What defines value? How does one know what he or she truly values when they are surrounded with great things every day? Moments and events seem to be such precious memories but great things and objects surround us on a daily basis.
I slide my left foot down through the boot; warmth suddenly makes my foot content on such a cold morning. I repeat the same steps on the right. These aren’t just any boots; they’re Uggs; shoes made from sheepskin, warm and cozy as if I am wearing slippers all day.
To me, no other winter boots can compare to my Uggs. These are shoes that I work hard to earn money for, and it definitely pays off all winter. They are chestnut, classic tall, at least for this year. I receive my new Uggs in the mail, packed securely to endure the trip over from California. One hundred and sixty dollars in one package, I can’t wait to open it.
I sometimes wear my old ones, fit perfectly to the sole of my foot, but they just aren’t as good looking and clean as my new ones. The sheep wool inside is not as soft, and there are old marks of dirt.
The soft shade of chestnut brown always seems to complement my cozy winter outfit perfectly, with suede heel guards and a flexible sole. Twin-faced sheepskin keeps my feet snug so I can still be fashionable throughout the winter months. On some days to mix it up I can roll the boot down to give it a different feel.
I wake up with a light ray of sunshine coming through my window; I can smell the faint smell of the ocean and hear the soft waves crashing gently up onto the seashell covered shore. Outside I hear two neighbors starting their morning jog. Moments like these I wait for all year.
Going to Shelter Island is hands down the best vacation for me. I get up at my own pace, and eventually walk out to the kitchen for breakfast and to my brother’s annual favorite, crumb cake from the tiny supermarket on the island; IGA George’s. We decide it’s a beach day, pack up some sodas and snacks, and head down to the beach. My family chooses to go to a farther beach today, so we pile into the car and head off, woods all around, no stop lights to be seen. No one goes through the day without seeing at least one deer.
My aunt takes me on our annual little trip to Marika’s, a small antique store where I love to look at all the old things. I get a new ring there every year. On rainy days we go on the small ferry to get to the Island over, Greenport, to go to all the shops. Every night the family gathers downstairs to play pool, ping pong, shuffleboard, and to hang out, a tradition that I don’t think will ever die.
One day for lunch we go down to the drug store, where inside there is a small diner counter. My mom has been going here since she was born, my Dad since he was around 16, and the island has barely changed since they can remember. Just the laid back feel of these few days brings back old memories.
My aunt and uncle also bought a house there this past year, making the trip even more fun with two houses to go to now. My aunt and I love to make sea glass jewelry from glass found on Shelter Island beaches. My uncle takes the kids clamming every year. Coming home with our clams so that my aunt can make her delicious buttery stuffed clams. I’ve never tasted others as good. On the last day, we head out to Pat and Steve’s, another custom of our family, to have breakfast.
I love these quiet trips to Shelter Island, relaxing and having fun. Going rollerblading with my cousin when she comes up, just sun bathing on the beach, going out to ice cream at the Tuck Shop, or going on night walks along the beach, I’m always having fun.
Between my Uggs and my vacations to Shelter Island, these two values seem extremely different, but also have similarities. My Uggs keep my feet warm and are a fashion statement during the winter. They have to be my favorite pair of shoes I own. I work hard babysitting and doing chores for the money, and when I finally get them I am just so happy.
On Shelter Island, I get to spend quality relaxing time with my family. Repeating traditions I have been since I was born. Sunny ferry rides and beach days to die for. I never want to leave.
Whether wearing my boots, or wearing a bathing suit, I always have a smile on my face. Both of these things make the seasons better, either an item or an event that I can look forward to. They both have memories, they both are worn and overused, but I never get tired of these things. Sometimes, I just love snuggling up in my sweats and my Uggs, with snow falling gracefully onto the ground, but then again, its great to be able to lie back, read a book and relax on the beach in Shelter Island.
5 comments:
This was a very good essay and I can relate to the whole beach and relaxing but not so much the Uggs. I see why they are both valuable to you and they both sound very enjoyable to me. I think you're saying that you really like how your Uggs keep you warm and the beach is also warm. I find it kind of funny that these valuable things are in completely different times of the year.
