This is a paper I wrote for my English 100 class.
Memories are curious experiences sometimes. They sweep us up out of our present day, and into another world that seems so far away. However, sometimes it seems so close we feel like we were just there a moment ago. At times we wish that we could stay in that memory forever because we know what is waiting there for us in the present. Reality is harsh and it tells the truth of what has happened. Memories are fuzzy and warm and take us back to a time when innocence was prevalent. Adulthood is full of responsibilities, and hard work. Childhood is carefree, fun, and lovely. My father passed away recently, so memories of him have become a source of happiness for me. One particular memory that stands out in my mind is when I was a little girl and my father was on his motorcycle.
There is crispness in the air as a little girl with two long braids walks home from school one day. She smells the musty grass as she runs her fingers along the rusty chain link fence. The sound of the leaves crunching beneath her reminds her that it is her favorite time of year, autumn. As she pushes through the crowd of the parent’s bustling by to pick their kids up, she hears a familiar sound of a motorcycle. She thinks to herself, ‘That could not be my daddy coming to get me; he is in his cop car fighting the bad guys.’ She earnestly looks passed the other cars and sure enough her daddy drives up right next to her. Her heart starts pounding with excitement, and she is overjoyed at the sight of her daddy. She could smell the exhaust coming from the motorcycle pipes. She looks up and sees the comforting smile under the mustache. She squints and notices a glimmer of her reflection in his dark sunglasses. Her dad asks, ‘You need ride pigtails?’ She smiles and climbs up on the shiny blue motorcycle. She touches the warm motor in front of her and holds on to the big handle bars. She glances at her daddy’s rugged yet gentle hands. These are the hands that pick her up when she falls. She has a feeling inside her that this is a special moment with her daddy. She cherishes every second she has with him. She cannot believe that her daddy came to pick her up on his motorcycle. She always begs for him to give her a ride, and he says we will see. Now her dream is coming true, and she is as free as a bird flying high up in the clouds with her favorite person, her daddy.
As he takes off slowly, her bangs softly blow in the wind and tickle her forehead. She looks up at her daddy and feels safe in his great arms wrapped around her. She knows that as long as she has him by her side, nothing will harm her. In this moment on the motorcycle it is just a girl and her daddy. This is their moment in time that no one can take away. It is only a two minute ride home. However it seems like it is in slow motion as the wind blows in their faces. The girl looks down and notices her daddy’s feet on the pedal. The motorcycle is going faster and sounds louder than before. She smells the fresh, cool air on her cheeks. The air is like cold hands caressing her face.
The girl looks up to the afternoon blue sky and notices patterns in the cotton candy clouds. She sees a big fluffy white bunny. She feels the warm sunshine on her arms and face. The black bumpy street beneath her is going by fast as she tries to count the white lines. When they turn the corner, she knows that they are almost home. She wants to continue on this motorcycle ride with her daddy. But she knows it has to come to an end. As they slow down and go up the drive way, she turns around and gives her daddy a giant hug. He kisses her cheek and tells her he loves her.
This motorcycle ride with a girl and her daddy is a flash in time that will never fade away. It will be bright and shining in her mind to shut out any darkness that tries to hide. It will comfort her in times of distress, and cover her like a warm blanket. Just like the great arms of her daddy, this memory will wrap around her and help her to remember him and his love.