Jerome Tribune

FamilyLife Interview

Gloria from Modern Family

 Gloria's thoughts and advice on the common family gathering.

FamilyLife:  We’ve all been in the boat of family gatherings, and you’re no exception.  What are yours like?

Gloria:  Well, a little bit of background information… My family is crazy. *Laughs*  I know that there are families out there who think they’ve got it all together, but seriously, get real people, we all have our family issues!  Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t be opposed to having a family with NO problems, but I know that it’s not a realistic life.  At MY family gatherings, there are so many things that go on that I could honestly write a book about it.  Things go in so many different directions that I don’t know whether or not I’m coming or going at some points.

FamilyLife:  It sounds like you have quite an eventful time when you’re all together.  Tell me about some of the things that go on at your family gatherings… Secrets, if you will.

Gloria:  If I tell you… I’m going to have to kill you. No, just kidding.  I guess one of our quirks is the fact that we actually kind of like to spend time together and have the time to talk about things, unlike a lot of other families that I know.  It’s probably weird to a lot of people, actually.  There is just something about that feeling of togetherness that warms the heart, and I love that.  We are also the type of people that like to have fun, so the food and drinks that are involved definitely make the experience more enjoyable. 

"There is just something about that

feeling of togetherness that

warms the heart, and I love that."

FamilyLife:  People are always talking about how they dread family gatherings.  You don’t seem to be the type of person that would feel trapped at them.

Gloria:  I understand where people are coming from when they say that they don’t like them.  Me on the other hand, I just try and make the best of my limited time we all have together.  It only happens once in a while, so I always try and have a positive attitude toward it… Even when there may be minor arguments going on in the background.

FamilyLife:  So you’re saying that you’ve never had an experience that would have completely ruined family gatherings for you?

Gloria:  Ohh, trust me, there have been times when disputes have almost pushed me over the edge.  I think the reason I have never let it ruin family gatherings for me is because I know that they are just petty things, and in the end we’re all family.  A wise man once said, “Don’t sweat the petty things, and don’t pet the sweaty things”.

FamilyLife:  That is great advice!  I can tell that you genuinely enjoy being around your family.  I want you to know that there are a select group of people who are that way.  Do any of your disputes cause long term periods of time where you don’t talk to someone in your family?

Gloria:  There have been times where people in my family have said the wrong thing at the wrong time and I couldn’t even imagine where they got the idea that it was okay.  It made my blood boil and thinking about it more and more me want to freak out.  It’s one of those things that happen, though, and after enough time I got over it.

Family Life:  Even celebs have family issues that have to be resolved to make their family gatherings enjoyable and bearable, contrary to what we may believe.  Do you have any more tips for those people out there who cannot stand them? 

Gloria:  I guess I would just say that people need to make the most of it because your family is the only people that are there for you through thick and thin.  It’s not worth ruining that unique relationship you have with your family just because you don’t agree on everything.  So, enjoy family gatherings as much as you can and don’t take them for granted!

FamilyLife:  That is wonderful advice.  Thank you so much for sharing with us and taking the time to do this interview.

Gloria:  You are very welcome, and thank you for having me.

Togetherness.

The Jefferson Family
10895 Coral Shores Dr
Jacksonville, FL 32256-2114


November 27, 2011


Dear Family and Friends,


     As you all know, the holidays are in full swing and we are planning our annual get-together! Before I give any more details on the party, I just wanted to fill you all in on what has been going on around here.  I am still hard at work in my bakery.  Things have really started to take off this year, and I'm selling more and more every day... But I can't complain.  Matt is always busy with his traveling for work and his newly discovered hobby of golf, which he also does on his business trips.  Both of us are well and plan on taking a much needed vacation in the near future to somewhere tropical.  Jessie is involved in more than I can even keep track of and is always doing homework, practicing something, planning, hanging out with her friends, or texting... All the typical things for a girl her age.  She has also started helping out at the bakery when she has free time. It's great!  And just like every other high school girl, boys and getting out of the house are always on her mind.  Nate is loving sixth grade and is becoming very interested in science.  Who ever knew that we would have a scientist in our family?  He has also just recently started playing basketball, and it's so much fun to watch him.  He is quite the little athlete.  And I could never forget about our little ball of fire, Elise.  As always, she's a diva, but she also has started to find an interest in helping me out at the bakery.  She's fabulous help.  We have also enrolled her in dance classes, which she loves.  The kids are always keeping us on our toes... But, hey, we need it!
     Although we are always on the move, I love finding the time to share our recent happenings and invite you to our home for a rendezvous!  Just like every year, it will be the weekend before the kids get out for Winter Break, and this year, it falls on December 17th.  We will have all kinds of yummy food and drinks to get us all into the Holiday Cheer we have all come to love.  We hope to see all of you there and look forward to hearing from you whether or not you will be able to make it.  It would be greatly appreciated if you would let us know if you will be there so we can plan the food accordingly.  We can't wait!


