Summer’s often filled with lessons of a different kind. Add your thoughts to our vacation blog. Here’s what we’re writing about at the moment:
Tell about something you have learned this summer – something that made you stop and think. Where were you? Who was with you and what were you doing? What else do you remember? How did it make you feel?
Click on the comment link above to reply. Outstanding contributors to this post will be honored at the next Coffee with the Mayor event on July 29th at Daphne City Hall.
Daphne Writes! is a community learning project that invites every Daphne citizen to share their thoughts on timely themes and important issues.
Writing well is an art that can change the world. Let’s practice together.
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August 1, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Kim
This summer I have learned the importance of family. Many of our past summers have been spent running from one activity to another, vacation, etc.; all the while watching the entire summer slip through our fingers. Well, this summer has been much different. Our family planned fewer set activities (i.e. gymnastics, week-long vacation, etc.), instead opting for overnight trips to the beach or a day trip to the pool, or just lounging and reading a book, together. We have more time to share and enjoy our summer. Having a family summer has been the best!
July 16, 2010 at 11:11 am
Logan
Character is largely determined by whether or not one accepts responsibility for his/her actions. The disaster that has been going on in the gulf for the last three months is a prime example of some people contributing and others sitting back waiting for others to handle the problem. While many have taken advantage of this situation for financial gain, some have stepped up to try to raise money and volunteer to help our community in this crisis. While BP has not abandoned its responsibilities to gulf residents, many leaders and citizens are disappointed at their lack of expedious efforts. Vounteers, like Jimmy Buffett, have helped out in the incredible heat for their community, while others sit home complaining. I feel BP has shown character by standing behind their disaster, but the outcome remains to be seen. I learned that a community that sticks together can stand up to large corporations and have their voice heard.
July 6, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Jeanae Thomas
Jeanae Thomas
Mr. LaPalme
SEEDS Summer Workshop
2 July 2010
This summer I learned that you shouldn’t judge something by the way it looks. In June I went to a church camp with my youth group. When we got there it looked boring and the other kids didn’t look nice. They split us into teams that night and I was on team 1. No one talked to me and I was the only one from my church on that team. By then I wanted to leave. As the days went on it started to get better. I talked to more people and they were really nice. Some of them were funny too. Every morning we played games for two hours. In the afternoon we got to swim and do arts and crafts. One night there was even a concert. I had a lot of fun. When it was time to leave I didn’t want to go. That’s what I learned this summer.
July 6, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Ashley
Something I learned this summer, that actually made me think. Wow, I guess I would have to say, the role women played in World War 1.
I never realized how important women were in wars back then. They were nurses, on and off site.They had different rankings and were sent off to different places just like the men. Women had more of an impact in the second half of the war though, mainly during 1916-1919. Even after the war they brought back children with no families left, and gave them homes. To me this just seems incredible.
At the time I was in Kansas City, Missouri. Visiting the National World War 1 Museum. I was actually visiting family, but at the museum I was with my cousin James, his wife Danica. My Great-Aunt Sara, Great-Uncle Alan, my other cousin Stephen-or as I like to call him Peach- and Stephens’ new girlfriend Jamie.
I don’t remember much, just being sad about the thousands of lives that were wasted because of an assiantion that wasn’t supposed to happen, but did anyway. There was a movie that they played. It was horrific. It was so sad because their were quotes from actually survivors that made me want to cry. It was an experience that I well never forget.
July 6, 2010 at 11:22 am
Briana
This summer has been phenomenal! I went to Disneyworld, Universal, Six Flags, a wedding, and the most spectacular camp, Camp Blue Lake. Two days before camp my best friend Tori and I were leaving; we were going for a walk in our neighborhood. We were talking about school and how excited we were to start high school. As we turned the corner, we sucked in the aroma of the fresh, gorgeous, gardenias in my neighbor’s yard. We walked down the street and saw a little girl of about seven crying on the ground! Tori and I asked her if she needed help, and she reluctantly shook her head no. She had obviously fallen of her bike; her knee was scraped up, and blood was on the sidewalk. Tori and I helped her anyway. We walked her back to her house, where she walked back inside ,crying. Her mom came out and thanked us, pleading for any way she could repay us. Of course, we politely declined. But she insisted, and being the owner of a nearby restaurant, gave us both a certificate for ten dollars. When we got back from camp, we used this certificate. At the restaurant, I thought about what we did and how proud I was of the both of us. I think Tori and I both learned a very valuable lesson in this experience.
July 3, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Ethan
This summer I learned that there are people in America with no homes, no job, no money, and sometimes no food. I discovered this when I was on a church trip in South Carolina with some of my friends. My friends and I decided to eat dinner with some of the homeless people so we all split up and sat with different people. The people were truly amazing; they talked and some of them even laughed with us. After the dinner my friends and I were talking about our experience with these people when one chaperone came up and told us, “It was an awesome experience to look around the room and see the faces of these people and to see them laughing like that.” Then he said something that touched us all, “How often do you think that these people get the chance to laugh like that?” This experience made me feel like we had done more than just had dinner with these people. We had connected with them and maybe even helped them without even knowing it. The moral of the story is that you don’t have to donate thousands of dollars to an orphanage or travel to Africa to help someone in need.
July 3, 2010 at 9:45 am
Jennette
In the last couple months I visited my aunt in Birmingham. Her and my mother didn’t want to cook that night so my cousin and I decided we would for them. After browsing through the cookbooks; we all decided a roast with mashed potatoes sounded delicious for that night. Durning the process I did burn the roast, but in the end it turned out great. The mashed potatoes, gravy, and vegtables all went smoothly. I plan on cooking for my family again in the near future. I had a lot of fun cooking and even though it was some work; the outcome was worth it.
June 21, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Ruth Seawell
I learned last week why the steel pipe barrier system being constructed at Perdido Pass to stop the oil is curved. At a recent town hall meeting, engineers from Thompson Engineering, the designers of the system, explained that — given the currents at the pass — it does not matter how deep a boom is constructed. The oil coming in from the Gulf will always go under the boom when it hits it straight on because the oil is heavier than water. The best bet is to divert it by allowing it to hit at an angle and flow into a collection spot where skimmers wait for it. I learned that wearing “haz mat” suits in 90+ degree temperatures can really slow down the clean-up efforts on the beach. I learned that everyone cares deeply about what happens to the Gulf Coast and wants to help. I learned that local experts, local common sense and local passions go a long way in solving a problem.
June 20, 2010 at 12:15 am
Mary Everett Toombs, 8yrs. old
This summer I took a road trip with my mom. We started in San Francisco. I went to Chinatown. I ate food from China. It was great. I walked across the Golden Gate Bridge. Halfway across I had solid chocolate shaped just like the bridge. Then we drove to Yosemite park. There was a baby bear in our camp site eating garbage. The rangers came to scare him away. I saw alot of waterfalls and rode a bicycle around the park. We drove down the Pacific Coast Highway and took pictures of sea lions, seals and elephant seals on the beaches. They were really cool to see and hear. In Newport Beach I watched surfers. The beaches in California looked different from our Gulf. I had fun on my trip, but I am happy to be home.
June 18, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Sarah
Something that made me stop and think this summer was hearing that part of our beaches were being closed due to the oil spill. I was at my friend’s house and we overheard it on the news. Hearing this made me upset because this is our home. My friends and I have made many great memories at our beaches, and we hope to continue doing so. I continue to learn to be grateful for what you have, and to not take things for granted. Sometimes you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone.