Well, I redid my blog template today, so I figured I'd post a new blog post in honor of that. Forgive me if I ramble.
Our birthday was ten days ago. I still find it hard to believe that we're eighteen. I mean, eighteen is supposed to be this magical age where now I'm a legal adult and get all the ensuing rights and privileges, and yet I feel no different than I did when I was seventeen. Eighteen has always been the age I'd be allowed to date, but as of yet I have no interest in dating or romantic relationships. I'm legally allowed to smoke now, but I'm too scared of ending up like Papa or my great aunt to ever want pick that up. And porn? Thanks, but no thanks.
One perk is that I'll be voting in November. I just hope some of the candidates are worth voting for. I'm not too terribly optimistic, though.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Choking "Game"
Ever heard of it? Well, for those of you who don't know, it's a pastime that's becoming increasingly popular among teenagers (especially the younger ones) and preteens. In this game, the kids strangle themselves--either having a friend choke them by tying a rope or a belt around their neck, or by hyperventilating--for a short time. When they start to breathe again, the sudden rush of air gives them a high that becomes very addictive. It goes without saying that this "game" is very dangerous; it so often ends in severe brain damage or death.
If this is your first time hearing about this game, and if you're like me, you're probably thinking "Okay, who'd be stupid enough to strangle themself?" I remember sitting in science class in my freshman year, rolling my eyes as my science teacher went on yet another rant about how stupid teenagers are, and telling us we're so stupid for hyperventilating to get high and don't we know we're killing brain cells. I thought "Seriously, who would do that?" I've hyperventilated quite a few times--not on purpose, mind you--and my experience with that has always been negative.
The summer before that, I had gone to Georgia on vacation to visit family and friends. As is usually the case in family gatherings, I met many cousins that I never knew I had. One of them was only a year younger than my sister and I, so we hung out with her and her two younger sisters. Even though we didn't talk much, we had a lot of fun just playing games and hanging out at the park. I envied her good looks and grace. I saw her again the next summer, this time at a pool. Again, none of us did much talking. We just had fun swimming. I figured we'd have the rest of our lives to get to know each other better.
She died in October of 2008.
I was practicing the harp when the phone rang. My mom answered and talked for a couple minutes, and then hung up, looking upset. I asked her what was wrong, and she told me the news. My cousin had been found dead in her room that morning. I was so upset at the news that my nose bled. She was so young, so vibrant, so alive, how could she possibly be dead? She was only fifteen! I never found out how she died until a year later. She'd started doing the choking game with her friends (I'm not sure how long she'd been doing it), who would cut the ribbon when she needed them to. The night she died, she was alone. She tied the ribbon around her neck, but couldn't cut it in time. I can't even imagine how terrified and alone she must have felt in her last moments.
When my mom found out, she sat my younger brother down and told him about the "game," and how dangerous it is, and how our cousin had accidentally killed herself from it. My mom's sister did the same with her daughters. If you have a younger sister or brother that is a teen or preteen, I urge you to do the same. Tell them it's not a game. Chances are they already know, but you can't be too careful. My cousin was smart; you would've thought she would have known better. But her 16th birthday was celebrated with a boquet of daisies and festive Sweet 16 balloons decorating her grave.
If this is your first time hearing about this game, and if you're like me, you're probably thinking "Okay, who'd be stupid enough to strangle themself?" I remember sitting in science class in my freshman year, rolling my eyes as my science teacher went on yet another rant about how stupid teenagers are, and telling us we're so stupid for hyperventilating to get high and don't we know we're killing brain cells. I thought "Seriously, who would do that?" I've hyperventilated quite a few times--not on purpose, mind you--and my experience with that has always been negative.
The summer before that, I had gone to Georgia on vacation to visit family and friends. As is usually the case in family gatherings, I met many cousins that I never knew I had. One of them was only a year younger than my sister and I, so we hung out with her and her two younger sisters. Even though we didn't talk much, we had a lot of fun just playing games and hanging out at the park. I envied her good looks and grace. I saw her again the next summer, this time at a pool. Again, none of us did much talking. We just had fun swimming. I figured we'd have the rest of our lives to get to know each other better.
She died in October of 2008.
I was practicing the harp when the phone rang. My mom answered and talked for a couple minutes, and then hung up, looking upset. I asked her what was wrong, and she told me the news. My cousin had been found dead in her room that morning. I was so upset at the news that my nose bled. She was so young, so vibrant, so alive, how could she possibly be dead? She was only fifteen! I never found out how she died until a year later. She'd started doing the choking game with her friends (I'm not sure how long she'd been doing it), who would cut the ribbon when she needed them to. The night she died, she was alone. She tied the ribbon around her neck, but couldn't cut it in time. I can't even imagine how terrified and alone she must have felt in her last moments.
When my mom found out, she sat my younger brother down and told him about the "game," and how dangerous it is, and how our cousin had accidentally killed herself from it. My mom's sister did the same with her daughters. If you have a younger sister or brother that is a teen or preteen, I urge you to do the same. Tell them it's not a game. Chances are they already know, but you can't be too careful. My cousin was smart; you would've thought she would have known better. But her 16th birthday was celebrated with a boquet of daisies and festive Sweet 16 balloons decorating her grave.
Update
Since I haven't blogged in a while and people have been pestering me to update my blog, I figured I'd catch y'all up on what I've been up to lately. Come to think of it, I seem to do that in most of my blog posts.
Believe it or not, I've actually been keeping up with the whole exercising thing. And...dare I say it...I'm enjoying it immensely! I just love the feeling I get after a good workout. I always feel relaxed and very pleased with myself afterwards. Exercising has boosted my self esteem too, especially after I started seeing results! I feel so much better emotionally and physically than I have for a while. Now if only I could convince myself that eating my vegetables is worth the effort...
I'm also really enjoying college. Of course, I'm only taking one class right now, but already I can tell that college is so much better than high school! It's so laid back, which is completely opposite from the school I attended from 8th to 10th grade! I can't wait until Ashlea starts taking classes too--she'll love the cafe.
With harp, I'm preparing to put on a little harp recital in May at my church. In piano, my teacher found a two piano duet book that has a Patch the Pirate Songs Medley. She and I are planning on playing it for church in a few weeks. I grew up listening to Patch the Pirate, so obviously I love this piece!
Okay. I did my duty. Now don't bug me for at least another week, Skylar Batley!
Believe it or not, I've actually been keeping up with the whole exercising thing. And...dare I say it...I'm enjoying it immensely! I just love the feeling I get after a good workout. I always feel relaxed and very pleased with myself afterwards. Exercising has boosted my self esteem too, especially after I started seeing results! I feel so much better emotionally and physically than I have for a while. Now if only I could convince myself that eating my vegetables is worth the effort...
I'm also really enjoying college. Of course, I'm only taking one class right now, but already I can tell that college is so much better than high school! It's so laid back, which is completely opposite from the school I attended from 8th to 10th grade! I can't wait until Ashlea starts taking classes too--she'll love the cafe.
With harp, I'm preparing to put on a little harp recital in May at my church. In piano, my teacher found a two piano duet book that has a Patch the Pirate Songs Medley. She and I are planning on playing it for church in a few weeks. I grew up listening to Patch the Pirate, so obviously I love this piece!
Okay. I did my duty. Now don't bug me for at least another week, Skylar Batley!
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