In a Beautiful Place

Freshman year. I hated Romeo and Juliet. They were whiny and over-dramatic, in the span of 24 hours they decided they couldn't live without the other. Reading it was just as tedious; Shakespeare made up words! Why do you think I’d understand what’s going on? Despite the fact that I hated the play, you challenged me to think about it. I spent so many hours in front of my home computer that week, typing and re-typing sentences, trying like hell to make sure you wouldn’t write “awkward” above a phrase I wrote. My other papers that year were fine and all, but handing in my Romeo and Juliet essay was like crossing a finish line in a cross-country race. Getting it back was like a siren call. The next year, you used my essay as the example for the next freshman class to read. You can’t imagine how thrilled I was when you were my teacher again junior year. I read satire and Andy Borowitz, learned that being the early bird really is about getting all the worms; I...

I’m from hard-working and loyal; I’m from single mother and college graduate, walking across the stage for her daughter, from proud and strong and independent. I’m from grandparents, aunts, uncles, bathtubs, beautiful pictures, infectious smiles; I’m from white picket fences and green backyards, full of ducks, and overflowing creeks that make my boots soggy and the puddle-jumping exciting, from stale bread and laughter and constant video cameras. I’m from obnoxious toy guitars and Barbie dolls, from toy cars I refused were “for boys,” and Emeril live on weeknights, even when my mom should have told me it was time for bed.  I’m from Dr. Seuss and fairy tales with happy endings, from princess gowns and movies and dolls, from dreaming and believing. I’m from soccer games and competition, from running until my lungs give up, from challenging and even sometimes winning.  I’m from 80’s rock music and Bon Jovi, from Charlie Parker and swin...