which was hard for her to talk about with just anybody. He listen to everything then hugged her. "I'm sorry" he whispered. She didn't know why she felt so comfortable around him but at the same time nervous. They finally reached the top.
   "wow, isn't it beautiful? My mom was right there's nothing like this" Sophia said.
  " I know its amazing, my parents meet here I think its pretty cool but I never had the chance to come till now. "
    They stayed in silence for awhile just taking in the beauty of everything. He grabbed her hand and she didn't fight it, she liked it. Their eyes meet and then they kissed. They blushed together this time. He was starting to apologize but she stopped him and kissed him again. She had never felt that before and she knew he felt the same. She meet the love of her life that day. Paris is the City of love but to her the tower was everything. It reminded her of her mom and she meet the love of her life there. To her it was the tower of love.

 

Powerless.

     Monday Morning waking up late because there's no school. The rain getting worse and worse. Everybody preparing for Hurricane Sandy. My mom starts filling pots with water just in case the water goes out. Then gets candles and flash lights. My brother and me start looking out the window to see how bad it was getting. Around 8 the wind started picking up. You could hear it, it was loud. We was all so curious that we went to look outside. My step dad was recording and right when he turns it off a branch falls! My mom called us crazy for going out in the middle of that. When we got inside the power went out and we started lighting up candles. All of us played Loteria which is kind of like bingo. That night my signal dropped! I was going crazy looking for signal! I finally gave up and went to sleep.
    Tuesday Morning I wake up and outside it looked scary. Our stove is electric so we had no way of cooking we had to go find food. We went around Plainfield looking for food but everything was closed! Trees were all over the place, wires, streets closed, no gas, no power, nothing. We searched for more than hour and finally found this breakfast place and after we went in they wouldn't let anybody else in because they were running out of food. We drove around to see all the damages. Trees that fell on cars and destroyed them and trees that fell on houses and damaged them. That night we were playing games my mom went to put things away. I was left alone in the living room and then i heard a noise. I turn around and I saw scream! I froze and wanted to get up and run but then realized it was my step dad being an idiot.
"Mami isra scared me!" I yelled and my mom opens the door and sees him in the mask as well. She curses and punches him in the face! Then faints! I immediately went and got alcohol and when she woke up she was crying and laughing. She was so red and my step dad felt so bad, but she knew he was just playing around.
    Wednesday Morning, Halloween cancelled, no school, no power.  Another cold day and the days just go by colder and colder. We hear a snow storm is coming and many people still don't have power and were one of them. Gas lines are huge! Hours in line to wait for gas and then when people get finally get there it runs out. My step dad went all the way to Trenton for gas. It was all crazy. Finally after a week and a half without power it finally came back on Wednesday! It came back at 12 in the night everyone was so excited no more cold nights.  We woke up to learn that president Obama had won! I knew he would though.
   I had practice for my sweet 16 and that night the snow storm hit. We were going to the car to go drop off one of the guys we look up and BAM! My lights went out again! I wanted to cry!
"I just witnessed your lights go out" the guy said "Noooo!" i yelled and cursed out loud.
   After I got home I tried going to sleep but it was so scary I stayed in bed on my phone for almost two hours. Then the lights came back on. I get out of bed and yelled " THE LIGHTS ARE BACK!" All you heard were crickets it was dead silent everyone was knocked out. So I just went to sleep happy that my power was back no more cold nights after that.

The Way Chris Sees Life.

 

“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”

 

What Chris wants to get across is that everybody is forced to live a safe life a life where everyday is a routine. Boring, risk free and the same as the day before. He believes that each person should have an adventure and go out of the normal. Everyone should a different experience each day because everyday thats the same is boring and safe. Experience the risk of life, be happy with your life. Happiness comes from the different things that happen everyday. Chris is right. People that are not happy with their lives don't change them because they become use to their lives but thats not living at all. People need to experience new things, enjoy the wonders of life. Live life to the fulliest.

