Americans Always See a Glass Thats Half-Full and Never a Glass thats Half-Empty - Essay Example

Americans always see a glass that’s half-full and never a glass that’s half-empty. I actually am referring to the same glass here. But optimists andpessimists are not the same. Americans are busy people and we always encounter walls that block our way to what we want to achieve. The secret of success is all just a matter of perspective. American Optimism is our key. THE GOVERNOR’S BALL A man was just finished plumbing until Cody, her wife, reminded him that they have to go to the governor’s ball. Still being had to throw those wet carpet and mattress to the dumpster, the man told his wife to go ahead, promising that he’ll surely arrive later. As he drove off to the dumpster with the mattress tied at the back of his truck, the rope suddenly snapped leaving the first mattress that they had, as a married couple, to fly across town. Despite feeling so pissed off due to time constrain, the man felt guilty to leave a memorable mattress behind. So he ended up asking two citizens who happened to witness where the mattress has landed. The two, however, required him two expensive bourbons in exchange of their help. Leaving him with no choice, he agreed to the “professional waiters” deal. After successfully retrieving the mattress from the roof of a building, he bought the drinks promised and offered the two a ride home. As the truck passed through some railroad tracks, the two who are comfortably lying on the mattress at the back of the truck were laughing as they experienced the joyride of their lives. After sending them off to their destination (a somewhat abandoned snowy park), the woman began to sob. It was then that the man felt something break his heart. He may have missed the governor’s ball and he may have tattered his wet clothes because of the mattress dilemma; he sure still made someone he does not know very happy. Thanks. It’s so beautiful. It’s so chilly and so beautiful. DOWN THE GREEN RIVER Toby, his mother Glenna, and Jack were on a raft floating down the green river. Jack was to write an article about the green river and Glenna was the assigned photographer. Glenna’s marriage was in a wreck. Jack, however, remained a somewhat immature boy as Lily, the love of his life way back, married 22 days ago. Now, Jack’s only reason for the fishing trip was money, while Glenna’s was to give his son Toby an experience in fishing that he will never get from his real dad. The raft began to sink and was repaired by Jack. But before the raft was good again, the three of them got their suitcases and bodies wet. They went fishing all day then they rowed more and stopped for the night. Jack cooked fish chowder. Toby said he had a fun day. Glenna and Jack started talking. While Glenna said that Toby was the only important thing in her life, Lily was finally brought to the topic. Glenna said that while she attended Lily’s wedding 22 days ago, she asked to say hello to Jack, and no more. Jack finally realized that he’d better stop being a boy. THE H STREET SLEDDING RECORD A man, his wife Drew, and their daughter Elise, spend Christmas together every year. For Christmas, they conduct rituals. The man always throws horse manure at their roof every Christmas eve so that Santa would have a proof for landing. They shop for Christmas trees on the first Friday of December. The two girls decorate the tree with artifacts of the past Christmases. But most of all, they have an annual attempt at the H Street Sledding Record. His job back then was a Christmas tree delivery guy. And that’s how Drew and he met. This year, the three of them are about to attempt again at the annual H Street Sledding Record. But this time, they have the best conditions. It’s snowing, so the terrain’s perfect. It has been the eighth year that they had been using the same sled, with the same breaks since Drew’s pregnancy. And he has just found out that there still is space on the sled for one more (Elise’s baby brother). The conditions were perfect. How he loves Christmases! A KIND OF FLYING Glen and Brady married with the presence of omens. That’s because Brady’s sister, Linda, totally believed in such things. She opposed many of the decisions Glen, as the groom, had made, including the song that the Best Man was suppose to sing. Linda was a photographer and she photographed the picture-of-the-wedding-cake-with-the-church-in-background photo which is truly memorable. Right after the so-called photo was taken, two crows fell into the cake. When it was time to fly away, the other flew while holding the groom on its beak. Linda screamed and stated that her sister was better to keep for herself. 15 minutes before the wedding, the groom was replaced with a toy frog. 20 years later, Glen was still in the carpeting business while Brady constantly flew because of her career in photography. Linda’s daughter who was getting married asked Glen for advice. He only said, marriage is not a life on a cake. It’s a bird taking your head in his beak and you walk the sky. It’s marriage. Sometimes it pinches like a bird’s mouth, but its definitely flying. It’s definitely a kind of flying. THE HOTEL EDEN Hotel Eden was a small, old, and a homey hotel. Allison and Mark always meet at the Hotel Eden since they met Porter, a close friend of Allison’s professor. He knows a lot of stories which he tells to the two, and the night would not start without him. A story about a fire was soon brought up and Porter narrated it because he was there when it actually happened. Porter offered a trip to Scotland for him and Mark. Allison and he bade farewell as he told her not to worry. They were lovers; though both are too embarrassed to admit it. They are only waiting for something to happen. They liked each other and they know it. The trip consisted of a tour and of drinking. Porter and Mark talked about marriage, the love of Porter’s life, and what the perfect timing for love is. On the train back, Porter left first, leaving Mark to the Eden alone. Mark realized that he actually lacks many experiences in life, not like Porter. He thought he was through being sick. He waited for Porter and Allison to arrive until he can finally tell his first story ever. I can totally relate to the story THE GREEN RIVER. I had my favorite aunt who never thought of marrying anybody. I always acted immaturely whenever she’s with me; until one day came that I found out that she’s getting married. It was just recently that I accepted I should now act my age, when she told me that she truly loves the guy. We experience a lot of challenges in our life and sometimes the only way to end all those is to give up. By doing so, we miss a lot of good things that should have been there. Everything’s a matter of perspective. We may lose at one point, but what matters is that we believe that there’s something even better waiting. I salute American Optimism. Despite the problems that our country faces, I am positive that Americans still are the best. Read More