An empty jar made of glass,

that use to be filled with love from the past.

With her wrinkled hands and crooked fingers,

Tightened lids ; the warmth lingers.

Rows of jars along the shelf,

The love keeps growing with my help.

Now the single jar I keep,

reminds me of that love technique.

It is never empty, although it is,

An empty glass jar gives and gives and gives.

My Dad wasn't an ordinary Dad. Every weekend, during the spring and summer time, sometimes fall, my family would pack up and learn about survival skills. My Mom would make peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, bring a bag a plain potato chips, and a cooler with ice which was filled with glass bottles of soda. A giant Coleman cooler with water in was always with us too. But, we were not allowed to eat or drink what was brought to the camp. My Dad showed us how to fish, trap wild rabbits, showed what plants we could and could not eat. How to collect rain water and water from the river. I hated going as i got older but one year was different. We camped at this one area we had never been before. My Dad jokingly said to be on the look out for Bigfoot. Oregon is well known for Bigfoot sightings. I didn't believe in Bigfoot. My Dad did. He always told us stories about that large hairy ape-like man and how many people seen it and seen the feet prints in mud or grass. The first day was my turn to gather wood for the fire. I was a few feet from the campsite when I started picking up different sizes of tree limbs when I realized, I was in a thick wooded area. I turned around and I could hear my family talking but could not see them. I started walking fast. I thought I heard crunching behind me. I walked faster. I tripped and fell. I got myself up and gathered the limbs. I hear this weird growl.My dad taught me what sounds each animal makes but I have never heard this sound before. I turned around and scanned the trees. I see nothing except the corner of my eye I see something move. It was dark in color and it moved carefully behind each tree. As it got closer, I could smell something nasty. An awful dirty dog smell. I cannot describe it only as that. This thing did not move after it walked behind four trees. It felt like it was looking at me. At first, I thought it was a bear. But bears will continue to walk and make this gruffing noise. I knew I had to run. So, I dropped the wood and ran back to the camp screaming at the top of my lungs. My Dad grabbed his rifle and told me to show him where I saw this thing. I saw my pile of wood. I pointed and told him what I saw. He asked me if it smelled like this when I was here. I told him yes. he told me stay. he walked around to the back of the trees. he then waved me over. I walked over and he pointed down at the ground. there on the ground was this enormous foot print that pressed down the pine needles into the dirt. I could not believe what I saw. My dad told me to run back to the camp and get the camera. I did what i was told. he let me take the picture. We went back to the camp. My Dad stayed up all nigh making sure whatever it was didn't come back. I knew what it was and so did my Dad. Bigfoot was real and now I am a believer.

The scraping under my bed became faster matching my heart beat as I breathed heavily under my blankets praying whatever it was to stop and go away. My blanket ripped from my hands and there stood this thing that was neither man nor monster staring at me with red goo seeping from his mouth, speaking a language I could not understand.

Hospitals are where sick people go to get better. Most heal and go home. Some don't. Death is not what I want to think of when it comes to the word hospital. But to some, it does. To me, it's a word of healing and new life. Babies are our most precious source that goes into a hospital and comes out from a hospital. So when the word hospital comes to my mind, I say its a word that we need in our lives.

Two years of surviving the streets had come to an end for me and my family. We found three acres real cheap so we buy it knowing at least no one could kick us out of our own property. Living in a travel trailer with 5 adults, I take care of my adult autistic kids, and four small dogs is not a way to live permanently. No room to sit. No room to eat. No room to sleep. Two years have gone by quickly and we still are saving money to buy a house to build on our property. It's taking too damn long! We need a house now. I know one day we will have one but still, I am tired of living in a travel trailer.

Who would have thought an Oregon beach would be crowded on a day like today? With dark clouds, heavy rain, and the wind whipping around like mini-tornadoes, but that's typical for us locals. There is a special glass float worth $100 and everyone is looking for it. I found it! I'll let them keep looking.

I always knew that I was different from everyone else. In fact, I woke up one day with something so special that I was told by my parents to never let anyone know about it. My secret is so powerful that I could take over the World if I wanted to. But, why? I want to help my community. Not hinder it. I woke up with this power years ago. At first, it scared me but as time went by, I learned to control it. This thing is something that made me feel powerful. My power? I can control people and animals with my mind. I have helped many people with their lives by telling them what to do or say. I even stopped people from harming themselves. My main objective is to stop wars all over the World. I am working on that right now. With animals, I don't bother them as much as humans but when I do use my power on animals, it's always to stop them from attacking people or other animals. I love my job and yes, I do use my mind to get through the day. I have to in my industry. I am the President of the United States of America. I love my country. I love my job. I love my power even more..........

Powerful. I was a victim of domestic abuse and after escaping my abuser, I became this strong woman who, like a phoenix, rose from the ashes to become this new human being. Although it took time, my world around me has given me this second chance of being happy and alive. I will accept it and remind myself each day I am free and will stay free.

Spiraling downward, fighting my way up, I feel something dragging me back down. I struggle against the pressure of the darkness. I try not to panic but this burning sensation is taking over my body, my mind. I tell myself I need to calm down and take control. My emotions are scattered all around and I try to find some relief by reminding myself that I am in charge. It isn't working. Why can I not get out of this? I close my eyes tightly counting to three in my head. One, two, three........I open my eyes as wide as I can but darkness still surrounds me. As I am about to give up, I see a dim light shining above.