"I like to be a free spirit. Some don't like that, but that's the way I am." - Princess Diana

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

I Can Fly

Author's Note:  Some children grow up earlier than others do. Some experience more than others. In this narrative piece, I describe in full detail, the time I rode an airplane, alone. This is a District Writing Exam piece. Please enjoy!


I can't wait to see the world. I can't wait to be on my own. Maybe, just not yet. The experiences when I am young, all lead up to when I'm older. Like, flying on an airplane, alone. This is one of the experiences that happened when I was young that will help me be more independent when I am older. 

'Madeline Brielmaier' is the name that the flight attendant had on a sign when I walked in the airport. "That's me.", I said while rolling along my suitcase and my carry-on. I was flying back from Fort Walton, to Atlanta,  then to Milwaukee. I was on vacation with my aunt and cousins and I was flying home early for a volleyball tournament. Till this day I still don’t know why my parents let me fly home alone at the age of eleven, but it was something we all wanted me to do because the team needed me.

My first flight was delayed 2 hours because of a storm that was going over the south. I thought I wasn’t going to make it out of there. And I had reserved seating since I was a minor and I believed that would all get screwed up if they put me on another flight. “Were going to get you on a plane home, Madeline.”, the flight attendant said as she walked up to the crowd of people yelling at the man behind the counter, trying to figure this all out. She comes back about 5 minutes later and says “Follow me.”, with a smile on her face.

I finally got on a small plane that was going to Atlanta, GA. The biggest airport in the United States mind you not. I was really scared to be in there! The lady on the flight next to me asked me where I was going.  “Waukesha, WI”, I said as I look up at the woman. “Are you serious? I’m going there too!” she says with her jaw open. What are the odds? We were just talking for the rest of the flight about where we were from and where we are going. When my flight was over we said goodbye and the flight attendant took me off the plane and onto a golf cart.

Don’t you hate that feeling when you’re in an airport after a long day of traveling and you see that one person that gets to go in the golf cart that passes you by? Yes, that was me. To me that was the best part of that day. Riding around in a golf cart, picking up and dropping off people at different terminals was really fun! Remember, I was 11. It was a big deal.  When I was dropped off at my terminal it said “MILWAUKEE, WI DELTA AIRLINES” and all I thought about was, ‘Yes. I am going home. FINALLY!’ And I haven’t seen my immediate family in about 2 weeks and hey, I’ve got to say, I was homesick.

I was escorted by the pilot onto the plane and I was the first and last one on it. As I get to my seat it was about, 30 minutes till people started getting on. After about 10 minutes the airplane was packed! The last seat open was a spot next to me and in my mind I’m thinking “YES! I can sleep!”, but just as that thought raced through my mind. This big, scary man says “Excuse me.”, in a very harsh tone. Dang, I could have had it. The rest of the flight I was wrapped up into a blanket completely terrified of this man that was right next to me. At last, the plane comes to a stop. Everyone got out but me and I was escorted out of the plane and through the airport. I just wanted to run through it because it was about midnight and I knew my mom was on the other side of security. A lady in a suit coat takes my luggage and escorts me to my mom. I run up and give her a huge hug. I was even tearing up a bit but, I was so happy to see her. She took me home and I was reunited with my family once again.

Flying by myself was definitely an exciting journey and I really did enjoy it. It helped me be more confident when talking to people and helped be gain more independence as in individual. Also, it helped me realize that my parents and I will go to any extent to get me to a volleyball tournament. Oh, and one last thing. We won our volleyball tournament.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Ground Zero.

Author's Note:  The aniversery of 9/11/01 just happens and it had me thinking. How affected were the lives of the victims and loved ones?We all know the affect that 9/11 had on the people who lost loved ones. This hasn't happened to me so I'm just trying to figure out the emotions of those who have lost ones. This is not part of school work but I wanted to make a piece like this. Feedback is always appreciated!:)


“This may seem obsene but I keep living knowing I will see you soon. And I feel this way because life is a race and you have set the pace for now.”-Brittani Taylor

It is a beautiful Tuesday morning in September. I’m at home with a baby in my stomach that
could come out any minute. As I make coffee, I turn on the morning news and ask “Cream honey?”. “No, I’m already late!”, he says as he butters the toast out of the toaster.  This is my husband, my co-worker, and my bestfriend. We both work on floor 87 of the South Twin Tower and who knew on today, September 11th, 2001. That it would collapse.

“I love you!”, he says as he kisses me and the baby goodbye. “Call me right away if you feel as if today is the day, call Cathy to take you to the hospital and I’ll meet you there.” he exclaims as he grabs his briefcase. “Ohh I know the drill! Go, you’ll be late.”, I say as I hand him his coffee. He walked through the door. “I love you too.”, I say louder than normal as I put away the cream and sugar. It’s around 7 o’clock as I check my home desktop for work reports I can type on my computer that are sent from my boss. I feel like, today is the day. Today will be the day my life will change.

Its around 8:45 when I look up at the NYC morning news and see a plane hitting the North Twin Tower. Right as the plane hit the tower, I felt a kick in my stomach
I just stared in awe, thinking “Is my husband okay?”, “Why on earth did that happen?”, “That kick really hurt.” I look outside of my doorstep and can see the faint city and all of the smoke comming out of that tower. I took a shower and come back out in all clean clothes. And I look down and see that my water just broke. “O, God.” I think. I race to the phone to call my neighbor and great friend Cathy. “Cathy! My water just broke! and Daniel isn’t home!” I say and I grab my bag and cell phone. She races over and we get in her car. It is around 8:59 in the morning. I call Daniel, “Dan! Dan! My water just broke! Are you okay? Are you out of the tower?” I say as we race towards the city to the hospital. “Honey, I’m okay, me and the rest of the people on our floor are still in the building. We are going to leave as soon as possible. Honey! That is great! I’ll meet you at the hospital in te....nn...O.My....OH MY GOD. Rachel, I love you so very much tell our daughter I love her to..o....” he says as I look up at his tower. “NO! OH MY GOD NNO!” I say as I cover my mouth I watched my husband’s tower get hit and all I could see is him looking out of the window seeing that plane comming, and telling me he loved me one last time. All I hear is a ring-------on the phone. “Cathy...he’s dead.”

Grace Bennett was born on September 11, 2001.
Daniel Bennett died on September 11, 2001.

The police found parts of his body and identified that this was him.
I believe that is is all in God’s plan that Grace was born on that day and that I am left a widow from that day. But, why wasn’t it me in that tower instead of him.?
I join most of New York, grieving the dead. Since it was him and not me I will make the best life for our baby girl that I can.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Whom Can I Trust?



Author’s Note: Ahh when you smell that crisp fall air and see my summer tan fading, you know its school time. Welcome back everybody. I was going through some old work of mine that I never published from last year and found a few pieces I wanted to post. Now, I post pretty random stuff on here, stuff that isn’t even homework or part of this class. But frankly, I don’t care. I feel as if I can publish any work I have on here so on a sadder note. Here is a story I wrote last year about someone who figures out they were adopted. This person is stunned and angry because they have been lied to their whole life. Here is my first short piece of this school year. Have a great school year everyone.


Make it stop. Just make it stop.
I’m in a world surrounded with people
but not one I can trust.
I can’t imagine that anyone feels the way I do.
I’ve been lied to. This whole time.
This whole time, I didn’t know the truth.
The truth about the world that surrounds me.
The truth about me.

When you have heard nothing but lies your entire life, who can you trust? I just, don’t know anymore. Where are my parents? I may never know.