Thursday, December 17, 2009

Eleven Seconds Reading Review


Eleven Seconds
Warner Books
Published 1998

In the book, Eleven seconds, Travis Roy's dream was to play college hockey at Boston University. Travis ended up going to BU and he started for the first game. Only eleven seconds into the game Travis got paralyzed from the neck down, by falling neck first into the boards

”I still love hockey. I’m not angry at the sport, I’m not angry at anything or anyone.”

Though out the book it shows more about Travis’s life and his family. His family never gave up on Travis. Even though Travis is paralyzed, his girl friend doesn’t leave him. She stays with him and helps him with what ever he needs. Just because Travis had a disability it never stopped him from his goals

“My Family is always, has been a source of strength for me.”

I really enjoyed reading about Travis’s life and what he had to go though. Nothing stopped him from doing what he wanted after his tragedy. I play hockey and this book has opened my eyes about safety and to never give up on your dream. No matter what you’re doing you could get hurt unexpected even if you think your safe.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Siddhartha come to America


It’s a Sunday morning, around 7am, I have to leave around 8 to go pick up Siddhartha at Bradley International Airport. When I arrived at the airport I wasn't really sure what to expect when ill first see him. I have only really talked to him a couple of times, so this could go bad or good. I wasn’t really sure of myself after I saw Siddhartha for the first time. The age difference between us was about 40 years. I was sitting at the gate waiting for him to wake though the doors. Once I saw him, I went up to him and introduced myself. We talked for a little bit before we got on the rode home. During the ride home i told him the plains for the day. I told him that I will be bringing him to two different locations. One will be a peaceful place. Which is a golf course, The Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, MA. Where I grew up and played golf during my summers. The other place I will be bringing Siddhartha is Boston. We will be going to see a Boston Bruins game, where the crowd is loud and it’s much different then any other place he has been before. They will be playing their rivals, the Montreal Canadians. So this game will be played harder, and louder then just a regular season game. Siddhartha was very excited and interested at the same time.

The first place that I will be bringing Siddhartha to is my home golf course. The Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Massachusetts. The time of year is autumn, so the views are better then ever. Right when i get there Siddhartha takes a walk around the club house and tells me how much he loves the views of the course and mountains. Then I brought him out for a round of golf. On the first tee Siddhartha really didn't understand what to do, so I had to show him how to swing and the rules of the game in a matter of 5 minuets. Siddhartha didn't really enjoy it, because he was very good at it and didn't get the point to it. The things that he really did like was the sounds of nature, the birds singing and seeing squeals running around everywhere and how It was very peaceful being out there. Siddhartha liked how the soft close cut grass felt on his bare feet while he was walking down the fairways. During the round Siddhartha and I went into one of the fairways, and had lunch together. We talked for a while about how I grew playing this game and about both of are lives. Then he thought me how to meditate. We meditated for a little bit and then got back into finishing the round up. Once we where done he told me how much he enjoyed this time out her and would love to do it again. He also said that would love to try to get better at the game and improve and he also tell me how he Is looking forward to the next place I will be bring him.

We got picked up by a private helicopter and got brought to Boston. Siddhartha was very scared and worried during the whole ride because he has never been in something like this before. Once we landed IBoston, we had a little time to spare, so I took him around the area and showed Siddhartha the Boston harbor and Fenway Park before the game. When we got to the TD Bank North Garden for the hockey game Siddhartha was very interested in the game. So we sat down and had some drinks and watched the game. It was very loud once the game started. Siddhartha got into by yelling at the opposing team with the fans and was very much enjoying this. Siddhartha couldn't stay still. He was jumping up and down out of his seat In joy every time the action picked up. During the Second intermission, they picked a random seat In the arena to go out on the ice to shoot a put at the goalie. Siddhartha was the chosen one and was taken out on the ice to shoot the puck. when he got down there he stared around and didn't relies how many people were watching him, so he got very nervous. Siddhartha shout the puck and scored the crowd went crazy and he jumped up and down a waved to the crowed. When he got back to his seat he couldn't stop talking about how much fun he is having and loves this game. The game ended in a 4-3 Bruins victory, so everyone went home happy tonight. When we left the building Siddhartha was getting pretty upset that he was leaving and had to go home. So we got garbed a bite to eat. We had hamburgers and french fries and watching a little baseball on TV before the plane got here to pick him up. Once the plane got here. He gave me a huge and said goodbye and told me how much fun he had with me today and that how would love to come back and do the same thing with me.

After Siddhartha left, I was on my way home in a limo and I thought a lot about today and how much fun we had playing golf and going to Boston to watch the hockey game. Going to the Burins game was very much fun. Siddhartha had a Lot of fun today and I could tell he liked both so much. Siddhartha Is a Buddha and I no that he would much rather like to go out in nature and meditate and just be in that type of climate rather then the hockey game. He would like to go see a hockey game once in a while but overall I think going to the golf course, better suits Siddhartha overall.