Pearce 1 Dylan Pearce Bedell CAS138T 25 April 2014 Nonfiction Writing Challenging oneself with a unique style of sentence

structure can truly help a person begin thinking and writing on an entirely new level of intellect. Fortunately, there are countless styles for everyone to try- ranging from William Shakespeares unrhymed iambic pentameter to Gertrude Steins nonlinear, repetitive approach. Overtime, all individuals are capable of finding a technique that flows well for them and when that moment of success finally occurs, literary possibilities become endless. Expanding horizons in writing is like expanding horizons in life. Consequently, after attempting many new writing styles, that moment when one just clicks and feels right for you is a moment that will never be forgotten because of pure relief. As it turns out, the most memorable moments in your life all occur in this same fashion- when your most intense emotions are manifested. Those times when youre so thrilled with excitement, or so overwhelmed with embarrassment, or so debilitated with sorrow- those will be the times that stand out in your mind for as long as you live. Keeping these notions in mind, I have created a piece that recalls some of the most memorable moments of my life, written in a brand new literary style for me. After challenging myself with a sentence structure that involves beginning each sentence with the word that concluded the previous one, I can truly say that my writing skills have been expanded. Despite

Pearce 2 this hurdle of bizarre sentence structure that makes expression so difficult, each vignette in this series- Six Flags, Walt Disney World, and The Waiting Room- vividly illustrates the strongest emotions that I have ever felt, on the days that I will never forget. Six Flags A very significant day in my life was the day that I finally faced my fear of roller coasters. Rollers coasters are the central reason for attending Six Flags Great Adventure, which is exactly where my friends wanted to take a trip before we all left for college. College was right over the horizon at the end of August and I didnt want to miss an exciting last adventure with those guys. Guys are not supposed to miss a great opportunity because they are afraid of some heights and a few flips. Flipping and turning during the three hour car ride to Six Flags, I wasnt sure if my stomach could bear my decision to go on the biggest roller coasters in the universe. Universally, people proclaim amusement parks are the best thing since sliced bread; man, were they right. Right to the very top of rides like Nitro and Bizarro, my heart would race with excitement and I would scream with joy. Joyfully, I would exit each ride and discuss the best aspects of the two minute journey with my friends over some chicken fingers. Fingers and feet tapping on line with anticipation, we made it onto every coaster in the park before closing time. Time seemed to fly during the twelve hours that we were there because I had so much fun on the rides. Riding the roller coasters is what I showed my brother on YouTube when I arrived home because he was in disbelief that I could show such courage. Courage lacking should never stop a person from trying new things and having great experiences with friends. Friends are the people I can thank for introducing me to one of my new favorite places in the world- Six Flags Great Adventure.

Pearce 3 Walt Disney World When I was six years old my family and I packed our bags for a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida- the happiest place in the universe. Universally, family vacations are occasions when loved ones spend time together and enjoy one anothers company, but my family did not get to experience this luxury too often. Often times its difficult for divorced parents to team up and travel across the country during their time off from work, but my mother and father were ready to make an exception for their three kids on one special week. Week by week, Id sit in my first grade class, staring out the window and dreaming of Disney World. The Disney World trip, as it turned out, was not worth dreaming over and was actually the biggest disappointment in all my six years- a week of pure humiliation. Humiliation began before we even arrived at the airport. Airports and airplanes were entirely new experiences for me and for a six year old boy thats scared of heights, motion sickness, and sitting still, they made me more anxious than a teenager taking a road test for the first time. Time and time again, my brother would harass me for my fear of flying. Flying was the last thing I wanted to do when we finally boarded the plane; my stomach felt like it was on the verge of explosion. Exploding with speed, the plane lifted its wheels off the track and ascended into the clouds. Clouded by nervousness, the most memorable event in my familys history occurred- I turned to my father and, without a single word escaping my mouth, vomited all over his body. Bodies from all directions soon turned and looked at the chaotic scene with disgusted faces. Faces cringed and jaws dropped even further the second and third times I erupted onto my father. My father finally received a bag from a flight attendant after the third strike, but even that

