Playing the Memories by Ryan L.

Everyone has something of value. Whether you’re rich or poor, there is always something you will value. You might value an object like an ipod, or a fun vacation with your family and friends. I can think of at least two different things that I greatly value and probably always will. One is my guitar, which I play almost every day. One other thing that I value is not something you can buy, a wonderful experience with my family, and some of their friends.

$$$$$$$$$$$$

I get home from school and play my guitar. I get lost in the music. To be able to play guitar is not just the ability to play an instrument, it’s a constant battle to be the best you can be. There are no boundaries, the only opponent is you. While I play it, I think about how I came to get it. I received my guitar for Christmas almost three long years ago. I had no idea. I came downstairs, to see a black case with the word Fender on it. I opened the case to find a brand new shining Lake Placid blue Fender Stratocaster. No gift could top it. The estimated value was six hundred dollars. The rest of that glorious Christmas day I only played my new guitar, and I knew that I would never be bored again. My guitar gives me endless possibilities. I will never be able to play every song ever written, so I can always have something to work on. Also, my guitar can assist me in writing my own music, which one day could help me make money.

*************

The day is cold, rainy, and I am miserable. My parents have invited many of their childhood friends and their kids to come to our lake house in New Hampshire. What a drag. I personally don’t want to entertain lots of little kids with their parents watching. I’d rather be swimming and water skiing with my cousins. But nevertheless our family is a dictatorship not a democracy, so my parents’ word is law. The first few guests are beginning to arrive, and with them more food and drinks. I suppose that’s one plus. I introduced myself to a few of the kids, and I already know a few.

We begin to play Guitar hero 2, and I get to know them better. One was on the Holyoke golf team, another loved basketball. They seemed pretty cool. The rain started to let up and we paraded outside to go swimming. The air is cool, so the lake water feels more like a warm spring. I raced a few of the little kids to the raft that is afloat about thirty yards from the shore. We started to play many games including king of the raft, and tip the raft. Thankfully no one is injured. I decide to take some of the kids for a moderately slow boat ride to let them take in the sights of the lake. They enjoy my ride, and we return home. My Dad asks us if we would like to go tubing. I quickly answer, “Yes!” but some of the kids were hesitant. Then I convince them that there is no chance of getting hurt, and that tubing is a blast! I jump into the boat, while the others slowly enter. The engine roars and the first two tubers entered their designated tubes. The boat started to pick up speed. A tsunami of a wave attacked us. “Bang!” The two tubers fly into the air, which leaves one of the two in the raging water. Laughter is prevalent in the front of the boat. It’s gently raining again, so our tubing adventure is cut short. A rainbow appears overhead. It’s the biggest I’ve ever seen. Just then a plane flies overhead through the enormous rainbow, and lands on the water. I think to myself, “This is amazing!”

Nightfall arrives, and I go to the basement to fetch the fireworks. No one knows what I’m doing except my dad and his friend Jim. I set up a few in the front yard, and light the wicks. A fiery explosion is sent into the black sky, and everyone jumps. I laugh, but am cut short from an explosion which hails from across the lake. I think, “They want to challenge us?” My Dad reaches for our 400 shot finale, and the giant fireballs. He lights them. 400 shells and 20 huge fireballs scream into the air with a crash! The adults begin cheering, and the fireworks from across the lake stop. I realize at the beginning of the day, I didn’t know these people, and now I feel like I’ve known them for a very long time. I think to myself, “What a great day this has been.”

$$$$$$$$********

Two things I greatly value are my guitar, and the party at my lake house. These two things are very different. They are different because one is an object that I can hold and play, and the other was a day long event that I will never get back. They are similar, because when I play guitar I greatly enjoy my time playing by myself and with others. At the party, I had a wonderful time with other people as well.

Everyone has something they value. I think the things I value most are the things I enjoy. I greatly enjoy playing the guitar because it’s a never ending challenge, and I create fun memories playing it. I love to get lost in the music. I enjoyed the day at the lake because I got to tube, boat, and share new experiences with new people, and I will never forget that