Cheers,
Matt, Aubrey, Jessie, Nate, and Elise




**It took a lot of thinking about where I would place this piece in my Multi Genre Project, and also the perspective I would be taking.  I chose to do this piece from an extended family member who is inviting the girl who will eventually come to terms with the fact that family gatherings are like hell on earth.  I found that this piece would fit well at the beginning of my project because I want it to gradually continue to uncover the dirty secrets behind these shindigs.  I also want this girl to realize that families share way too much information about one another than they really should, so that's why I wrote this letter in the same way people send out their mass holiday greetings.**

A Unique View

Ruby Pauli
"Baraka" in her mind and eyes.

FilmReview: You told me that you have recently watched the film "Baraka" What was your first impression of it?
Ruby: Well, to be completely honest, I thought it was a little out there and I didn't really know what to think of it.  I was told that it was a series of pictures and music that kind of show what a multi-genre project is like. As we got further into the movie, though, I started to comprehend it more. 
FilmReview: As you watched it did you have feelings that were unfamiliar to you?
Ruby: There were parts of the movie that made me feel really confused because of the order they were shown, but it started to make more sense as it progressed. It was also kind of hard to grasp the fact that everyone sees it in a different perspective.  Another thing that I didn't really expect were the strong feelings I got of disappointment in mankind and also the inhumane treatment of animals.  It made me feel extremely sick.
FilmReview: Those are common responses I have heard from other people.  What made you appreciate the world you live in?
Ruby: So many people in the world live in such drastically different environments than the one I live in and are happy with the place they are, and that is so amazing to me.  These are the people who are living in grass huts and have to walk for miles just to get water, but they seem to be content.  I think they are that way because they have never known anything other than their way of life.  It is interesting that people who live in developed countries take their possessions and lives for granted, but people who have virtually nothing can be perfectly content.
FilmReview: That's very true.  What was the worst part of the movie in your mind?
Ruby: The most atrocious part of the movie was when the man was on guiding a full cart by donkeys. It was bad enough that the donkeys were pulling as much weight as they were, but on top of that they were emaciated and the one on the left looked as though it had a broken back leg.  The man just kept making them go and it was very hard for me to watch. The vivid image still sticks in my mind and plays over and over again.  Another part that I found very disturbing was the chicks that were being hucked down a tube like they were stuffed animals getting dropped by the claw machines. Then getting their beaks burned so they wouldn't peck when they were lined up in rows upon rows to mass produce eggs.
FilmReview: The movie was basically broken into three different sections. Do you think the director put these images into an understandable order?
Ruby:  I wish they would have started out with the ancient ruins first instead of showing the primitive societies, but the images that were within the sections fit really well in my opinion. It was pretty easy to follow once I got past the fact that I could interpret it the way I wanted to.
FilmReview: Yes, it was different to see a film that allows you to interpert things the way you want to.  What else about this movie changed the way you think?
Ruby: Even though I have never really experienced or seen cultures that worship and live the way many of the ones "Baraka" showed, it kind of helped me gain more perspective on what it is all about.  Living in a technologically advanced culture unlike the people this film shows who follow tradition that their ancestors have passed down for many generations is extremely enlightening.
FilmReview: Looking at their culture.. Do you think there is a reason they have kept their traditions rather than becoming more advanced?

"... The people this film shows who follow tradition

that their ancestors have passed down for

many generations."              

