◇ Ｈ Ｉ Ｓ Ｔ Ｏ Ｒ ＹSunrise and DonutsWhen Bailey was little and all the way through her teenage years, it was a family
tradition for her father to take her on a camping trip. Before the trip started
they would sit at the kitchen table with a pen and notebook page, and map out
their journey. A little differently than most people would, I might add. They
would be joined by her mother, and each person would take turns one at a time
writing down 'left' or 'right'. (Of course the first few steps had to be made before
hand, otherwise they might never make it out of the neighborhood) Next to the
turn they would put a number, indicating the number of miles before the turn. The
maximum number of miles for the entire trip was typically around 600, and this
time was no different.
Bailey and her father loaded the family car, saying their goodbyes to mother. Bailey
offered to drive the first half, if her father would take the latter, and drive through
the night.He agreed, and off they went. 9 hours later, Bailey cracked her eyes to
look out the window, her sight blurry from sleep. It was barely getting light out. They
were at a drive through of some sort, she couldn't quite open her eyes enough to
make it out. As they were pulling away, her father placed a small pink box in her lap.
"Surprise," he whispered, just as they went over a hill. There, lying vast in front of them
was the ocean. Bailey gasped. Ever since she was small she had dreamed of going
to the ocean. "Donuts on the seawall?" Her father asked, pulling into a parking spot
against a short stone wall. "Well I'll be..." Bailey whispered. "I can't believe after all
this time this is the first time our directions have gotten us to the ocean." She laughed.
As the sun rose above the sparkling water, Bailey and her father shared what would be
their very last trip together before her father passed away just before Christmas.
She never forgot that morning, the sweetness of fresh warm donuts, the chilled milk
and the salty air brushing through her hair. A memory to hold on to, for the rest
of her days.
◇ Ｍ Ｉ Ｎ Ｉ Ｉ Ｎ Ｔ Ｅ Ｒ Ｖ Ｉ Ｅ ＷQ: "What words or phrases do you overuse?"
A: I tend to use "well I'll be" far too often! Its something my grandma used to say.
"Are you more optimistic or pessimistic?"
A: I like to think of myself as an optimist, though admittedly I do occasionally have
pessimistic thoughts about some things.
"Are you introverted or extroverted?"
A: I always tell people I'm extroverted, but in all reality when choosing between
going out with friends and staying home completely alone I will always choose
the latter. Or even going on a road trip and going camping completely alone,
anything that doesn't include other people -- I'm down.
"What bad habits do you have?"
A: I have quite the nasty habit of grinding my teeth when I get anxious. It's
terrible and I know it is, but I can never seem to stop.
"How do you see yourself?"
A: I see myself as someone who gets along with everyone, who want the
people around me to be happy and who enjoys the little things in life.
"How do you hope you are seen by others?"
A: I hope that I am seen the way that I see myself, and I hope that others
think of me as someone they can come to when times get tough. Because
I always want to be there for people.
"Strongest character trait?"
A: My ability to push through, no matter the circumstances.
"Weakest character trait?"
A: I do tend to be pretty stubborn and hard headed at times. If I
feel that I am right and what I am doing is right, I will fight you until
proven otherwise. Because if you can't prove I'm wrong, don't tell me that
I am. Thank you, next.
"If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?"
A: I really don't think I have anything to change. I believe that people
are who they are because of their history, and because of their flaws and
mistakes. And changing something about myself would change my person
as a whole.
"What is your obsession?"
A: I always have been and always will be obsessed with music. I've
never been musical myself, I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but
being in and around music makes me the happiest of anything on the earth.
