Grilled Salmon in a Mango and Papaya Sauce with Black Beans

Grilled Salmon in a Mango and Papaya Sauce with Black Beans

Grilled Salmon in a Mango and Papaya Sauce with Black Beans

            The anticipation for its arrival on the table in front of me grows. The taste buds in my mouth start to quiver, awaiting satisfaction. My legs start to bounce around, restless with eager. All day I have been counting the hours for this meal. The very minute from when my mom told me the news of its ingredients finally being stored into the freezer. It arrives on a platter. Coral pink with a smoky brown maple sauce hardened on top, seared to perfection. Lines from the grill still on its back, remaining like footprints left in the sand. Wrapped warmly by a small pool of black beans. Scooped on top is a mix of mango chunks and papaya, frolicking with each other like children at a park. They dance across the top of the salmon, hoping it will join them in their fun. The salt shimmies toward me, wanting me to pour some of it on the delicious concoction. After taking my first bite, I am utterly satisfied. Staring down, I see my pink napkin’s edges leaping at the chance to taste any scrap that could be wiped from my mouth. Enjoying grilled salmon with mango and papaya sauce with a side of black beans is one of the smallest, greatest joys in my life.

Losing Sophie

Have you ever lost something very important to you, like Desdemona losing her handkerchief?

            When my phone rang that afternoon, I answered as I did every other day my mom called. I picked up, waiting to hear her cheery voice. However, her voice was droopy, sounding as if she had been crying. When she told me she had bad news, my stomach dropped, feeling as if I had been on the downward track of the tallest rollercoaster in the world. My mom informed me that my dog was lost. Sophie, the old terrier I had loved since the first grade, was nowhere to be found. My mom and grandpa had been looking for hours, with the neighbors, but they could not find my dear companion. Tears escaped from my eyes. I loved Sophie with all my heart. She was the dog whom I played with afternoon, and slept along side every night. I could not imagine never getting to see her dark hazy eyes again. After getting home, I threw down my bags and went outside our house with the rest of my family, searching for places my dog would be. I went down to the mountain side below our house searching through the trees when I saw Sophie, trying to find a way back to our house from the bottom of the mountain. My heart stopped, and I rejoice after finding my irreplaceable best friend, who leapt into my arms, awaiting the walk back home.

Relationships

Relationships

What are things that make a relationship work?  What kinds of things can destroy a relationship?  Are they the same things?

            Relationships are a slippery slope. They can either work out really well and be a perfect match or end up being a horrible mistake. I believe that for a relationship to work, both people involved must be willing to make a commitment to the other person, for better or worse. Each person must have respect for the other and be willing to put in the effort to make things work out, even when it gets difficult. I feel that for a relationship to be strong and real, both people must feel true love and show the ability to accept mistakes. The things that can destroy a relationship are different. I think that for a relationship to be destroyed, there usually involves disloyalty, dishonesty, or insincerity. If either person in a relationship easily gives up when situations get rough or show now affection towards the other person, there is now way that that relationship could last. Overall, I think that neglect of any person, emotion, or patience can ruin a relationship no matter how strong a couple’s love might be. In a way, I believe a relationship to be like a seesaw, in which the amount of force or feeling put into a relationship must be balanced overall for the relationship to actually work out.

Non-Physical Characteristics

non-physical-attractions.doc

What kinds of (non physical) characteristics or traits make someone attractive (to you)?

            For me, there are a few characteristic that are essential for someone to be attractive. One of the main characteristics for me is that someone who I like must have a good personality. This person must do what they love and not care what other people think. In addition, determination is a big appeal to me. Since I am a very hard-working driven person, I cannot stand by and allow people to be lazy. To find attraction in someone, I have to see that they are willing to work hard and step up to the plate in front of them. Honesty is also a crucial trait in my eyes. For a relationship to work, I feel that you have to be able to share anything and everything with the people you love. Without honesty, you cannot have a good relationship. Humor is also a trait that I find very attractive. I believe that people must be able to laugh at themselves and have fun once and a while. However, over everything, the most important trait to me is compassion. For an attraction to be real, I have to find sincerity in someone. They have to show me that they like me too because I am not willing to be treated badly or put myself in a one-way relationship. I feel that finding someone who cares about you and really loves you is what is most important.