CNF Dialogue: Workin' at the Pool

           It is 9:30 in the morning. I'm driving, already late to work, trying not to speed through the parking lot. In my head I can picture my manager, Larissa Clark saying, "Turn your music down and drive slowly through the parking lot!" When I eventually pull up to my shaded parking spot, I jump out of my Rav4 and grab my towel, keys, extra clothes, water and my wallet. I hurl the lobby door open and proceed to knock on the office door that is always locked. I can already hear Larissa being a mom, "Remember to put on your sunscreen everyone!" Tyler Cannon continues to be lazy, "Someone cover my public shift today, I am already tired!" Amelia Helland wanting peace and love is screaming nervously, "Everyone just please be happy..." Then John Foster, "Get the hell out of my office and set up!" Silence fills the humid room, no one wants to get the work day started. "Let's go!" His strict loud voice frightens everyone, but John is in charge and no one will ever question his authority. Our staff shuffles at a snail's pace out the door. The burden of setting up falls on the shoulders of morning swim instructors, it is a joy...
          After we set up, we are assigned our classes, I have all "baby" classes. A 10:10 A.M Guppy class that ranges in age from 1-5. A 10:45 A.M Frog class that is a mommy and me class. A 11:20 A.M Minnow class, that ranges in age from 3-6. Another Guppy class at 11:55 and to finish morning lessons I have a 12:30 private lesson with a 3 year old girl. Young classes require patience or love for children, I have the love for children, but no patience at all. Usually, no one is satisfied with the classes they get. Majority of the boys on our staff are complaining to Larissa: "I don't want a baby class." Or "Girls hate me because I'm a guy; I need older classes like Sharks or Dolphins." While the girls are saying, "Larissa! I wanted Phoenix, he's cute!" Or "Can I have all guppy classes, they are adorable?!"
         Once everyone is done complaining about their classes that they know Larissa won't change, Larissa then makes her introduction to the parents and swimmers of the new session of swim lessons. "Hi, I'm Larissa Clark the manager here at the Orangevale pool; I just wanted to welcome you all to the fifth session of swim lessons..." Every instructor is lined up, in our colorful swim suits, on the gutter of the pool, with smiles plastered on our faces. We all mouth the words along with Larissa because we've heard this introduction numerous times. Then it's our turn, I hear Amelia call her lessons, "Hi, I'm Amelia and I have the Frog class!" She then lists the kids in her class and now it's my turn. "Hi everyone, I'm Katrina and I'll be teaching Guppies this session!" I name my swimmers on my roster, every single child is crying in fear and we haven't touched the water yet. This is the start to my day at work, I'm ecstatic...

CNF: Nostalgia

When I look back on my life I remember specific things. My first memory is when my baby brother spoke his own language that only I could interpret; mom and dad always came looking for me when he started talking. When we were looking for houses to move into in Sacramento, I remember wanting nothing more than to sit on the couch because my 4 year old feet were worn out. In November of second grade, when we took our family vacation to Disneyland, the only thing on my mind was lying down especially after experiencing Space Mountain for the first and only time. In third grade my aunt took my brothers and I to a beach, I remember we shivered more than we basked in the sun. I realized how much I loved the sea salt wind when it was blowing my hair every direction. What I remember most about the early years of elementary school were my two very best friends, Chrissy Camilleri and Alexandria Valdez. Through the birthday parties, sleepovers and the depressing change of schools we became sisters. Swim team, swimming my first 100 yard race. "85% on the first 25 yards, 90% on the 50, give 100% on the 75, and everything you have on that final spring." That's what ran through my head in my older brother's stern voice as I hopped on the block. Twenty push-ups after the exhausting races because I took a breath coming off the wall or before my flip. Pasteur Middle School, the only sense of preparing for school was pulling on my pants and slipping on my shirt, I loved uniforms because it made it easy to get going in the morning. Casa Roble, full grown "boys" in the same classes as baby freshman. Homecoming; dresses, shoes, jewelry, hair, make up, pictures, dinner, date. I miss the memories that made me smile. I miss the memories that made my throat close and tears well up in my eyes. I will always have a strong longing for my future.

CNF; Dear 12-year-old self,

Do you realize how moronic you are acting? You're putting mom and dad through hell and putting more stress on your big brother that he doesn't need. John's a junior, he is figuring out what he wants to do after high school and you are making him want to move further and further away every time you freak out and cause family drama. You are teaching Robbie, only 10 years old, that this disgusting behavior comes with no consequences.
You need to buckle down and stop fighting anything and everything. Life will be easier when you sit back and relax. Open your eyes to reality; the world isn't as forgiving as your parents are.
You'll realize in a couple years that all of the pain and suffering that you brought upon yourself and your family wasn't worth it. You'll be comfortable with yourself. You'll be friends with mom and dad. You'll want that relationship with John that you ruined. You won't fight just to fight. You will listen, you will love and be loved. You'll be a great example to Robbie. You'll have a strong understanding of your life. Mom and dad will be proud of you. Your friends will always be there for you. You will tell the truth how it is and people will respect you for it. You will have your priorities straight. You will be happy.
You will make many mistakes in life. Always own up to them, stay positive but most of all learn from those mistakes.

CNF; Growing is Forever

I want to feel weightless and live for eternity. I am alive. I am different. I am strong. I am still growing, physically and mentally. I'm learning things about myself and others everyday. 
I've learned I'm not nearly as strong as I think I am. I put a smile on my face and let others believe everything is okay because I'm afraid of being weak. 
Others have showed me that you can't always depend on someone. Sometimes you have to be alone in order to find out what you really want in life. 
What I want to do with myself has changed. I now not only want to be happy but I will now strive for happiness.

Eyes Wide Open

Technology will be the end of me. Imagining a world without my phone. Texting makes people awkward. When anyone texts someone to start "talking", they end up being awkward in person. I would have such a hard time going through my day without my phone. When I'm bored I go on Facebook or text someone. When I'm in an awkward situation I play on my phone. When I walk past a group of people by myself I text/pretend to text someone. When I don't know how to spell something I type it out on my phone for an auto correction. I take advantage of this technology, I cannot imagine what live would be like without it. That'd be interesting and a horrible day without my phone, it's disgusting how attached I am to it. I've realized how obsessed to this object I have become.