Ruby: I think they have stuck to the way they know because the world can be such a cruel place and once people start getting greedy, it spreads like wildfire.  Another reason they probably stick to tradition is because of their way of life being so tribal and thier environment having no technological influence. 
FilmReview: You seem to have a lot of deep thoughts and emotions about this film. What message would you tell people it sends to its viewers?
Ruby: From my experiences, I viewed the movie as things poeple don't think about in as much detail as they could.  Life is a beautiful thing, and the world is a beautiful place.  We need to take care of each other and the planet we live on because there is only one unique copy of everyone and everthing, and only one planet to share between us all.  I want people to also realize that this movie can send so many different messages and whatever they get out of it is also completely correct, so interperet it how you want to and gain some insight on worldly issues. 
FilmReview: Thank you for your time and opinions on the movie! It was great to sit down and talk with you.
Ruby: It was my pleasure! Thank you for having me.

The Waiting Room Silence

     We sat in silence for exactly two minutes and thirty-six seconds.  The only reason I know this is because I was watching the clock for that entire length of time.  Suddenly, the doors into the waiting room flew open.  We had been waiting to see what had happened to Jonah for the past two and a half hours, but the last fifteen minutes had seemed like an eternity compared to the rest of it.  When the nurse had come out to tell us the doctor would be out to talk with us shortly, the time slowed.  During that time I had noticed many things about the room I was finding myself in, but it wasn't necessarily my surroundings, but rather the people.  Some of them may be waiting to welcome babies into the world or others waiting for a loved one to come out of surgery.  Kegan and I on the other hand, were sitting to find out if Jonah's accident had ended worse than anyone would have ever intended.
     "Are you Jonah's friends?" The tall, black doctor wearing a white lab coat and blue scrubs asked us in a calm tone.
     "Yes!"  We said in unison practically jumping out of our seats when he asked. 
     "He is okay for now but his kidneys aren't functioning like they should be since the car was on top of them for that length of time.  He explained to us while we sat there in dismay by what had happened.
     They had been at a party at the lake and Jonah disappeared, but no one had seen where he went.  Kegan and I were just at the party to socialize and have a way to spend our Saturday night.  All of our friends were there, so we decided it would be fun to just go and hang out.  When Jonah had gone we went to look for him and saw that missing from the enormous abundance of vehicles was his SUV.  Since neither Kegan or I had been drinking, we headed back to town to see where Jonah gone. 
     The black sky filled with brilliant stars that composed the constellations perfectly was lit up by the full moon.  Heading back to town I could see the fields of green being highlighted by the light radiating from the moon.  The headlights of Keagan's car shone brightly on the road and suddenly a moment of horror came over me.  I saw a car on its top laying in the barrow pit.
     "STOP! STOP! STOOOOP!" I yelled grabbing for the door handle so I could get out, and right then all my emotions came over me and I immediately started to cry when I saw that it was Jonah's car.
     "CALL 911!" I screamed to Kegan.  All I remember after that was seeing flashing lights, shattered glass all over the pavement, and the fire crew using the jaws of life to get Jonah out.  I know there was more, but maybe blocking it out is my way of staying semi-sane, and now we're sitting here talking to the doctor in this white washed room with generic hospital posters and sitting in chairs that looked like they had been here much too long.
    "They are to the point where he is going to need a transplant." The doctor told us referring to Jonah's kidneys. 
     "I am going to give you two some time to take this all in." He said and then walked back through the doors back into the world of
     Kegan and I just sat there looking at each other in complete shock.  Neither of us knew what to do and since Jonah's parents were on vacation we felt like we had to be there for him until they could get a plane back home.  Jonah, Kegan, and I had been friends since we were freshmen and I had never seen either of them cry, but we had never really been in a situation together that would lead to that.  As we were sitting there I could see the rears swelling in his eyes and it made me break down even more than I already had been.  
     I knew sitting there and doing nothing was not the kind of person I am and I started thinking of all the things I could possibly to for Jonah.  As I was sitting there I was examining Kegan's aqua blue eyes and structured face I knew exactly what I was going to do.
     "Kegan, I think I am going to do the test to see if Jonah and I are a match."  I said grabbing his hand as he looked at me in a confused manner. 
     "I know it sounds crazy, but I would do anything for you two.  I have two healthy kidneys and he obviously is losing the function in both of his. I have to do it." 
     "Okay, well..." Kegan paused, "if you're doing it, then so am I." He told me pulling me out of my chair and hugging me.
     We went to the receptionist and asked her if she could call the doctor back.  When he came back out, it would be a life changing moment, not only for Jonah, but possibly one of us.  We were waiting for the doctor again and deep down, I hoped it was me that would be a match because Kegan played sports all the time and I didn't want him to lose that in his life. 
     "Hello kids, I was told you wanted to talk to me again," the doctor said to us as he pulled up a chair and sat in front of us.
     "We want to have the test done to see if we are a match for Jonah." I told him as I looked over at Kegan who was smiling because he knew that us doing this for Jonah was perhaps going to save his life.  The doctor explained the procedure to us and we both knew it was exactly what we needed to do. 
    The next morning we both took the test right away so we could get the transplant in motion immediately if one of us did match.  It was a lot scarier than I ever would have thought, but Jonah is my best friend and the thought of losing him makes my life feel as though it would be incomplete. 
     The doctor told us he would continue to be stable until we found out the results of the tests.  Waiting to know was the most nerve wracking time of my life and finding out that I had been a match was the greatest news I had ever received.  Saving my best friends life was nothing short of a miracle. 
  