I think your Uggs were most vividly described in your essay. I could picture you putting them on and see all the sheep wool inside the shoe or boot. They sound very comfortable and very warm. I like the very beginning of when you were describing your Uggs. The quote was "I slide my left foot down through the boot; warmth suddenly makes my foot content on such a cold morning."
I think in general your strength would be describing your valuable things. It's pretty obvious why you like both of them a lot. You use a lot of good describing words in your essay like content and instead of saying you go into the car you say we pile into the car.
My piece of advice is next time try making your paragraphs about the Uggs longer because I want to hear more about them. You could have more paragraphs about them. Other than that you're pretty strong in all the categories. Your spelling and grammar is fine and I get what you're trying to say. So the only thing is to make describing the Uggs longer.
bean, i loved reading your essay. I can relate to the ugg part but not so much on shelter island seeing as to i have never been there. I can see you valueing these very equally.
I think you described the process of putting on your uggs and what they looked like vividly. I loved how you described the color and texture. "The soft shade of chestnut brown always seems to complement my cozy winter outfit perfectly, with suede heel guards and a flexible sole. Twin-faced sheepskin keeps my feet snug so I can still be fashionable throughout the winter months" and "I slide my left foot down through the boot; warmth suddenly makes my foot content on such a cold morning." I could really picture both these moments and what they looked like in my head.
Overall, the essays strengths was imagery. I could picture her putting on her uggs and what they looked like. Also I could see her in shelter island going clamming or to the antique shops with her aunt.
For the future, i would try and describe what some of the places at shelter island look like to get a better sence. You did a very good job with us picturing your uggs but not so much shelter island. Other than that i thought it was very good and well written. GOOOOOD JOB BEANNNN!
Colleen, I think you did a great job with your essay. I can really relate to the UGGS and how much you value them. I can also understand why you value Shelter Island so much; it seems very peaceful and sounds like you have a lot of fun there.
I think that your trip to Shelter Island every year was described the most thoroughly. You were very descriptive and I liked how you told your schedule of what you do while you are there. When you said,” Every night the family gathers downstairs to play pool, ping pong, shuffleboard, and to hang out, a tradition that I don’t think will ever die." When you say this it really shows how important being with your family is to you.
I think that your essays overall strength was description or imagery. I felt as if I were with you when you were explaining putting our Uggs on and how they were warm and cozy.
My only suggestion would be to write about your Uggs a little bit more, it was very descriptive through out all of it except for your Uggs you wrote a bit less about. Other then that great job Colleen!!
This was a great essay. She is trying to say that people are always surrounded by memories and special times but don't even seem to notice. Two important items to her are her uggs and Shelter Island.
Colleen described Shelter Island the best. She really put a lot of thought into it and explained every little thing she did such as making glass jewelery, or goign to the diner, or even her aunt's delicious clams.
The author's overall strengths were how well she descirbed both items she valued. "I slide my left foot down through the boot; warmth suddenly makes my foot content on such a cold morning." I can really tell just how comftorable Colleen's uggs are and how they make her feel.
One thing the author could work on is her comparison between her uggs and shelter Island but over all fantabulous job beann!
Colleen's first paragraph defined how she believes no one really knows what value is. She also stated how moments and memories don't come around often and aren't valued as much as objects and things you can buy which surround us everyday. I really liked this part because she proves a good point. Also because it is totally true.
I think she described her boots extremely well. The way she compared her old ones and the new ones was very good. She described her Shelter Island days well too though, but her Uggs were more descriptive since they were just one thing as opposed to a whole summer she described. One quote I liked while reading was, " warmth suddenly makes my foot content on such a cold morning" and "The soft shade of chestnut brown always seems to complement my cozy winter outfit perfectly, with suede heel guards and a flexible sole. Twin-faced sheepskin keeps my feet snug"
Colleen's strengths in this essay was her overall sentence fluency and showing how much she loves her two valuable things in her writing. Like I said before, it was really interesting and I could better understand how much she loves her boots because she compared to her old ones and the new boots seem so much better.
I don't think you needs to change anything in your essay but if she were, I think you should state more of your opinion on value in your introduction. But overall this was great. :)
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