The Strawberry Chapter 11

The Strawberry Chapter 11

Determined Seed

By Katherine Aguilar

This chapter takes a step back into my childhood. I remembers how people shape my mindset and the way I think today. I reflecting back when I was little. I joined a group of young girls' extracurricular activities. I decided to go to the group once. After the first day. I decided I didn't want to go to the group anymore. I decided the reason why I was not going back.

It was lunch time and they asked what I wanted to eat. They had asked me what kind of food I wanted to eat. They said chicken or tuna salad sandwhich. I told them chicken. It seemed pretty simple. They said, "No, you want tuna." I think I was ten years old. I told them. " Then why did you ask me? What I wanted if you already knew what you were going to give me?" They thought I was being confrontational. The group was nice. But when I went home. My mother asked if I wanted to go again. I told her no. I think they will not listen to what I said. What was the point?

The same thing happened with my mother. It was my birthday. She planned to make a cake. She asked "What kind of cake do you want?" I told her German Chocolate. Seemed to me pretty simple since it was coming out of the box. Then she said, "No, you want a pink cake." The same thing happened. I told her, then did you ask me what I wanted if you already had it set in your mind what you wanted to do? It was nice that she made the cake. I told her she never had to make a cake for me again. That it wasn't necessary.

To this day. I don't want anyone to ask me what I want. For if they are not going to give me what I say. Why ask in the first place? That tells me the original intent was never to give what I wanted. I believe people should say what they mean and mean what they say. Do not say something just because it sounds good at the time. Because it is basically a waste of time. Now, as I am older. I share that little advice with the younger generation.

It is pretty direct. Still, it is true.

It has been a seed that was not set to settle, but it did get planted in me.

The Charity

A few years back. I felt like ice cream. Needless. It was a pretty expensive ice cream outing. I texted the car service. To go to a pretty hip part of the City. There were boutiques, restaurants, and stores. There I see an ice cream shop. I went in. The ice cream was a bit pricey. That was my intent for the outing in the first place. I went ahead and bought it. I sat in the shop enjoying the ice cream. The atmosphere was refreshing. The area was calm and peaceful. After eating the ice cream. I decided to stop by the stores and window shop plus buy anything I needed. Since I was already in the area. I might as well multitask and get what I need.

I was coming out of the store. I saw a charity was asking for donations. I was passing by them. They asked, "Would you like to make a donation?" I asked how much? They said twenty-five dollars. I told them. "I only have two dollars cash on me." They said no, they needed twenty-five dollars. Which was strange, but I took this as a time to give them a little moment of advice. To discuss how they should approach people. I said, " So you really don't want my donation unless it was twenty-five dollars a month. You must not really believe in the cause you are asking money for. Because if you did, you would have taken my two dollars. I would have taken your card to set up a twenty-five-dollar a month donation. When I had my card on me. Even if I didn't have the money. I could have told someone who did have money about your organization, and they would have set up a repeat monthly donation. Since you said no to my two dollars." You end up with nothing. I wish you success in your fundraising. Next time, when you are fundraising, believe in the cause you are raising money for, or do not even fundraise at all."

That goes back to my stance of mean what you say. Society has gotten used to throwing around a lot of empty words. Making false promises. The most successful people are not those who have money. It is those who have integrity. Striving to be better each day. Being careful not to make promises that cannot kept.

It is better to say nothing at all. Wishing the person the best.

When someone. Tells another person after a death. "If there is anything I can do for you, just let me know." Is one of the emptiest lines I have heard. Repeated so often. I wish the person hearing those lines. Would say "Yes, please buy me dinner or pay my mortgage for a month since I am too distressed to work". I am sure if a person were to start holding a person accountable for their words. They would think before they speak.

Whether this is a good or bad seed is ultimately for the reader to determine

Growth

A new seed throwing seems to pop up at unexpected times. Which happened this current year. After my mother passed away. I decided this is my opportunity to make some changes in my life, which I haven’t done in a very long time. It felt like I was starting over again. Wow! At my age, starting again, I admit, it is a bit scary. Which brings me to where I am now. Writing. I did write a book years ago. I have no clue where it is, nor do I even remember what I wrote about. The last I know, I sent it to the publisher and never heard about it again.

My approach this time is to publish each chapter as I get ideas and memories to write about. I get on the Chromebook and start writing. I loved my mother, but she was a stern woman. Regardless of whatever she did. I always stuck to “she is my mother.” For some reason God chose her to be my mother. For whatever reason, it is not for me to know. Now that she is gone. I am starting new again.

The language

One of the many things I started anew was learning a new language. I didn’t realize it was a different language until I asked the librarian for help pronouncing a word. I told her I liked it. The word was Gelegeheit, which means "opportunity" and "change." She showed me how to look up more words to pronounce and say in German.

The seed of learning a new language has been planted. I enjoy learning German. At times, the spelling is backwards, like words dyslexia affects, for I can spell pretty much. Spending time learning German just for fun. Has been an experience I truly enjoy. I aim to be trilingual by the end of the year. A friend asked me "when I will ever need to speak German?" I let them know. I don’t know. But at least I will be prepared if I ever come across someone who needs someone me to translated for them. The seed has grown beyond me. I had been talking to my aunt about learning German. She joined me in learning German. She is in her seventies. She thought the same thing as I did. Like, why Not! It is a good brain exercise.

I decided to go find the librarian who originally helped me. I told her that it was she who first helped me find the translation to the word. Which inspired me to learn a new language. I truly appreciate her help and kindness.

Even while others think it is something I may never use. Now my aunt and I correspond in German just for fun.

Learning something new can be extremely rewarding.