 

Chris embraced this by leaving everything in his life and going on his own. Shutting everyone off and just living his life the way he wanted to live it. Chris had canoed his way into Mexico even though he got lost he kept going. He had risked going on to strangers cars! He meet so many people who had grown to love him but he left before he cared to much. He didnt want to become attached.

My life has been conditioned to a life of security, conformity and conservation because everything is given to me. I do what is expected never what I want. I go by the rules and play it safe. I don't take risks I do what is safe. If i meet Chris I know he would ask why? Why do I do whats safe? Why do I live this way? The safe way. He would probably encourage me to take risks, to go on an adventure, to be free and to do what I want. To do what I've always wanted to do. To live my life not the life people expect and want me to live.

Poems ~

Universal Freedom Is

Freedom from hunger and freedom from pain
freedom from loss and so freedom from gain.
Freedom to give and freedom to share
freedom from want and that of despair.

Freedom to think and freedom to know
freedom to achieve and freedom to grow.
Freedom from bondage and freedom of liberation
freedom from ignorance and any unknown situation.

Freedom to come and freedom to leave
freedom to stay and freedom to conceive.
Freedom from struggle and freedom of ease
freedom to enjoy and the capacity to please.

Freedom from failure and freedom of success
freedom from denial and freedom of access.
Freedom from illusion and freedom of reality
freedom to become what we are in actuality.

Freedom to live and freedom to die
freedom to laugh and freedom to cry.
Freedom to speak and freedom to listen
freedom to act based on a wise decision.

Freedom from hate and freedom of love
freedom of below and freedom of above.
Freedom of the past and freedom of the present
freedom of the future and what it can represent.

Freedom from war and freedom of peace
freedom to begin and freedom to cease.
Freedom from sickness and freedom of health
freedom from poverty and mishandled wealth.

Freedom from wrong and freedom being right
freedom of the day and freedom of the night.
Freedom to choose and freedom to reject
freedom to imagine what there is to expect.

Freedom from lust and freedom from greed
freedom from anger and freedom from breed.
Freedom from jealousy and freedom from pride
freedom from within and freedom from outside.
Freedom of always not having anything to hide.

Freedom from space and also freedom from time
freedom from attachment and freedom from crime
Freedom to work and freedom to play
freedom to believe and freedom to pray.
Freedom to experience a rebirth someday.

Freedom from the body and freedom from the mind
freedom from the ego and freedom from being blind.
Freedom of transcendence being of the spiritual kind.

Universal freedom is eternal and infinite bliss
we should all therefore be able to realise this.

George Krokos

The poem is about freedom from everything, not having any rules to follow, doing what you please, what makes you happy. Chris wanted to be free from everything! He wanted to be free he wanted to be alone. He didnt want to get to close to anybody, he didnt want to be with his family. To live a life without worries. Be on his own follow his own rules and live his life to the fulliest. To be free.


What Is The Value Of Money?

Money we all know is a medium of exchange
Buyers and sellers relate to each other through money
The question here is – what is the value of money?
Few say money is the root of all evil
Many say money is the root of prosperity
And how valuable is money
Almost everything is measured by money
People go to work everyday because of money
Wealth of individuals is measured by money
All purchases and transactions are made by money
Every country has a name for its own money
The importance of some countries
In based on the value of their money
What is the value of money?
The rise and fall of foreign exchange
Is used to measure the value of money
Success to many is also measured by money
Corporate positions are measured by money
There are some people who marry for money
What is the value of money?
To many, money is everything
You cannot get many things done without money
Many have pondered and contemplated to ask
Can human beings live without money?
Then, how shall we determine and decide
The prices of individuals and materials
Differences between the rich and the poor
Are calculated in monetary terms
The power bestowed by money
Seems bigger than imagined

Julius Babarinsa

The poem asks what the value of money is and to Chris money had no value because he even burned his money. He liked finding food on his own like berries. He didn't like to rely on money he liked working for things. Things getting difficult was more exciting to him. Having money makes things easier for him and he doesn't like that. He said in one of his letters to wayne " Sometimes I wish I had'nt meet you though. Tramping is too easy with all this money. My days were more exciting when I was penniless ans had to forage around for my next meal."