Writing Class

Here in the middle of Nowhere, the lazy cow grazes in the fields of alphalfa, with a faint smell of freshly mown, lush, green grass in the background. The lady in her sweatpants sits on a porch swing, listening to the sound of the breeze, with a cup of coffee in her hand, and a book in her lap. A leaf from an oak tree falls limply to the ground...while in the middle of Somewhere, a man in his business suit and tie is rushed for time. Driving down the expressway in his new little sports car, he smells the strong odor of machinery from the construction of a skyscraper, and the smell of burgers from all the restaurants.


by Kaitlyn Collins age 13 October 24, 2007

Bursting at the Seams

To my family and friends,

I am writing to you today to ask for your careful consideration of an issue that is extremely important to me. This is concerning the upcoming presidential elections. I know that many of you probably haven't even begun thinking about it yet, while others are toying with ideas, and still others are actively engaged in the process. Personally, I am just about bursting at the seams with excitement!

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I have been interested in politics ever since I was in college, when my American Government professor explained the platforms of the Democrats and Republicans. I thought, “Wow! I guess I'm a Republican!” And I felt like such a grown-up! Then life got busy: I finished nursing school, Dennis and I moved, we started having children, and the time flew by. I always voted. I always pondered the issues. I took my kids to the polls with me, so they would grow up to know that “it is important to vote”. I proudly wore my “I voted” sticker to work. I did my “duty”.

But things were beginning to change for me. I have always been fiercely pro-life. I once heard Dr. James Dobson say, “I will NEVER vote for a candidate that is not pro-life”, no matter what. And I wholeheartedly agreed with him. That was my first criteria for a candidate. But in the 2004 presidential election, as I reviewed the events of our time, and things that were directly effecting my family, I began to admit, “There's more to it than that.” Yes, I was still 100% pro-life, but after that, then what?

As I punched the cards at the voting booth, I began to feel like I was shirking my duty, somehow. But I shrugged it off. Those various issues...that's what the politicians are for...we vote them in, they deal with it! An occasional phone call or letter from me to my representative, telling them my views...that was all I could do, right? After all, I'm a busy wife, mother, nurse, teacher, treasurer, musician, editor, etc, etc. I pay my taxes, I'm a good citizen, I play by the rules, now leave me alone to live my life.

But as time goes by, I am realizing that I can't just “let them deal with it”. I must do more than I have in the past. I make no claims to be a scholar, but I HAVE been doing a lot of searching, listening, reading, and discussing in the past few months. I have a better understanding of why the current president makes the decisions he does. I have a better understanding of why the 2004 election was troubling to me. I have a better understanding of the role of the federal government (no offense to my college professor!). I have a better understanding of my role as an American citizen. Most importantly, I have a better understanding of what I am looking for in a Presidential candidate.

Here is my wish list. I want a president that is pro-life. I want a president that is honest. I want a president that is faithful to his wife and children. A man of integrity. A man who understands the principles our country was founded upon, and FOLLOWS those same principles. A man who understands the things that “regular” people go through. A man who is not power hungry, and who will not become corrupted by the power he gains as president. A man who will stand up for what he believes in, the platform he campaigned on, and the people who make up this country.

This is a big wish list. And, any other year, I would say, “yeah right.” But if one is wishing, why not wish big? Why not look for a candidate that meets one's expectations, instead of changing one's expectations to fit the candidate (which always means lowering the expectations).

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So, today, as I write to you, I urge you to make a wish list, whether mental, or on paper, of the characteristics you desire in the next American president. This year, the primaries are earlier than ever. The time to make your wishes known is now, because next November you will basically have two choices, and neither of those may be at the top of your list.

I stated earlier that I am practically bursting at the seams. This is because I have found a candidate that meets my criteria. Ron Paul, a congressman from Texas, is, in my opinion, the best candidate in many, many years. He is a medical doctor, OB-GYN, has delivered over 4,000 babies, and is pro-life 100% of the time. He is a man of integrity-he has never voted to increase taxes, and has never voted for a congressional pay increase. He is a strict Constitutionalist, and makes his decisions based on what the Constitution allows. He states he does not want to run our lives, he doesn't know HOW to run our lives, and the Constitution does not give him the AUTHORITY to run our lives.

He has been called the Taxpayer's Best Friend. As a congressman, he has introduced, or voted for, legislation that will directly effect my family: exempt waitresses “tips” from federal income taxes (Bethany); exempt social security benefits from fed. income taxes (my mom); $5,000 tax credit for EACH child for educational expenses (ALL families); eliminate the marriage penalty (Dennis & I). Notice these are all tax decreases...less money to the government, NOT money redistributed from other people.

I could go on and on. :) But, really, I just wanted to spend a few moments writing from my heart. If you are the least bit interested, you can read more at www.ontheissues.org or specifically for Dr. Paul, at www.ronpaul2008.com or www.ronpaullibrary.org . If you want to throw this in the trash, go right ahead (as if you need MY permission!). It won't bother me a bit. I do welcome comments, questions, and maybe even challenges. (zippymama@verizon.net)

The next couple of months will be an important time for our country. As the time draws near for the primary elections, hopefully each one of us will find someone to be excited about. If you haven't already, please take the time to check out the candidates. Find the person that will represent YOU...that will lead YOUR country... that will uphold YOUR Constitution. You might just feel YOUR seams beginning to stretch!!!

Ron Paul---Hope for America

Neighbors

Neighbors should be neighborly. Like ours.

Our neighbors have six kids. All sweet. All lovable. Well, except for Ryan. He's 12. So he's sweet and COOL.

These neighbors rank right up there next to my family. Dad (Randy) calls. "Hey, neighbor, this is your neighbor...YOU know...the guy with all the kids!" He asks to use the mower. He mows his grass. He returns the mower. He comes over the next day with oil, telling Dennis, "It was a LITTLE low." (It was fine.)

Mom (Julie) calls Emily "Em". Now...there's not a Much Better Thing you can do to warm my heart, than to call my kids by a little, casual nickname. It's sweet. SHE'S sweet. Julie just oozes sweetness. (But she's tough. She's a ranger at the Toledo Metroparks.)

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Ten-year old Randi (we call her Little Randi and Dad, MISTER Randy) came over last spring, and asked if she could do some work to earn money for the missionaries. I gave her instructions on what sticks to pick up, where to put them, etc., and told her I would pay her $3.00. She agreed.

I departed for the remainder of the day. The next afternoon, she came back, and as Dennis watched, I "inspected" her efforts, and went off to find $3.00. I returned, placed the folded bills in her bag, and away she went.

After she left, Dennis stammered, aghast, "I hope she did
a LOT OF WORK for $15.00!"
"I only paid her $3.00," I replied.
"Well, she said you were gonna pay her $15.00!" exclaimed my husband, who KNOWS I am a cheap-skate when it comes to paying the hired help.

(Remember the 10-cent drawer-cleaning task???)

I grabbed the phone, called Julie, and explained quickly, fearful of wounding Randi's feelings, and causing her eternal disappointment with neighborly relations. I know I told her $3.00! How could this mix-up have happened??? Julie died laughing. Randi was pulling Dennis' leg! A TEN year old!

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Eight-year-old Michael ambles over, jams his thumbs in his front pockets, and while hunching his shoulders, and sticking out his chin, asks, "Got any work I can do around here for cash?"

We assign him to Emily, and he assists with sorting her clothes by color.

Price: One dollar. Neighbors: Priceless

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We are being neighborly as well. Mister Randy does photography, and bought new equipment. So we gamely posed, while he experimented with his lights, cameras and props.

Neighbors can make or break your neighbhood. Ours is definitely MADE.