Ocean Dreams

The wind blew against the sea
buried treasure was near the Key
Seagulls flew above the ocean
knowing that their prey was at the location

Sand washed against the shore
like it has done so many times before
Ships carried trades that are in need
with international people to feed

Sun rose from the water
it didn't cause a disturbing bother
Doing it's regular nature by the time
knowing that every other time

Explorers discover something new
an independent kingdom grew
The ocean is filled with wonderful creatures
never spoil the goddess of all kinds of nature

Originally written in 1998

Escape

Escape
but where?
Anywhere is possible
to find the answers that need to be solved

Escape
away from the hard hand
the hand that rules with an abusive fist
Run too fast, causing a rapid heart beat
carry the tradition to freedom

Escape
to find the way to explore different situation
reach high up to the northern star
Find a route to find the way home
hide when it is possible to...

Escape
to the freedom
the right

Escape
to the freedom
that is to be served
Find the way to express the right
keep the faith that has the right to take over

Fight for the freedom
Fight to escape

Originally written in 2000

Queen of Hearts, The People's Princess, and Mother

I was 15 years old (almost 16), living in an apartment with my mom. It was late in the evening, I could hear and see the TV from my bedroom and overheard something about Princess Diana being in a car crash. She was in critical condition... It wasn't very long until the news came in that she died. That prompted me to go from my room to the living room to watch. Mom was a little freaked out strange to see her shared birth year as Princess Diana plus the death year (1961-1997) while I realized that I was the same age as Prince William. Instantly, my thoughts, prayers, just about everything went to her two boys that now had to go on without their mother by their side. The following morning, the local paper had the biggest and darkest font I've never seen before: DIANA DEAD. I still have that newspaper. 

The day of her funeral, I got up early to watch. When I saw that unforgettable small bouquet in front with the card that said Mummy, I cried. I did shed tears before during that week, but that moment I bawled my eyes out. I always thought she was beautiful, worthy to have a happily ever after; I remember Diana being in just about every imaginable media out there, before and after her divorce. 

While Prince Charles was not husband of the year to Diana, I do genuinely believe that her death devastated him. All of the sudden, he became a single parent. I do think he did a splendid job with William and Harry, from the way they are today- they're very close as royals could be. Diana will never be forgotten!

Spanish Taking Over

I live in South Florida- I'm surrounded by Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Columbians, Peruvians, you name it. Especially the Cubans. Considering it's 90 miles from Cuba to Key West so many of them have arrived here by boat. I remember being in high school, the joke with Row Row Your Boat (a child's song) to Row Row Your Raft. And of course, I hear the spanish language everywhere I go. South Florida is Northern Cuba (Raphie May wasn't kidding when he made that joke in one of his comedy specials)

I get that America is the land of immigrants. My own family's orgins are from Italy, Scotland, and Ireland.

But here's what pisses me off the most: being looked down upon by these Cubans (especially) for not speaking their language. Excuse me? No I don't have to learn Spanish because I have to. Last I checked, the United States of America's main language was English. Last I checked, Florida was part of the U.S., therefore it's an American state. Last I checked, I'm an American born who is speaking the right language: English.
Now, if I was living in France, or even Spain, or China, then you bet that I'll be trying my best to pick up their native language to survive! I can understand the elderly old people who are too old to pick up a new language- I've heard that learning a new language is much more harder on adults than it is for kids.
My great great grandmothers were Italian immigrants. One of them (who was quite a tyrant) was too old to learn the new language- however she encouraged her children to learn English. They adapted the American lifestyle of hamburgers and hot dogs into their life of pasta. Another example is that my friend's father was from Lativia who spoke 5 languages before coming to the U.S. including perfect English; his daughter was taught Lativian and German first then English and speaks better English than most Americans. Why? Because they had to speak English in this country.

I'm all for keeping in touch with your native country's heritage but if you're going to live in a different country, you're going have to adapt to it and make it work.

With the spanish/Cubans taking over, it's getting very very hard to find a job, especially if you only speak English. These days, it's a requirement to be bilingual. Ad-billboards, stores are getting all hispanic on me. Last year I had a bad craving for a gyro (Greek food) and at the time I only knew one place to get it so I drove 45 minutes in morning traffic and found out that this Greek diner suddenly became a Latin diner. I was MAD!!!!
With these spanish people refusing to learn their new country's language, I have to wonder: what are they going to do when they get transferred (by a job) to Iowa? Or Wisconsin? Those states are english, english, english. They'll be screwed! They'll be wishing that they had taken the time to learn the english language.