May 17, 2001: We had been sitting in the car for nearly 3 hours, watched 2 movies, eaten just about every snack we brought and my butt was slowly getting numb. Wanting to jump out of the car and stretch was the only thing on my mind, but knowing that our destination was only minutes away made the wait well worth it because this was no ordinary family vacation. We were going to Disney's Vero Beach Resort to celebrate the birthdays of my siblings and I. This is a place we had never gone to and the anticipation was building as we got closer and closer to the resort. There was my dad and my mom; hard workers who were so ready for a vacation and to spend time with their kids. There was my sister, Lauren; a 13-year old typical teenager who I always looked up to in all of her perfectionism and organizational skills. There was my brother, Greg; he was only 7 years old at the time. We always stuck together and were best buds through everything. And there was me; I was 10 years old, shy and quiet, but nonetheless extremely excited for this vacation. I remember spending months planning the vacation with my dad, looking up information on the resort like the Disney themed rooms and the giant waterslide that was by the pool. Being guests there was going to satisfy the Disney addicts within us. The sign passed with an arrow pointing in the right direction; "Disney's Vero Beach Resort". We made it! We pulled up to the front of the hotel. I remember observing everything about it. It was enormous (for a little 10-year old girl), it looked like a giant cabin, and everything about the hotel was related to Disney. I couldn't have been happier taking my first steps out of that car to walk into this magical place. My family was just as excited as I was. As if it couldn't get any better, the inside was just as emaculate. The ceiling was so high with cool carvings along side the walls that reached up to it. The beautiful chandeliers and the big, comfy couches inside the lobby made it look like a palace. I peeked outside to see the famous waterslide, but was pulled over to the front desk by parents. It was time to check in and get settled. My mom had suggested going to the restroom, so my brother and I tagged along while my sister stayed with my dad to check in. I was even amazed by the bathrooms. This place couldn't get any better. My mom, Greg and I had just finished using the restroom and I could spot my sister walking over to meet us, but she was not with my dad. She was holding her arm with sad eyes, and was clearly upset. Something was wrong. My heart started pounding in my chest. I don't remember why I got so scared, but I had a gut feeling that there was bad news. Her walk over to us seemed like a lifetime of waiting. She reached us, looked up at my mom and simply said "Uncle Tony just died."
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Introduction to Memoir (draft)
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