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XL Center, Civic Center Plaza, Hartford, CT

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Monster Jam- Memories can reinforce bonds with others. 

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Monster Jam- Memories can reinforce bonds with others. 

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The roar of the engine and the heat of the arena made me anxious to finally view the monster trucks. I could hear the incredible sounds that they made booming throughout the dome. I had just sat down in my seat
I could feel the hard plastic making me more and more uncomfortable. Ultimately I adjusted and found a position that suited the ruff material and then waited for the show to begin.
It was astonishing to see these big machines move almost as if they were weightless.
The noise was so loud and powerful that it forced me to wear ear plugs to dampen the sound.Wearing earplugs wasnt new as I had worn them in the past for other loud events, this was different though. This was the loudest most impactful sound I had ever experienced. I watched as the trucks flipped and spun and rode on their back wheels. Then I watched the motorcycles do the same.
I recalled the time when I had been to a monster truck show  when I was 6. I remembered the wonder and the joy of seeing the big wheels and the amazement of their coordination.
After a while it came to half time. I got up and bought food for the second portion of the show. I could smell the warm popcorn and the hot oil that surrounded it. I took a bite and felt a sense of comfort wash over me. I returned back to my seats.
My friend who I had been seeing the show with was also in a state of comfort. The ecstatic atmosphere was exhilarating to us. Since then we have been closer friends, looking back on that memory as fondly as possible.

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Camp Sequassen- Memories have shown me that things aren't always easy. 

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Camp Sequassen- Memories have shown me that things aren't always easy. 

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This was a big moment in the series of competitions that made up the Sequassen man relay race. Augustine had been chosen to do the first of the running portion and Patrick had been selected to do the second half. Now, I have been chosen to do the swimming part. It was a fourth of a mile, from a place called Teddy Bear Rock all the way back to the docks.                                                                                                   I watched as the runners flew in and tagged the hands of their teammates, signifying their chance to begin their departure. Runner after runner appeared to help out their teammates, after what felt like eternity my teammate had appeared to give me the go ahead. I hopped in a canoe and was taken by my other teammates to the area in which I would need to jump out and start swimming. Faster and faster went the canoe until it was my turn to swim.
The previous year was different, this was the first time I had done this, I remembered last year, watching as the competitors tried their hardest and pushed on.
I plunged into the cold water, it had felt colder than my previous experiences swimming, I took off like a bullet. I could sense the water dragging me backwards almost like a person shoving me. I desperately fought against it to continue forward. I felt the wearing of my muscles telling me to stop and rest, but it was no use. I had to continue going. If not I knew that I wouldn’t only be letting my teammates down, but myself as well. If I couldn’t continue to let myself fail then there would have been no reason to choose me in the first place when there were others that could do better. There was no way I would let my exhaustion get the better of me. I pushed on.
Every breath I took I swallowed water. The gross bitter taste of the pond water filled my mouth as I desperately tried to inhale. I could feel the small amounts of water being taken in with every breath. I recoiled to find out that there were others now gaining on me. Slowly but surely the gap between me and my competitors and I began to shrink. My body sped up as I heard the shrieks of the people watching, telling me desperately to go faster. I flew faster than ever, I felt as If I was swimming over the water instead of it.
I had been practicing for the race days in advance. They were nothing like this however. When practicing I didn't feel challenged like I did in the race. I never felt angry watching people catch up to me. This was in a league of its own. In practice I could remember how easy it felt, I wasn't struggling or tired. It was leisure. I could break and let myself relax. I remembered how I could take deep breaths and how good it felt to be in the nice warm water. It felt as if the sun was lightly tapping me.
I had made it to land. I picked myself up. My body felt heavy and it was hard to move.  I quickly ran over and declared that I was done.
I came in second. I watched as the first place team erupted with cheers for their teammate. I had seen their swimmers practicing beforehand. He had been great then and was better now. I knew from that point on I had to keep practicing because eventually I would get another shot, and then I wouldn't be accepting second place.

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Camp Sequassen, West Hill Road, New Hartford, CT

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Camp Sequassen- Memories have allowed me to continue through struggling times.

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Camp Sequassen- Memories have allowed me to continue through struggling times.

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Camp Sequassen, memories have allowed me to continue through struggling times.

The air was cool and the ground was hot. The sun was about to go down but today was different. Today was the frisbee competition at camp. This was camp Sequassen and my boy scout troop was one of the teams. Finally I had been taken into the A team, the front runners. I wouldn't be playing for second place anymore. After what seemed like hours we are finally facing off against troop 109.

The whistle blew like the horn of a train and I took off, sprinting for the endzone. Although we lost the coin toss for starting we quickly got possession of the frisby. I watched it wiz around the field as if it were a bolt of lighting. I heard the shriek of my teammate,

“Damien, it's coming for you”.

A flashback came as I recalled that phrase. I could see all of my old attempts to catch the frisbee when it was coming to me, and I remembered all the times I dropped it and failed, that was not happening again.

I sprung into action and ran to catch it. The frisbee used to feel heavy and intimidating but now the hard plastic felt smooth and weightless. I tossed it and watched as it soared. “Score!” One point added out of the ten needed. Again we ran the play but messed up halfway and let them slip a goal past us. Back and forth back and forth. Eventually we won the match.

I ran back to the sideline, I could smell the sweet smell of popcorn coming from the air and realized that everyone had bought food. Fortunately they were nice enough to share. The cool tasteless water hit my tongue like a waterfall. Its referencing nature replenished most of my previously depeated energy.

Back up again and this time we started out with the frisby. We got the early lead and held on to it. I could see the bright light from the sun slowly going away as the time flew by. It was as if someone was turning a dimmer switch slowly down. The game was over and again we had won. I remembered how much practice went into preparation for the competition. I could feel doubt and failure from previous games. As we left the field I could see the other teams getting ready for their turn on the field. They were fast and coordinated as they swiftly defeated the other team. It was over.

The final match, us vs troop 130. They started with the frisby this time. We lined up on both sides of the field. I could feel myself shaking like a small earthquake had begun. I knew that this was my only chance to do something big in the game. I didn't do much during the match up to that point. Score after Score it was a tied match the entire way. The end of the 20 minute timer had arrived. I took a quick sip of cool refreshing water. Previously we had beaten everybody before, but not now. Next point would win the game. As we lined up again I looked to my teammates. All of us looked as if we had just gone for a swim, we were drenched in sweat. It was all worth it though.

The whistle blew and I was off. A pass to Luca then Conner then Simon. I was desperately looking for a way to shake off my opponent who was furiously garding me. Until eventually I ran as fast as I could towards the area and turned finally duckign away. He tried to follow but tripped and fell leaving me to spring to the goal. The time was running out for the current poseser of the frisby Patrick who was on my team. Any longer and he would be called for stalling. He launched it to me but I wasn't in place. I knew I couldn't mess up, not now. I summoned up all of my energy and spinted for the dist. I snatched it out of the air like I was stealing it. I had scored the winning goal. My day was complete.

I remember that day with great detail. I remember the feeling of joy and the celebration that followed. I remember the feeling of victory surrounding our team. What I remember most however was the sense of tiredness, how good cool tasteless water felt like a soft drink, and the sting of the frisby when someone would throw it fast at me. Those are the parts that now stood out.