Moonlight Love♥

They swayed lovingly muttering absolutely beautiful words to each other while dancing gracefully under the moon brightly lighting up the night sky.  Pheobe and Xavier were on the roof of one of the tallest buildings in Chicago celebrating being together for 3 years.  In the middle of the roof-top deck was a table for two.  Rose petals, tea lites, and a rose bouquet were all strategically placed to make room for the dinner that Xavier had prepared for the special occasion.  In his planning, he had made sure that everything would match perfectly.  Adding to the romantic setting were twinkling lights that lined the perimeter of the deck. 

"Wow, I can't believe you did all of this yourself!"  Pheobe said to Xavier as he pulled the chair out for her so they could enjoy the magnificent meal he had prepared.  On the simple red plates was a succulent chicken breast stuffed with pesto, cheese, and spinach.  Also on the plate were potatoes with an aroma that made Pheobe's tongue water, mixed vegetables, and a simple pasta.

"I was nervous that it wasn't going to turn out the way I had planned, but everything worked out."  Xavier smiled as he bent down and kissed Pheobe on the forehead and pushed her chair in.

"You did perfectly! I had no idea you were going to do something so elaborate. I wouldn't want to spend this night any other way."

"I wanted everything to be perfect because you deserve that and so much more.  Now, tell me what you think of the food."  Xavier urged Pheobe to taste test the food he had spent much time planning and preparing over the past week.  She willingly and excitedly took the first bit of the chicken.

"This is FABULOUS! I had no idea you could cook so well, babe."  She complimented him.

"It wasn't actually that hard."  He paused, "surprisingly!"

Pheobe continued to enjoy the wonderful food her boyfriend had prepared for her.  Xavier also enjoyed the food, but could not keep his eyes of Pheobe, as usual.  Her long, dirty blonde hair that complemented her bright green eyes lured him in.  Even though it was a normal circumstance, he knew one of the main reasons he could not keep his eyes off of her tonight was because of what was coming next.  Once Pheobe was finished eating, Xavier went to grab their dessert that he had also made himself. 

"And dessert is tiramisu that I also made.  I want to know how you like it!"  He said as he gently set the receptacle in front of her.  She carefully untied the red and white bow he had added to make the presentation look professional.  As she began opening the box, Xavier could feel his stomach turn and thought those few seconds were taking hours.  Finally, she opened the box completely and her jaw dropped.

"I... OH MY GOD!"  She screamed as she stared into the box amazed by what she saw.  Looking to her right, she saw Xavier standing next to her and then down on one knee.

"Pheobe Jeanette Rivers, will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my bride?" He calmly asked her. 

"Y.. Yes.. YES!"  She ran into his arms and he picked her up and twirled her around.

