Personal Narrative: From Lethal Predators To Our Next Prey

At the age of nine, I watched my uncles lowering my father into the ground and what took his life was addiction. All my life I have watched addiction take over the lives of people, I love. My father's side of the family, besides my grandparents, has always faced addiction. Although, addiction runs through my blood, I will not take the same path I have watched people take all my life. I will be the one to end the cycle. Watching the majority of my family waste their life has motivated me to change the direction and better myself from living a life of addiction and misery.

Over my years of school, one big influence on me has always been sports. Ever since a young age, I have always enjoyed playing and watching sports. In my four years in high school, I have fell in love with the sport of lacrosse.

I woke up and took one bite out of my pop tart but that one bite was all I could eat. My legs were shaking, and my heart was pounding. My dad told me, “It is a true honor to even make it this far so go out there and have some fun.” Once I heard this statement, I knew I was ready to go. I arrived at school and boarded the bus. The car ride was an hour and fifteen minutes of hearing the squeaking of the wheel on the bus. My teammates were getting their heads ready for the big game.

It was record breaking temperatures on this July 4th day. Red, white, and blue filling up the stands. Fans and umbrellas protecting spectators from the heat of the sun. It was about game time and I was getting ready to take the field for the last home game. Butterflies in my stomach, but I had to tell myself “it’s just another game”. Even though in my heart I knew it was not just another game.

When I was young my Dad would always remind me of how important these years as a kid are. He would always say watch how you act as a kid, for it will set the stage for the rest of your life. So many people I know ruined their lives when they were kids. This small, yet so important statement runs through my mind everyday. I love how everyone says they don’t care what people think of them, but I wish they knew how important it is to have a good image. I am not perfect, but I would like to be close as possible. But as Salvador Dali said “Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it. “ The problem I see is everyone wanting to be someone that they are not. Sure, we all have our idols that we look

Go back to a time, when smart phones, and laptop were as thick history textbooks. To a time when a whole gallon of gas cost a little more than a dollar. The year is 1998 and in this year I was born. I was given to a very loving mother and father, that with their extraordinary love gave me the unextraordinary name of David. I grew up in the wonderful city of El Paso, Texas.

In one of my recent fellowship group meetings, we were studying Acts 16, and it was pointed out that Paul and Timothy kept going back to places, regardless of the rejection they often received. Their tireless efforts paid off handsomely, rewarding them with the salvation of many souls, for which they always gave thanks to God.

With just three weeks left in the NFL’s regular season, there are five teams with double digit wins all looking to secure home field advantage through the playoffs. There are also nine teams with sub .500 records that still have a shot at making the playoffs. Say what you will about the current playoff system, but the next three weeks should be thrilling and I am excited to see how it all plays out.

“So what does my failure at ‘Enemy Territory’, ‘Amorio’ and in the locker room have to do with us, Raab? The answer is in the word failure. At the rally, you couldn’t defeat Sally Talfourd and bring home the Vendetta Championship. Our shared inability to succeed in the moments we both desperately crave unites us.

I stumble out my one-night-stand’s apartment grasping on to the nearest railing for support. Sloppily, I buckle my belt and take a swig from my vodka bottle, stinging my throat with every drop. The bottle slips out of my hand crashing at my feet, almost in slow motion. I giggle hysterically and hobble down the steps. My brain is numb and filled with psychotic thoughts. I grab the car door handle and slump into the cushioned seat, nearly passing out, from a night of careless sex and non-stop alcohol can really put a load on a 5’6, skinny guy. Without thinking a grab my keys and start the car pulling out to the abandoned, dimly lit freeway. Everything was better at night.

The poem below is a byproduct of an early fall Friday morning spent relaxing outside of Hendershot's Coffee. While I sipped on my dark roast coffee, I witness many homeless gentlemen and women passing along on Prince Ave. After living in Augusta, Ga for ten years and participating in a church in the dead center of downtown, I was familiar with the homeless and usually never thought much into the subject. My mentality changed when a grey breaded man with his face tan from the long hours in the sun walked passed me. I had never experienced such a disclosure of sadness radiate off a human being. And as he swiftly escaped from my view, the name Tim resided in my mind from the name tag on the right breast pocket of his shirt. My poem The Evolution

I have found myself stranded. I am on an island and I do not know where I am or what happened. I must search the beach to find anything I can to aid me in my survival until someone finds me. As I walk along the beach, I see something floating in the water. I swim out to retrieve this item, it is a cast iron pot. I continue to walk along the sandy beach, and I stumble over something buried in the sand. It’s a tent, still in its original packaging. I decide to go inland a ways. Though I am terrified of what is in this forest, I must find a place to set up a camp. I find a clearing. It looks like someone has been here before. As I wonder what may have happened to that person, I see a sword sticking into a tree. That should come in handy. It is time so set up my camp, so I begin by reviewing the items I have found.

“Without patience, we will learn less in life, we will see less in life, we will feel less in life, we will hear less in life, ironically, more and more usually mean less.” ~ Mother Teresa

Trying new things have always intrigued me. From new foods, to exploring unfamiliar places, or to a new taste in music I’m always up for a new adventure. This is why I asked, “Why not?” when my friend requested that I listen to a new band called Why Don’t We.

It was cold, so dreadfully cold in the cozily furnished main room of a cabin once safe from danger. Now, safety was no longer an option and neither was surviving at this point in time.