Forget The Money

          What could be done in the time life allows if money were no object? People get so caught up in making a living that requires money that they forget to live. The time allowed by life should be spent doing what one enjoys, rather than mindless work that is not satisfying. Robert Frost’s poem “After Apple Picking” brings a version of this question to mind. The poem uses the apples that the subject did not pick to represent the regrets left behind in life while distracted by a menial task. Through the use of his metaphors, Frost conveys a message of the end of life approaching and the regrets left behind to haunt afterwards.

            Frost’s metaphors leave the feeling of the conclusion of life nearing. Frost states, “It melted, and I let it fall and break” (L 13). The melting is slow and represents the long time life gave to accomplish set goals. When he states that he let it fall and break, that is the end death brings after the melting, or time, has passed. Death comes after time has been given and melted away possibly leaving behind regrets of goals that were not accomplished in that time.

            Frost’s metaphors continue to leave that concluding feeling, but darker in the end of the poem. In his poem Frost states, “his / Long sleep, as I describe its coming on, / Or just some human sleep” (L 39-41). Laying down at night for rest is the simple human sleep. After the long days life brings, one can become exhausted and fall into a deep sleep. The long sleep that Frost refers to is the lengthy slumber of death. The long sleep is complete rest from the menial tasks of life that distract from important goals.

            Frost’s message of life ending and not leaving regrets to linger is conveyed through the use of his metaphors. Life should not be spent on a repetitive task that does not bring about satisfaction, even when you are completely burned out. People waste their life in a sense and teach proceeding generations to do the same. This cycle needs to be broken. A short life of doing what brings joy is much better than a long life doing what brings about misery and no satisfaction. If I had my choice of anything, I would like to live in one of the many National Parks. I could not see myself as one of those extreme tree huggers, but I do want to help protect the only land safe to remain in its natural state unharmed by mining, loggers, and hunters. I realized just how important these areas of our nation are to me while watching a presidential debate turn to the subject of their future. When one candidate supported opening them up to oil drilling I did not warm up to that idea one bit.  If I could live in the parks, I could speak on behalf of them with more force. I have always loved camping and have gone with my family my whole life. Nature is what brings my joy in life. The conservation and protection of these sacred pure lands is a very important topic to me personally, and is one of the few issues I will speak out against without hesitation. 

Maybe We Should Not Have

         If I could change one thing I did in my life, it would be the outcome of that football game in the house. My mom told my brother and I to stop playing in the house and go outside with our energy. She went down to the basement to do laundry, and was not around to keep yelling at us, so we continued. I’m not exactly the lightest person, so when I fall, it can be heard downstairs. The floor shakes a bit. Mom starts yelling at us again, but we do not care, we are young kids and she is not in front of us. Football continues even in the worst of conditions. I decided to run as fast as I could around my brother, and he pushed me. Although I am much bigger, I lost my footing on the carpet and slid into a coffee table. Sitting on that coffee table were those faceless figurines that creep most people out, me included. It turned out that even though they are wood, if they are hit hard enough, they did break. Now there are no more faceless people to make fun of, and I miss them. My mom really did not care as much as most would think. My dad and I are the only ones who miss those faceless creeps because we could make fun of them and people that came over found it funny. I am really upset with the absence of them, but playing football in the house was totally worth it.

"Let Me Out!"

Camping is what I love to do. I like to be outside doing anything other than sitting in the house. While I am camping, I am outdoors all day long. I usually stay out until I am too tired to move at all. During the daytime, I am either carving something in wood, exploring the woods, or playing basketball or football. I will stay out longer than usual at night while out at the campground, even if it is raining. I do not care if I get soaked and cold. Entertainment is usually provided every Friday and Saturday night, but since I last longer than the activities, I have to find my own. Sneaking around through the woods to the back of random peoples’ campsites is high on my list of favorites. People are much friendlier and know how to take a joke better out there. I have actually made many friends by this method. They think it is pretty cool and already have a good idea that I am a fun person. I feel I am a much different and happier person while at the campground. It is my “happy place” and I try not to worry about a thing.

I Believe in Better Days...

        I have a special tie to country music. It is what I grew up with. It tells reasonable life stories, and most people do not appreciate it, which means I do. It is not all depressing as many label it. That is a false stereotype. Country music has evolved over time to include ALL types of music and their elements, not just depressing guitar strumming love songs. If anybody feels the need to argue with me about my music, I’m willing and ready to support it! That’s how strongly I feel about it. 

         For the sake of time and words, Big & Rich is one of my favorite bands. There is one particular song of theirs that is currently my favorite. “That’s Why I Pray” is a song about the problems and corruption of today’s society. The song lists many issues we face daily including neighbors losing their houses because they can’t find jobs, stupid media found on the internet ruining ones reputation, the lack of stable family environments, and religious disagreements. The song eventually offers hope that we can all make a difference by doing our own small part and letting go of the past to better days to come. The main point is that the belief that better days are out there and are very possible should be kept. Usually, when a new song comes out, it takes me a while to warm up to it, if I haven’t already labeled it as annoying. This song was quite different. It grew on me instantly, most likely due to the message it contained. 

I do not understand the video completely, but the song itself is great.