"I love you, baby."

"I love you, too! More than you know."

They continued to embrace as he ran his fingers through her hair.  They danced around the roof-top completely in love.  Pheobe clung tight around his neck and looked up at the starlit sky that was hardly ever visible in the city and knew this was a paradisaical way to spend the night that would change their lives. 

Diary Of A First Time Road Tripper: Camping On The Beach

     It was a warm night in the beginning of June, Allison, Olivia, and Marjorie were camping on the coast in Oregon to save money for the remainder of their road trip adventures.  It was the time of day when the sun was just beginning to set and this sunset was unlike any the girls had ever seen.  Purples, pinks, oranges, and yellows encompassed the horizon and highlighted the mounds of rock only a few hundred yards off the beach. 
     Gathered around the fire pit that was made from stones, the girls had found were chairs and logs for seating.  Each spaced with at least five feet between so that there was space enough to sit on the ground if one so desired.  Also around the pit were a few beer and pop cans that had been left by previous campers.  The fire had been started just as the girls had learned only weeks before to prepare them for the trip they were now on.
     "Tepee the sticks and put the paper under there so that the sticks will catch on fire when you light it.  Did you not learn anything?"  Olivia jokingly explained to Allison who was only moments before haphazardly arranging the materials, attempting to make a fire.
     "This was a lot easier when the boys taught us at home!"  Allison laughed.
     "When we were planning this trip, I am 95% sure we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into when we decided to camp!" Marjorie added while she was opening a new box of graham crackers to use with the marshmallow she had just roasted to golden perfection.
     "The intentions were good, but the three of us, camping for a week with practically no idea where we're going next is a little scary!" Allison sat down on the log that had been perfectly carved out into the shape of a chair by a camper prior them.
     "Quite honestly, when we started planning this trip, I had no idea all of our parents would agree to letting us go for this long, or this far for that matter!" Olivia assembled her first s'more.
     "Oh my gosh, I know!   I screamed when my dad finally agreed to letting me go," Allison said.
     "Getting here was quite interesting and now that we're actually here, reality is beginning to sink in and I'm so excited to do all the rest of the stuff we have planned!" Marjorie exclaimed as she opened a bottle of blue Gatorade.
     "I feel like we're going to run out of time for all the things we want to do."  Olivia said while she held her marshmallow over the red embers of the fire.
     "Even if we do, we can just come back for spring break if we all want to when the time comes!" Allison excitedly told the other two.
     "That's a really good idea!" Olivia and Marjorie said in unison.
     The fire had been slowly dying down, so the girls added logs so they could continue to sit around the fire and talk about all they had to look forward to. 

Dairy Of A First-Time Road Tripper

 
      As I looked out the window at the Colorado mountains that were slowly disappearing into the rear view mirror, all I could imagine was the final destination.  Three friends on a road trip to the west coast where they would be spending a week exploring.  I had been friends with Allison and Olivia since we were all eight years old and we knew virtually everything about each other.  This trip, I knew, would teach us much more about each other though.  Permeating the air conditioned enclosure was the fragrance each of us wore and the sweet mixture of the trio was succulent.  I was crammed in the back seat with the overflowing bags each of us had brought that wouldn't fit in the trunk with the rest of our road trip items.  Spilling out of the top of one bag was an abundance of food from Oreos to multi-grain crackers that Olivia's mom had packed for our adventure to the coast.
     "I can't believe we're finally doing this!" Allison exclaimed.
     "I know! This is going to be the greatest trip ever!" I replied.  Ever since we had entered high school, we had always wanted to go on a road trip together.  Since we would all be heading off to college in the fall and taking new paths, we decided after graduation was the ideal time. 
     As always, we turned up the Top 40 Hits in Allison's 2006 VW Jetta and made our way down the interstate that was surrounded by rolling hills and snow peaked mountains as far as the eye could see.  The green, lush landscape that I was viewing was mesmerizing and I could hardly take my eyes off of it. 
     In the passenger seat was Olivia, a tall, athletic girl.  She had pin-straight, blonde hair and fair skin and was very pretty.  Just like Allison and I, she was singing along to the familiar tunes on the radio.  I had always thought she had a good voice, but sitting there behind her for hours on end really made me recognize her talent.  There was something about her raspy, delicate voice that was captivating.  As I was listening to her sing, I was examining Allison's features while she was driving.  She was a beautiful brunette with olive skin and her flawless complexion was impossible to miss.
     After driving for a few hours, we made another stop to get gas.  We stopped at a gas station that was in a town that had features that made it look like it had been established when the Oregon Trail would have come through many, many years ago.  The old run-down shack that most would have called a convenience store seemed to hardly be standing.  The outside had metal siding that had bolts missing that were holding it down and was rusting in some spots.  This little edifice had a bathroom that one would not go in if they were not with an acquaintance.  The stalls were practically falling apart and the lights were flickering like we were in a bad movie.  Getting in and out of that run-down dump was our main motive and once we got everything we needed, we sped-walked out of there. 
     Now back on our journey, we talked and listened to the music once again.  Even though I was squished in the back, sandwiched between bags upon bags of clothes, makeup, pillows, and so much more, I was perfectly content.  When I had imagined this trip, this was exactly what I saw and I couldn't wait to get to the coast to pioneer the beaches and towns.  I looked out the window once more before I fell asleep and saw the breathtaking pink and orange sunset that ended the great first day to our excursion out west. 

