My name is Ariana. I'm 15 years of age. I live in Miami. A beautiful cheerleader and dancer. I love gymnastics and all of that! I'm a summer blog. So keep calm and blog on.☼
Lately I’ve been thinking about who I want to love, and how I want to love, and why I want to love the way I want to love, and what I need to learn to love that way, and who I need to become to become the kind of love I want to be…and when I break it all down, when I whittle it into a single breath, it essentially comes out like this: Before I die, I want to be somebody’s favorite hiding place, the place they can put everything they know they need to survive, every secret, every solitude, every nervous prayer, and be absolutely certain I will keep it safe. I will keep it safe.
i am only the strength these hands give me and today when the only important thing to me was getting coffee, the man on the radio says in a dull voice, “yet another school shooting,”
yet another, yet another, it catches on my breath like red thunder
yet last night did i remember to tell you i love you because I really do and if anything was to happen to you, i wouldn’t be able to handle it and two days ago at your college someone brandished a firearm and they told you to stay inside where the ceilings become too tight and the rooms like they are pushing inwards and the air so thin you’re gasping
yet a week ago i learned from the dean how many students have been stopped from coming onto my campus with a gun. two hours from then, someone dropped a chair against the floor and i pulled myself to standing, halfway between running and feeling ridiculous. i couldn’t stop shaking afterwards. “it’s okay,” the boy across from me said, “i get like that too now. i know what it’s like. it’s not safe to learn anymore, am i right?”
yet in the school where i teach, the police run a drill five days after yet another school shooting. we sat like mice curled in a corner while i tried not to cry and one of my girls asked me “if this was real would we be okay?” and i had to clear my throat before i said, “don’t worry. i will protect you from anything that would hurt you” and it’s true i will die before i would let anyone touch them. she is full of second grade wisdom, she says, “we would protect you too - but nothing bad is really gonna happen.” and i pray, i honestly pray she is telling the truth
yet i am not strong and we are all so scared and so small and begging the world to please just let us get through this without getting shot and
did i tell you i love you because i really do. i love you all. i love you.
It was June 25, 2005. It was one of the best days of my life. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would have met Paul Walker. But I did and he was the most sweetest, kindest person. He was just a normal guy who happened to be famous. Even though, I only spoke to him for like 5 minutes, I felt like I actually knew him. It’s still heartbreaking to know that he is no longer on this earth.
✝ RIP, Paul William Walker IV. September 12, 1973 - November 30, 2013 You will always be my celebrity crush. 💗
