An Important Date to Remember

It all started, Saturday, January 26, 2008. I was at the movies, with my friends. As soon as we left my dad and my mom left at least 5 messages on each of their phones. As I was driving home thinking, “Oh crap I did not tell them where I was, I am in so much trouble.” As soon as I came in the door, my mom comes rushing up to me and says that she has something important to tell me. So she finally tells me with tears in her eye that my brother Tony, has died in a motorcycle accident. As I heard this come out of my mother’s mouth I start balling like no tomorrow and cannot believe what I just heard. After a long time of emotion I go and call my boyfriend and my best friend to tell them the news. They are both in shock and make sure I am ok but as they both know I am not ok. So then after that my parents are calling only my brother, Ben. They did not get a hold of him until late that night and he, as well, cannot believe it has happened. As I go to bed I cannot stop thinking about it, and so Sunday comes around. So my sister, Monique, and I ask my mom if we can have a few friends over and so my best friend, Sabrina, and my boyfriend at the time, Dan, come over and help get my mind off of what happened the previous day. But Finally Monday came around and all I can say that everyone was trying to make me feel better and it did. The first day back my sister made if through only half a day but I made it through the whole day.

After some time, my parents finally decided when they should have the wake, the funeral and where. The wake was on the Super bowl last year and so we were joking about having a plasma television over the casket so we could watch the game since the New England Patriots were playing but we did not. But so after the wake was over his friends from New York, Palatine, and the Naval Academy came over to watch the game and of course there was wonderful food and drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. So for the funerals there were two places that we had them. The first funeral was in Palatine, Illinois on February 4th, 2008. The first part of it we went over to the funeral home so we could close the casket and so it was very emotional. So as soon as we got in the limo to go to the church, there was this HUGE strike of lightening and scared the crap out of everyone. But when we got there it was raining hard and so we all got wet. During the funeral, it was very hard for most of us. After it was over we all went back to my house and just hung around and ate some food.

After a few days we went to the second funeral that was in Annapolis, Maryland on February 7th, 2008. When we got there we went to the church and had a beautiful ceremony, and my brother said the eulogy. The whole church was filled with people. I could not believe how many people truly loved my brother. But after the mass we walked about a half mile to the grave he was going to get buried in. So we got there and sat down and so the priest said another few things and then the soldier that carried his casket folded the flag and handed it to my mother. After we finish the ceremony burial, we went to the alumni center to meet some more people and to hear how they felt about my brother. The whole time I was there I felt like I was in some movie, it felt so surreal. But in the long run I feel like it helped me see how much my brother was seen from other people, but it also sucks that I did not see him in that light. And recently I have got a tattoo for him and so did a lot of friends of his. I feel like since I have a tattoo that he will always be with me more.

Inaguration of Obama

Ironically I literally just walked in and turned on CNN and Barak Obama just started his speech. As he kept on talking, I grabbed food from my fridge to eat and drink. He kept on talking and so I was also texting my mom and she felt he was very inspiration and I agreed. Our cleaning lady was mopping our floor and so I had my room door open and she started to talk to me and say “promises, promises” and I guessed she meant she is unsure about Barak and his plans. And so I kept watching but for the most part I was by myself in my dorm. In my politics class we talked about how his speech was idealistic and realistic. Some of the idealistic ways was that he talked about how country can only go up, we can do it, and he said a lot of, what some people might say, naïve things. But his realistic side was that he knows we are in a recession and he said that it might take a long time but if we try I can get better. When he was talking for most of the time it gave me the chills because he is such a good speaker. But after he was done I went across the hall and talked to my friend, Jaime. Myself and her talked about Michelle Obama’s dress and how it was such a lovely dress and we were watching CNN in her room so it had 24 hour coverage so watching it I found out that Obama is the third president from Illinois and that their luncheon was a “themed” luncheon. But we talked a lot how for Obama he just has to try to minimize the fighting in the house and the senate. But since Obama is a democratic president and the democrats control the house and senate that he has to be aware that he needs to make both parties happy with all the bills. Of course the first 100 days is the most important for a new president. But from what I heard from my politics class is that he still has not passed certain bills because it doesn’t have any say from the republicans so he is going to wait until the democrats do that. I personally thought that his inauguration speech was really good and if he does what he is going to say it looks good for the United States but we will have to just wait and see.

What I am (blog #1)

My name is Christine. My major is undeclared but I have to apply to the exercise science. With that degree I might go get my masters in athletic training. But I want to help people prevent injuries or help them heal if they already have injuries. I am involved in a sorority, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, which is actually on of ISU’s service organization. I was born in Stony Brook, New York and lived there for 11 years. Then in 2001 I moved to Palatine, Illinois. Literally 2 months after I moved to Palatine, September 11 happened. Every one of my friends asked me if I knew anyone who died and at the time I did not know anyone who died. But after all the bodies were identified, I knew a firefighter who was one of the first ones there to help. He was a family friend. At home I live with my mom, my dad and my sister. My dad works for Northrop Grumman and also is a naval reservist. My mom works at home and is a leader for my sister’s Girl Scout troop. My sister is 15 years old and goes to high school. I have a brother who goes to Villanova Law School on the east coast and is 24 years old. I also I had another brother who went to the Naval Academy but about a year ago he passed away. It all happened because he had a motorcycle and he was on an onramp on his motorcycle, lost control and his helmet flew off. It was a long process for my whole family. During his wake there was over 300 people who gave there condolences to my family. Over my life I have learned many things and I still have more to learn about and I am ready for it to come.