Her Flowering Thoughts

     "One, two, three..."
     The small girl counted the poppies in the vast field as she was dreaming of her future.  As she continued to pick the flowers and carefully position them in the bouquet she gently held in her left hand.  Even though she was standing alone in the sea of red flowers and wheat colored grass, she continued to express her feelings aloud because she knew, even at her young age, that it does not matter what others think. 
     The petite, toe head girl with her bangs pulled back stood quaintly wearing a green and white striped summer dress.  This young girl had older siblings and as she contently examined each flower extensively, she could imagined being older.  The only moment she could envision was when she could ride her bike down the road by herself, without training wheels, just like her sisters. 
     "I want to grow up and be a doctor that helps babies."  She said as she delicately chose another flower to add to the bunch she was composing.
     "I wish I could just be all grown up right now."  Quietly mumbling to herself in a dejected tone. 
     "Grown ups can do and buy everything they want.  Mommy always tells me no when I want something, but she is always buying things!  It's not fair."
     As she continued to think of all the reasons she wanted to grow up, she began to think about becoming a pediatrician one day.  Just like before, she treated the flowers extremely delicately, but as she conceptualized her future, she began to examine each one elaborately.  She handled each blossom as the babies she hoped to one day deliver. 
     "When I'm a big girl, I'm going to get to be around babies EVERY DAY!" 
     She fantasized about those days, and as she did so, she started to lay each individual poppy on the ground and forming a cradle around it.  She treated the flowers gently and as though they were all her future patients.
     "Shh, baby, it will be okay," she faintly mumbled and tenderly patted her patient as she moved on to the next crib she was forming.  She proceeded to form more and more beds for all of her 'babies'. 
     Once she had completed her task, she went back to where she had stared at her first 'crib'.  She carefully gathered the flowers, one-by-one, to take back to her mother who would be patiently waiting on the porch where she had been when her youngest daughter had left to frolic through fields of flowers.

Why The String?...

The pink spool of yarny string
Can be useful for many different things.

It may seem to be nonfunctional,
But it may help to make a contraption quite punctual.

The end of the string is frayed,
That can be quickly cut off and changed.

There are parts of it that are tangled.
A small child could have caused it to become mangled.

It seems that playing in a sandbox is an understandable assumption.
Maybe it got wedged at a junction.

I'm not too sure why it smells like soap...
That kiddo dropped it in the sink, I hope.

Looking at this uninteresting object
Can really get your brain thinking of a project.

It could simply be making crafts,
Or even braiding ropes for rafts.

Who ever knew string could have so many uses?
You could tie a water bottle around your neck with it to hold your juices.

People always unravel more than they need.
Maybe they thought it would help them take the lead

In one of the competitions they partake.
It can make learning to tie a knot a piece of cake.

I had absolutely no idea this string was so handy,
Even though it may be a little sandy.