c'est la vie.

MzJOWEE

[dear jesylee: you have not updated me in so long, WTF where are you!]

[dear jenna: you should have gone with us to oktoberfest, you would have had fun And congrats to you and norman.]

"The great blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach; but we shut our eyes, and, like people in the dark, we fall foul upon the very thing we search for, without finding it."

I'm a firm believer in everything happens for a reason. Such as the worst possible outcome of one can experience through life, there is almost always, someone who's been there or suffering worse than you.

I was born from a family who knows the meaning of the word: determination. Being of second generation descent, my dad and his family had to struggle the worst of times by trying to fit in to American Society. My grandparents with all their hard work managed to put 6 kids through college ( all I may assume are making 100K + in their careers right now) and still have money left over to provide food and shelter. With that upbringing I am what "less fortunate" people call as spoiled because I was provided EVERYTHING that I needed - maybe not what I wanted most of the time... but everything else to make my survival sufficient.

Even though I was brought up with a good home and food, my dad always made me learn the hard way. I was never given a credit card so I can spend vast amounts of money, I had to get good grades to get a poly pocket toy ( remember?) and I was never allowed out the house unless my school was up to par. In college he reviewed my grades every single quarter, he picked the classes that I needed, hell he even picked my major for me AND I didn't even get to go to the school I wanted to. My allowance ($30/wk) wasn't enough to even buy the things i wanted, it only covered for gas, and maybe a few dinners once in a while. Until recently did I realize why he did the things he did, why he was so mean, and why he wanted certain things to be his way.

If he wasn't so strict and very stingy, I wouldn't have graduated in four years, be educated and determined, have my priorities straight, and basically be independant. Since I wasn't given any money I had to work different jobs, and it made me realize if I want something done I had to do it myself.

The reason for this blog that I am writing today is basically a reminder to me (and to anyone who's reading this) to always be appreciative. To even have parents that can feed and provide for their children should already be enough - the lavish lifestyle is only just a bonus.

Today, I see and experience different people take advantage of the lives that were given to them. Whether its a demand for more money, designer clothes and bags, or even a new car the sight of respect and reverence is slowly drifting away.

maybe now that I'm working I realize how much better life is when you buy things out of your own money - because you know  you deserve it.

until next time...

[ sorry for the sideways glance - but damn she's so fcuking cute]

[Katelyn Alyssa]

xx.