Pearce 4 couldnt save him because I missed the bag entirely. Entirely out of options and dignity, my father literally stood up on the plane with all eyes staring and shouted, I dont know what the fudge to do anymore! but didnt actually use the gentle fudge euphemism. Euphemisms would have been much appreciated for the names my brother called me after changing my clothes in the airplane bathroom. In the bathroom, I was faced with an impossible decision between staying in vomit-covered pants and changing into the only extra articles of clothing in carryon luggage- a huge JetBlue t-shirt and my mothers underwear. My mothers underwear, accompanied by that giant shirt, is what I sat in for the remainder of the flight and what I walked in as my family progressed through the Floridian airport terminal. If terminal embarrassment existed, then I would be dangerously close to obtaining it after those horrific few hours. Hours later, my family discovered that my vomiting was not only caused by uncontrollable nerves; evidently, my stomach virus from two weeks prior had returned. Returning time and time again to the hotel bathroom, my riding-buddy on the plane- my father- was becoming sicker and sicker. Sickness was then epitomized by his antics in Walt Disney World the following day. Day-long pain is what my father was encountering, so he decided to curl up on a park bench in the fetal position, while the rest of the family tried to enjoy meeting Mickey Mouse, eating cheeseburgers, and going on rides that were offered to Disneys visitors. Visitors walking past my father thought he was homeless and Im confident some even offered him money because he looked so miserable. Miserably poor karma is what my father must possess because it seemed that he was being punished for comforting me during my first nerve-wracking experience on a plane. Plain and simple, my father had never been more embarrassed than that interminable day on a bench in Walt Disney World.

Pearce 5 The world can be a cruel place at times and no story proves it better than my familys long-awaited trip to Florida when I was six years old. Older now and looking back on that week, I can still say that the Disney trip was the most shameful experience in my life and probably in my familys history together. The Waiting Room When I woke up on January 10, 2010 I had no clue that the outcome of the day would change my life forever. Forever and always there was one solitary person that had been my chef in times of hunger, my rock in times of sadness, my partner in times of play, and my best friend day in and day out- my grandmother. My grandmother had been my caregiver every day, from the end of my short school day until the end of my mothers long work day, and the thought of losing her had haunted me since 2009. Since 2009, she had been diagnosed with cancer but the future still looked positive after various doctors treatments. Treatments had apparently not done enough because I lost my grandmother forever on that miserable January day; a day whose details I can recall like no other. Other than waking up at the crack of dawn for a track meet, I was experiencing a relatively average morning. Morning came and passed, as I sat for hours on end waiting to leave the congested indoor facility where the meet had been held. I held in my hand a bright, gold medal for winning my race and couldnt wait to go home to show it off to my mother. My mothers voice, however, did not sound like it was willing to be interrupted for such exciting news when I called her for a ride home at the conclusion of the meet. Meet Derek in the parking lot was all I could discern from the preoccupied voice; that fearful gut feeling quickly kicked in because my brother was never the one being sent to pick me up.

Pearce 6 Up the road, I watched my brothers car fly up to me. As I got into the passenger seat, I looked at Derek and his face was holding a very grave look. Looking me square in the eye he said, This is hard to say buddy, but grandma went into cardiac arrest a few hours ago and is in the ICU. Mom didnt say much else, but I think we should both be prepared to see anything in a few minutes when we get to the hospital. Hospitals have always scared me to begin with, and the thoughts racing through my head during that interminable drive to the one my grandma was located in definitely did not help matters. Matter of fact, the sight I was forced to look at when I walked into my grandmothers section of the ICU was worse than I couldve imagined. Imagine a four foot, five inch cute old lady, who never stopped smiling a day in her life, curled up on a short white bed without even the slightest facial expression. Expressing my concern, I tried asking my grandmother if she could hear me, just hoping for the littlest movement of a finger to indicate that she knew I was there supporting her. Her only movements, however, came from her chest where countless wires were hooked up to countless machines that forced her to breathe. Breathing heavily in the waiting room, after being asked to leave the ICU, my family and I eagerly waited for a doctor to walk through the sliding doors with an update. Up to date with everything related to music as always, my sister turned toward me and quietly said, This [situation] reminds me exactly of the song What Sarah Said. What Sarah Said, by Death Cab for Cutie, is what then filled my ears when I decided to take a lonely walk around the dark perimeter of the hospitals parking lot. Lots and lots of similarities between the singers situation and my own situation made me instantly depressed. Depressing lyrics like because theres no comfort in the waiting room; just nervous pacers bracing for bad news flowed through my headphones and by the conclusion of the six-minute song, my face was dripping. Dripping face, bloodshot eyes, and head down, I must have lapped that building for two hours with my finger

Pearce 7 constantly tapping the button under What Sarah said that spelled out replay. Replaying all of the great memories Ive developed with my grandmother over the years- playing waffle ball on the front lawn, setting up army men on the living room carpet, and reading countless books on the kitchen table- made those couple of hours the most reminiscent of my life. Lifes worst moments come when youre told that somebody you care for is permanently taken away- a fact that I soon came to grips with when I walked back into the hospital, to the ICU upstairs. Upwards of four years later, I can still remember every single moment that occurred on January 10, 2010 because it was the most difficult day Ive ever been faced with.